Saudi-Backed Crime Thriller ‘BOOMAH’ Set for World Premiere at Shanghai Film Festival
Key Developments:
- Jordanian filmmaker Zaid Abu Hamdan’s latest feature “BOOMAH” will make its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
- The film received support from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Fund and Jordan’s Royal Film Commission.
- The crime drama explores the lives of marginalized women in Jordan and stars acclaimed actress Rakeen Saad.
DUBAI (Arab News) — June 4, 2026: Jordanian director Zaid Abu Hamdan’s new feature film “BOOMAH,” supported in part by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Fund, is set to receive its world premiere at the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival, marking another significant milestone for contemporary Arab cinema.
The film stars Jordanian actress Rakeen Saad, widely recognized for her performances in “AlRawabi School for Girls” and the critically acclaimed “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo.” The cast also includes Majd Eid, Nabil Al-Raee, Joanna Arida, Farah Bsieso, and Hanan Hilo.
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Set on the margins of Jordanian society, “BOOMAH” follows the story of a feared female street enforcer who survives through intimidation and small-scale criminal activity in an underground economy. Her life begins to change when two vulnerable children enter her world, forcing her to confront unresolved questions about identity, family, and belonging.
As criminal networks expand their influence around her, the protagonist struggles to survive in a society that often overlooks those living on its fringes.
The film is written and directed by Abu Hamdan, whose debut feature “Daughters of Abdulrahman” earned widespread recognition across the Arab world. Continuing his focus on underrepresented communities, the filmmaker said the project was inspired by the experiences of real women in Jordan.
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“(The film) was born from very local wounds, but its heart is universal: the need to belong, the pain of being unseen, and what happens when survival and pain become a language,” Abu Hamdan said in a press statement.
Reflecting on the film’s international debut, he added: “I was inspired by stories of real women in Jordan who were feared, judged, and misunderstood, but rarely truly seen. To have the film meet the world for the first time at the Shanghai International Film Festival is a profound honor.”
“BOOMAH” was produced by Front Row Productions, Bounce Productions and Beyt Al Shawareb, with support from the Royal Film Commission – Jordan.
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The Shanghai International Film Festival remains one of Asia’s most prominent cinema events. Organizers recently announced that this year’s edition received a record number of submissions from more than 125 countries and regions, underscoring its growing role as a global platform for filmmakers and international premieres.
Arab productions have increasingly found audiences at the Shanghai festival in recent years, with several acclaimed regional films previously featured in its program, further strengthening cultural and cinematic exchanges between the Arab world and Asia.
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