Al-Qamar, Al-Qamar: 19-22 April 2019

Wadi Rum, or Wadi Al-Qamar (Valley of the Moon), has been a place of dwelling and movement since prehistoric times. In recent history, its sandstone and granite rocks were witness to tribal revolutions, deals and betrayals during the Great Arab Revolt of the early 20th century. Since mid-last century, tourism and entertainment have encroached on the landscape and resulted in a growing dependence of its re-settled indigenous population on these industries. Despite all this, the valley still emanates an enchanting power.

In the spring of 2019, Wadi Rum becomes the setting for Al-Qamar, Al-Qamar. This four-day gathering directly engages with the topography of the site, responding to the valley’s vastness and unpredictability. The open-air setup of the film festival invites the natural elements to dictate its rhythm and draws attention to the viewers’ presence in the landscape. Accompanied by walks, talks and performances, the constellation of films will reflect this site-specific setup in its content, form and affect.

By sharing work that engages ideas of navigation and meandering through shifting territories — both corporeal and intangible — the programming of the film festival considers the emancipatory potentials of wandering and disorientation within landscapes while highlighting structures of power that determine who has the freedom to move or settle within their borders. The program combines multiple genres and stylistic approaches to moving image practice, encouraging a discursive setting that indulges in the isolation of the Wadi, while critically engaging with its geopolitical context.

Al-Qamar, Al-Qamar participation includes camping accommodation, food and drink for four days and nights. Film screenings will commence after evening prayers and last until dawn.

Participation & ticketing

A day’s ticket costs 37 JOD / 52 USD (22JOD / 32 USD for children 1-14 years old) and includes camping at Rainbow Camp, transportation between Wadi Rum main gate, Rainbow Camp and Cinema Qamar and its public program, as well as breakfast and dinner.

Al-Qamar, Al-Qamar is a non-profit event. All film screenings are free and open to the public, and if you wish to arrange your own accommodation at Wadi Rum feel free to do so. 

Tickets can be purchased for each day of the festival through this page. Ticket sales will end on 11 April 2019 at 6pm. 

For attendees living in Jordan without a credit card:
You can arrange to pay for your tickets in cash at the MMAG Foundation in Amman before 11 April 2019 at 6pm. Tickets sold in cash cost 35 JOD (20JOD for children 1-14 years old). For more information call +96264642626.

Program information

The film program “Cinema Qamar” start at 8pm every night and runs until 3am. Other activities will take place during the day, including talks, walks, workshops. The full program will be available online shortly. Please note that the program is tentative and subject to change—upon purchasing your ticket, you will recieve the full catalogue by email. 

Day 1 - 19 April 2019

20:00  Land on a Different Rim
programmed by Faraz Anoushahpour , Runtime: 68 minutes

• Amazing Fantasy | Ana Vaz | Brazil, Portugal | 2018 | 3 minutes

• Al Dhareeh (The Tomb) | Eltayeb Mahdi | Egypt | 1977 | 17 minutes

• Sin Dios ni Santa María (Neither God nor Santa Maria) | Helena Girón and Samuel M. Delgado | Spain | 2015 | 12 minutes

• Kempinski |Neil Beloufa | Mali, France | 2007 | 14 minutes

• Luminous Shadow | Mariana Caló and Francisco Queimadela | Portugal | 2018 | 22 minutes

21:30  Resonating Bodies and Amplified Perceptions
programmed by Eliana Otta, Runtime: 148 minutes

• Chuva é Cantoria na Aldeia dos Mortos (The Dead and the Others) | João Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora | Brazil | 2018 | 116 minutes

• Sangre Pesada (Heavy Blood) | Naomí Rincón Gallardo | Mexico | 2018 | 19 minutes

• À l’ombre de nos Fantômes (In the Shadows of our Ghosts) |Ayesha Hameed and Hamedine Kane |Royaume-Uni, Belgique, Sénégal, India | 2018 | 13 minutes

01:00 late night screening

Day 2 - 20 April 2019

20:00  The Desert has a Sister in the Sea*(Part 1)
Programmed by Gareth Evans, Runtime: 92 minutes

• Dreamachine | Stanley Schtinter | UK | 2018 | 4.5 minutes

• Erase and Forget | Andrea Luka Zimmerman | UK | 2017 | 86 minutes

22:00  Inquiring Otherness through Encounters, Dances and Jokes 
Programmed by Eliana Otta, Runtime: 129 minutes

• Para Recibir el Canto de los Pájaros (To Hear the Birds Singing) | Jorge Sanjinés | Bolivia | 1995 | 97 minutes

• Barbie Wawacha | Juan Salas | Peru | 2011 | 3 minutes

• Agarrando Pueblo (The Vampires of Poverty) | Luis Ospina | Colombia | 1977 | 29 minutes

01:00 late night screening

Day 3 - 21 April 2019

20:00  Hollow(Part 1)
Programmed by Muhammad Nour-Elkhairy, Runtime: 111 minutes

• Chic Point | Sharif Waked | Palestine | 2003 | 7 minutes

• I Signed the Petition | Mahdi Fleifel | Germany, Switzerland, UK | 2018 | 10 minutes

• Ghost Hunting | Raed Andoni |Palestine, France, Switzerland, Qatar, Italy | 2017 | 94 minutes

22:00  Lost Land
Programmed by Faraz Anoushahpour, Runtime: 90 minutes

• Al Mahatta (The Station) | Eltayeb Mahdi | Sudan | 1989 | 16 minutes

• Lost Land | Pierre-Yves Vandeweerd | Belgium, France | 2011 | 74 minutes

23:45  The Desert has a Sister in the Sea*(Part 2)
Programmed by Gareth Evans, Runtime: 149 minutes

• Nidder | Stanley Schtinter | UK | 2019 | 16 minutes

• The Water Chapters | Gideon Mendel | Worldwide | 2018 | 35minutes

• John on the Void | Stanley Schtinter | UK | 2018 | 3minutes

• Nostalgia for the Light | Patricio Guzmán | France, Germany, Chile, Spain | 2010 | 90minutes

Day 4 - 22 April 2019

20:00 Hollow(Part 2)
Programmed by Muhammad Nour-Elkhairy, Runtime: 118 minutes

• Blessed Blessed Oblivion | Jumana Manna | Palestine | 2010 | 21 minutes

• Coma | Sara Fattahi | Syria | 2015 | 97 minutes

22:30  Seemingly There
Programmed by Faraz Anoushahpour, Runtime: 54 minutes

• Foyer | Ismaïl Bahri | Tunisia, France | 2016 | 32 minutes

• Parsi | Eduardo Williams and Mariano Blatt | Guinea-Bissau, Argentina, Switzerland | 2018 | 22 minutes

23:30 Closing Party

Transportation, accommodation & meals

You can find more information about how to get to the festival, accomodation and what to bring here.

For more information

Contact +96264642626 or email alqamar@mmagfoundation.org