Jordan witnesses flurry of local film, TV production — RFC

AMMAN — The recent period has witnessed the production of many local films and series in the Kingdom, the Royal Film Commission (RFC) said Sunday.

A series, titled "Malik bin Al Raib", directed by Mohammad Lutfi, has recently wrapped shooting in Jordan, the RFC said, noting that the production tells the story of a poet from Tamim tribe and the historical phase he and his tribe had experienced.

The series toured several areas across the Kingdom to shoot the scenes, such as Petra, the Dead Sea, Dibbin, Ajloun, and Kafrein and King Talal dams, according to an RFC statement.

Another series called "Kibrit 45" also finished shooting recently; the production tells the story of a TV scriptwriter who becomes famous after writing a work that received great acclaim.

Director Mohammad Hushki chose the capital's Jabal Amman, Jabal Luweibdeh, Ras Al Ain, Shmeisani and downtown areas to shoot the series.

Meanwhile, director Hussam Hijjawi finished filming a Bedouin series in Wadi Rum titled, "Al Damaa Al Hamra" (Red Tear), which tells the love story of a young man and woman belonging to two different tribes.

TV films have also been shot over the past few months in Jordan, such as the feature-length documentary "The Great Arab Revolt" which recounts the events of the Revolt led by Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, the RFC added.

The production, co-directed by Aseel Mansour and Ronald May, was filmed in Aqaba and Wadi Rum.

The RFC said it is continuing its efforts to develop the audiovisual production sector in Jordan and present comprehensive services aimed at boosting local production.

These productions contributed to providing 713 jobs for local crew members, the statement said.

Jordan's nascent film industry has made a name for itself by gaining international recognition for its Academy Award-nominated narrative feature "Theeb".

The film, a coming-of-age tale set in the Arabian Desert of 1916, was the first Jordanian film to earn an Oscar nomination.

Since its release in international film festivals in August 2014, “Theeb”, directed and co-scripted by Naji Abu Nowar, has been screened in over 25 countries and won more than18 awards, including Best Director at the Venice Film Festival, according to the movie’s distributor, MAD Solutions.

It lost the best foreign film Oscar to the Hungarian Holocaust film "Son of Saul".