The highly anticipated Jordanian feature film SIMSIM by Sondos Smirat is finally coming home for its commercial debut in local theaters on Thursday, July 16th.
 
The story follows Simsim on a dramatic yet humor-laced journey filled with unexpected twists. In a desperate bid to reclaim her freedom and life, she hatches a plan to arrange a second marriage for her husband. However, this unconventional quest teaches her that true liberation doesn't come from shifting a man's attention, but from confronting herself and reclaiming her own voice and power.
 
Before hitting local screens, SIMSIM made waves on the festival circuit, starting with its world premiere at the Amman International Film Festival, where it clinched a Special Mention for Best Screenplay and a Best Actress Award. This marked the beginning of a successful international run, with screenings spanning the Hurghada Youth, Tangier, Oran, Golden Dunes, and the Berlin Arab film festivals. It also took home the Karama Human Rights Film Festival’s top award.
 
Reflecting on her debut feature, director Sondos Smirat shared that she chose SIMSIM because the story resonated deeply with her internal world. She notes that the character embodies the modern woman navigating life's complex mazes, someone who remains her own ultimate anchor even when the path of love is far from smooth.
 
Smirat wanted to tell a story through the lens of resilience rather than vulnerability, framing the narrative not just as a confrontation with society, but as an internal battle to break free from fear, memory, and guilt. Believing this narrative echoes a reality experienced in almost every household, she anchored her entire cinematic vision in passion and authenticity.
 
Bringing this vision to life is a talented creative team. The screenplay and dialogue were crafted by Tamara Oweis, Razan Al-Zoubi, Taima Twaisi, and Al-Zahra Bani Yassin, starring Saja Kilani and Majd Eid in the lead roles. The behind-the-scenes crew includes cinematographers Talal Khoury and Ali Drabs, editor Abdullah Saad, sound designer Amer Dwaik, and composer Yazan Al-Rousan. On the production side, Qais Noamani produced the project for Cordoba Art Production, alongside co-producer Khaled Haddad of Slate Film Services, while MAD Distribution handles sales and distribution across the Arab World.
 
The driving force behind the project, Sondos Dheeb Hassan Smirat, is an Irbid native who graduated with honors from Yarmouk University in 2022, specializing in Drama and Filmmaking. Now a member of the Jordanian Artists Association, she honed her craft under the mentorship of elite industry professionals. She initially built her career directing short films that swept up numerous local and international awards, while continuously sharpening her skills through specialized workshops hosted by the Royal Film Commission of Jordan.