Amman – 1 September 2020

The Royal Film Commission - Jordan (RFC) has announced 26 cinematic and TV series projects to receive the Jordan Film Fund’s (JFF) financial support in its fifth cycle for the year 2020 with a total amount of 250,000 Jordanian dinars.

Compared to the previous cycle, a significant increase of 32.5% in the number of submissions in all categories was realized, especially in the number of documentary projects. Eight documentaries received JFF’s support (31% among all granted projects) representing the highest number of its kind to receive fund in the same year.

An independent jury of Jordanian and Arab filmmakers and professionals met online (via Zoom platform) over four days to evaluate eligible submissions in the following categories: development, production and post-production of feature- narratives and documentaries; development of TV series; production of short and animated films (narrative and documentary).

The jury members included: Jordanian producer Rula Nasser, Syrian director Mohammad Malas, Palestinian director Scandar Copti, Lebanese director Simone Al Habre, Sudanese director Amjad Abu Al Alaa and Palestinian director Salim Abu Jabal. The jury praised the diversity of topics as well as the distinct approaches of the submitted projects in general.

Commenting on the submissions and selection process, the jury noted “We are content with the growth in the Jordanian cinema industry especially observed in the short and documentary films. Short and animated films formed half the number of submissions in this cycle by emerging filmmakers, from Amman and different Governorates, aspiring to tell innovative stories.

We were pleased evaluating and granting eight documentary projects in this cycle for their noticeable topics and the desire of their makers to shed the light on daily human concern and marginalized groups within their stories. We wish them success and we are eager to see these projects produced and reaching international film circuits.”

Mohannad Al-Bakri, the RFC’s Managing Director, commented: “It is important for us to support emerging and well-established independent filmmakers and TV series writers. JFF’s financial support aspires to contribute to the Jordanian culture as well as to encourage investors and co-productions to move these projects forward particularly this year. As the spread of the COVID19 pandemic has affected film and TV industry in Jordan and the world at large culturally and economically, hindering multiple international film festivals, funds, productions that had and still have a major negative impact on the independent film industry.

Al-Bakri expressed his gratitude for the contribution made by EUNIC/ European Union in Jordan with the amount of 15,000 Euros towards JFF’s grantees with a European co-producer attached to their project.

Following is the list of The Jordan Film Fund’s grantees in its fifth cycle:

Production of Feature Documentary Projects:

‘Cinema Salwa’ (Director: Mahmoud Al Massad; Producer: Omar Al Massad
‘Five Football Dreams’ (Director: Bassel Ghandour; Producer: Hashem Sabbagh

Post-Production of Feature Narrative Project:

‘Farha’ (Director: Darin Sallam; Producer: Deema Azar and Ayah Jardaneh).

Post-Production of Feature Documentary Project:

‘The Settlement’ (Director: Alex Sarda; Producer: Jumana Saadeh).

Development of Feature Narrative Projects:

‘Theft of Fire’ (Writer: Amer Shomali; Producer: Rashid Abdelhamid
‘Weedestine’ (Writer: Said Zagha; Producer: Mais Salman)
‘Heaven on Earth’ (Writer: Zaid Bawab)
‘I Beg, Your Pardon’ (Writer: Samer Battikhi)
‘The Sea Needs to Heave’ (Writer: Zain Duraie; Producer: Alaa Alasad)
‘Soon We Will All Be History Here’ (Writer: Saeed Taji Farouky;Producer: Maria Caruana Galizia)
‘The Lift’ (Writer: Saleh Al Khataybeh)

Development of Feature Documentary Project:

‘From Earth to Earth’ (Director: Said Najmi; Producer: Azza Hourani)
‘Seats of Revolution’ (Director: Rand El Haj Hasan; Producer: Saleem Salameh
‘Manila Street’ (Director: Tanya Marar; Producer: Khaled Haddad)

Development of TV Series Projects:

‘Voltage’ (Writers: Amin Matalqa)
‘Outlaw’ (Writer: Luma Al-Hamarneh)

Production of Short Narrative Projects:

‘3rd floor’ (Writer/ Director: Hamzeh Mahadin; Producer: Nasser Kadamani)
‘Abu Haga’ (Writer/ Director: Ahmad AL-Zawaidah; Producer: Mohammad Assaf
‘2 AM’ (Writer/ Director: Tasneem Abu Sokkur; Producer: Mahmoud Alhayek
‘The Silent Record’ (Writer/ Director: Mohammad Quta; Producer: Ibraheem Shaheen and Laora Haddadin)
‘Family Portrait’ (Writer/ Director: Nour Alzwateen; Producers: Ra’aed Tawalbeh and Rahaf Bdour)
‘Touchline’ (Writer/ Director: Mohammed Saffouri; Producer: Tareq Baddar
‘Rolling’ (Writer: Hussam Zaghmouri; Director: Omar Al-Taher; Producer: Ahmad-Yaseen Al-Hlabiah)

Production of Short Documentary Project:

‘Fist of Fury’ (Director: Abdelrahman Hussein; Producer: Musab Khalaf

Production of Short Animated Documentary and Narrative Projects:

‘Shadows’ - Documentary (Director: Rand Beiruty; Producer: Farah El Assi)
'Zoo’ – Narrative (Writer/ Director: Tariq Rimawi; Producer: Aminah Abdat