Orbits of [dis]appearance

Focusing on regional cinematic practices, Aboud Rawajbeh facilitated a collective screening project with films from the Sudanese Cinema Archive. The objective was to take a closer look at the 'Sudanese Film Group' (SFG) experience, paired with discussions on related readings. This program sought to delve into the history of self-organization in Arab cinema and cinema cooperatives in the region.

The SFG was founded in April 1989 by a group of Sudanese filmmakers, with the aim of ensuring comprehensive participation in all aspects of film production, teaching, and exhibition within Sudan. The military coup that same year led to a skeptical view of all art forms, and the repressive authority in Sudan ended any cultural aspirations and the cinematic dream of many Sudanese filmmakers. After 15 years, the Sudanese Film Group was able to take back what was rightfully theirs and re-register as an organization in 2005.

Aboud Rawajbeh is an Amman-based independent film curator and filmmaker. In addition to his work in independent cinema, Aboud is interested in exploring cinematic spaces, studying their forms and the contexts of their presence, especially in the Arab region. The focus of his research is on studying different cinematic practices. He is the founder of The Screening Room, an alternative cinema screen and independent cinema space in Amman.