Int’l, local experts preparing curricula in cinematic arts for children, young people

AMMAN — A group of international and local experts are in Jordan this week to design curricula in cinematic arts for children. 

The curricula is for the “Children and Youth Film Centres” project implemented by the Royal Film Commission (RFC). 

The project will be implemented in various villages in Petra, Wadi Rum and Mafraq, under an agreement between the RFC and the Swiss Drosos Foundation, which is funding the initiative, according to a statement released by the commission on Wednesday.

The curricula include various educational and training methods that will help children and young people in remote villages, and more precisely communities in the northern and southern regions, including the badia, to learn about cinematic arts through a systematic and scientific approach that meets high standards. 

The purpose is to motivate children to express themselves, talk about their environment and their history in new and different perspectives through film, the statement said.

The team of experts consists of the two Jordanians — actress Juliette Awad and theatre director Majd Qasas — Iraqi director Mohamed Al Daradji, Danish filmmaker and educator Flemming Lyngse, and Sulafa Hijazi from Syria, an expert in visual arts and directing.

“Stories are coming from everywhere; they are around us, in buildings and in stones, initiated by men and women. We love stories and we build societies around them," the statement quoted Lyngse as saying.

"Here, we are organising film workshops, where children can learn to tell stories as filmmakers, stories that we would love to see,” he added, speaking about the project.

In a related context, Awad said: "The role of art is to induce change and to develop societies. Otherwise, there is no need for it. The philosophy behind this meeting is to bring about change and development into remote and underprivileged areas.”

Daradji emphasised the importance of educating children and young people about cinema, whereby they can expand their horizons and start grasping it in both its artistic and industrial dimensions, according to the statement.

Abedalsalam Al Haj, capacity-building manager at the RFC, said this project falls within the commission’s efforts to develop the skills and capacities of young Jordanians and children, noting that the initiative is due to be launched by the end of this year.