The first edition of the Arab Producers Lab (APL), organized by the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) in collaboration with the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) – Europe’s leading training, development, and networking organization for producers – was concluded on Thursday 3rd of October. The sessions started on the 29th of September at the Royal Film Commission, with the participation of six selected projects by Arab directors and producers working on their first or second narrative feature film.

49 projects from the Arab region were initially submitted and evaluated, and qualified projects were selected through a lengthy process that included detailed evaluation of each project and interviews with shortlisted directors and producers.

The selected projects that participated in the Lab are:
    - “The Sad Life of Happy Pig” by Christelle Younes (Producer) & Christy Whaibe (Director/Writer) - Lebanon 
      - “Kohl & Cardamom” by Marwa Tammam (Producer) & Fady Atallah (Director/Writer) - Egypt 
     - “Once upon a time in Tripoli” by Muhammad Mustapha (Producer) & Abdullah Al-Ghaly (Director/Writer) - Egypt/Libya
     - “Red Bus in Baghdad” by Mohammed Alghadhban (Producer) - Iraq
     - “The Lift” by Sa’ed Arouri (Producer) & Saleh Al Khataybeh (Director/Writer) - Jordan
     - “Shama” by Zaid Baqaeen (Writer/Producer) - Jordan

The participating directors/producers had the opportunity to meet with three Arab and foreign experts:
     - Titus Kreyenberg, former film and TV executive producer, founder of unafilm, which has produced or co-produced over 40 films featured at top festivals like Berlinale, Cannes and Toronto. Kreyenberg also tutors at EAVE, Torino Film Lab and Biennale Cinema College.
 
    - Rula Nasser, a seasoned Jordanian film producer, began her career in 1999 working on international productions for the BBC and Discovery. She later joined the Royal Film Commission – Jordan. Nasser has produced numerous Jordanian films featured in major festivals. 
 
  - Hédi Zardi, with over 20 years in the film and TV industry, has extensive experience in project development, creative production and story editing. Zardi leads the Atlas Workshops, a talent-development program by the Marrakech International Film Festival. 

Commenting on his participation, Jordanian producer Sa’ed Arouri said: “This Lab is a major step in my career as a Jordanian producer, as it will enable me to use the experience and skills I have acquired and bring my work to a new level. I got the chance to expand my professional network and deepen my understanding of the film production process on the international level, which will certainly enhance my chances of presenting high-quality works to compete abroad.” 

Expert Titus Kreyenberg commented by saying: “As the group leader of EAVE, I am thrilled to have been part of the inaugural Arab Producers Lab, a collaboration between the Royal Film Commission and EAVE. I had the privilege of working closely with six different teams, focusing on enhancing their projects with a particular emphasis on the producers’ expertise. It was truly inspiring to engage in the rich and dynamic discussions among all the participants, exploring the wealth of stories and narratives they brought to the table.”

Through a combination of group meetings, collaborative work and individual sessions, participants were equipped with the skills to effectively participate in the creative production process, with a focus on talent discovery, script development and project development. The programme also provided comprehensive knowledge of film markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the world, helping producers identify target audiences, prepare the project for submission, build partnerships and secure production and distribution financing.

Submissions for the second edition of the Arab Producers Lab will open in May 2025.
 
About the Royal Film Commission – Jordan
The Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) is a public institution, with administrative and financial autonomy, established in 2003 with a mandate to promote for and contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Jordanian audio-visual industry. The RFC organizes training workshops, screenings and provides production support services.
For any further information, please call: +962797557116