Reaffirming its commitment to supporting culture and arts, Jordan Kuwait Bank sponsored the sixth edition of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film, which recently concluded with a closing ceremony at the Hussein Cultural Center. The event was attended by HRH Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and HRH Princess Rym Ali, the festival’s president and co-founder.

The bank’s sponsorship reflects its dedication to empowering young artistic talent and supporting the independent film industry in Jordan and the region. The festival serves as a dynamic platform for celebrating visual and narrative creativity and honoring debut films that highlight pressing social and humanitarian issues.

Awards were presented across four competitive categories: Best Arab Feature Narrative, Best Arab Feature Documentary, Best Arab Short Film, and Best Non-Arab Film. These awards recognize films distinguished by artistic excellence and creative boldness. Jordan Kuwait Bank contributed directly to this success by sponsoring awards that recognize innovation and originality in filmmaking.

Haethum S. Buttikhi, CEO of Jordan Kuwait Bank, emphasized that supporting the arts and independent cinema is an investment in free cultural expression and in telling people’s stories through a powerful, human lens. He noted that empowering new filmmakers and recognizing their talents play a key role in building a more aware, inclusive society and fostering cultural dialogue at both local and international levels.

This initiative is part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility program, which focuses on supporting education, culture, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. Through these efforts, the bank aims to make a meaningful impact on the community by partnering with influential local institutions and helping to create an environment that nurtures creativity and innovation across all sectors.

This year’s edition of the Amman International Film Festival featured films from 23 countries, with 62 screenings, 16 of which were world premieres. Many of the films had previously received accolades at prestigious international festivals, and all were shown in Jordan for the first time. The festival attracted a large, engaged audience and hosted panel discussions with filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world, further cementing its status as a bold and distinctive platform for independent cinema.