Dr. Jabbar Joudi Appointed Head of Programming Committee for HelAFF'25
- Helsinki Arab Film Festival
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Helsinki - June 12, 2025
Dr. Jabbar Joudi Al-Abboudi, a prominent figure in the Iraqi cultural scene, has been appointed as the head of the Programming Committee for the 2nd edition of the Helsinki Arab Film Festival (HelAFF'25).
In addition to this new role, he serves as the President of the Iraqi Artists Syndicate and is the Director General of the Cinema and Theatre Department at the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities.
Born in 1967 in Al-Mishkhab, Najaf Governorate, Dr. Joudi has made significant contributions to the arts over his extensive career since 1992. An accomplished scenographer, television actor, and theatre director, he founded Dijlah TV in 2007 and has been leading the Iraqi Artists Syndicate since August 5, 2018.
“It is my pleasure to be part of this festival that is bringing the Arabic cinema closer to the hearts and minds of Finnish people,’ said Dr. Joudi in a meeting with HelAFF representatives in Baghdad.
Throughout his career, Dr. Joudi has held various influential positions in Iraqi cinema and theatre, including director of the National Theatre Company. His work has involved designing sets and lighting for numerous productions. From 2007 to 2008, he also served as the founder and director of the Technical Arts Department at the Department of Cinema and Theatre.
As he steps into his role at HelAFF '25, Dr. Jabbar Joudi’s extensive experience and dedication to the arts position him well to contribute to the festival’s success and further promote Arab cinema on an international stage.
The Programming Committee is tasked with selecting and coordinating the films that will be shown at the festival.
