RFC launches new project to support local talents

AMMAN — The Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC), in partnership with The Drosos Foundation, on Monday launched the “Halaqat” project, in which six Jordanian TV series projects will take part in an intensive training programme in Amman over the course of 12 months.

The RFC initiated “Halaqat” with the aim of supporting teams of directors, producers and screenwriters in Jordan, and helping them develop their TV series projects under the mentorship of local, Arab and international consultants, according to a statement posted on the RFC website.

The selected TV series are: “Five Thieves” (directed by Mohammad Ali/written by Mohammad Ali and Karim Ariqat/produced by Mohammad Zghoul); “The Shopping Square” (directed by Samer Battikhi/written by Samer Battikhi and Hayat Abu Samra/produced by Aya Wuhoush); “The Night is Still Young” (directed by Naji Salameh/written by Moeen Masoud/produced by Mohammad Khamis); “Jordanian Tales” (directed and written by Ahmad Al Khatib/produced by Mays Al Reem); “The Cage” (directed and written by Mohammad Al Hushki/produced by Yousef Abd Al Nabi); “What Really Happened to Aisha?” (directed and written by Zaid Baqaeen/produced by Mais Salman and Batoul Ibrahim).

The participating teams were scheduled to meet at the kick-off workshop, between November 8 and November 10, with the Lebanese writer/creator Nadia Tabbara, nominated for the Emmy Awards, and the American writer/creator and executive producer, Dave Holstein, nominated for the Golden Globe, in order to create a plan for the projects’ workflow. 

The Egyptian director and screenwriter Amr Salama and the American writer and producer Paul Foley will join virtually as guest speakers.

By the end of the “Halaqat” project, the RFC will assist with networking the six projects with industry decision makers from the TV and film sector, producers, production companies, investors as well as representatives from international and regional VOD platforms with the aim of securing funding.

Mohannad Al Bakri, the RFC’s managing director, said: “’Halaqat’ goes in line with the RFC’s vision to expand our scope of work to include the TV sector along with the cinema industry. What distinguishes ‘Halaqat’ is that it’s a high-end comprehensive project that we trust will materialise in quality series. We appreciate The Drosos Foundation’s valuable support, which enabled us to realise this important project.”

Fyras Mawazini, from the Drosos Foundation, said: “We are proud to support this new initiative ‘Halaqat’ and we trust the RFC to take up this new challenge and thus continue to transform the audiovisual landscape and TV series in Jordan while improving the competences and skills in the film industry, a very promising sector for the youth”.

The RFC cooperated with the Drosos Foundation, which had supported the establishment of three film centres in Mafraq, Wadi Rum and Petra, between 2015 and 2019, according to the statement. The RFC organised, in the framework of this project, a total of 27 workshops and 226 screenings at the three centres, all free of charge targeting the local communities and school students.