Generations For Peace (GFP), with the support of the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan, has launched activities for the ‘Filmi’ Training Programme in partnership with Belfast-based Cinemagic.
The Programme will engage 20 youth in Jordan by providing them with comprehensive training in various areas of filmmaking. ‘Filmi’ will provide the opportunity for the participants to select a topic important to them and collaborate as a team to produce their own independent film, to be shot in Jordan.
The Training Programme will include a series of five industry film masterclasses presented by international production managers, screenwriters, and award-winning filmmakers including screenwriter and filmmaker Ryan Rowe, Screenwriter, Director and Playwright Maire Campbell, Assistant Director Terry Bamber and Producer-Director Sam Nutt who will also lead the crew in Jordan.
The ‘Filmi’ Training Programme will cover a wide range of important aspects of film production, equipping the participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. From scriptwriting and location scouting to the art of directing. The training will enhance the participants’ understanding of the entire filmmaking process and hone their skills to create pathways for employment within Jordan’s rapidly growing film industry.
Her Excellency the Ambassador of Ireland to Jordan, Marianne Bolger, commented, that “the Irish Embassy in Jordan is delighted to once again partner with Generations For Peace and Cinemagic to deliver this exciting, meaningful and impactful programme. This project will provide an excellent platform for youth not only to learn skills in filmmaking and film production, but also to make an impactful intervention on a social issue they deem important.”
GFP President, Dr Mohanned Arabiat, added, “We believe in the transformative power of youth to make our world a better place, and we know that filmmaking is an unparalleled tool for amplifying their impact. With the support of the Irish Embassy in Jordan this Programme offers a platform for aspiring youth in Jordan to engage in comprehensive training under Cinemagic’s renowned international team of experts.”
He continued, “Not only do these sessions provide invaluable knowledge and skills, but they also offer participants the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an independent film that resonates with their life experiences and embodies their dreams for a future filled with peace and prosperity.”
Cinemagic CEO, Joan Burney Keatings MBE said, “With thanks to Generations For Peace, with the support of the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan, we are delighted to embark on another ground-breaking filmmaking initiative with young people in Jordan, including Syrian refugees. After the resounding success of last year’s programme and the production of Abia, we are looking forward to working with another incredible team of talent.
At the core of Cinemagic is the ethos to educate, motivate, and inspire young people from all backgrounds, and this project does just that, as well as giving young people ownership of a creative project and one that profiles issues that important to them.”
‘Filmi’ follows the success of last year’s Training Programme, through which youth produced the award-winning short film “Abia”. The short film has since been showcased at various international film festivals and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the UN’s International Women’s Day celebration and the UN Commission on the Status of Women session. It focuses on asylum and gender-based violence, topics chosen by diverse youth in Jordan who participated in its production. “Abia” has been nominated for and won various awards, including the Best Foreign Language Film award at the 2022 British Short Film Awards.
