5 September, 2024; Amman, Jordan: Under the patronage of HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Generations For Peace (GFP) hosted the premiere of its short film, “An Olive Branch,” at its headquarters in Al Hussein Youth City, Amman on Wednesday.
“An Olive Branch” was unveiled in the presence of GFP Founder and Chair HRH Prince Feisal, senior government officials and media representatives. The film is the culmination of the Filmi Programme, a programme implemented by GFP in partnership with Belfast-based Cinemagic, with the support from the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan in 2023. The programme provided 20 young people from Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Sudan with comprehensive filmmaking training, culminating in the creation of their own film.
Produced from script to screen, “An Olive Branch” tells the story of a displaced family’s journey to a better future, showcasing the resilience and determination of young people facing adversity. The initiative underlines the power of filmmaking as a tool for youth leadership and community empowerment – values GFP has championed since HRH Prince Feisal launched the global non-profit peacebuilding organisation in 2007.
Lama Hattab, GFP CEO, said, “The creation of ‘An Olive Branch’ is a continuation of our previous success with the award-winning movie ‘Abia’. Generations For Peace is proud to be utilising our Media For Peace tool to empower the next generation of young creatives through storytelling and filmmaking skills to help address complex issues like displacement and migration. Through the Filmi Programme, these young filmmakers have found a platform to share their unique perspectives with the world. We are delighted to support their journey to empower the next generation of creative talent. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners, Cinemagic and the Irish Embassy in Amman, for their ongoing support.”
Marianne Bolger, Ambassador of Ireland to Jordan, said, “I am exceptionally proud that the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan was able to support our partners at Generations For Peace and Cinemagic in Northern Ireland in making ‘An Olive Branch’ possible. What inspires me so much about this initiative is the creativity and talent of its young participants throughout the filmmaking process. As was the case with last year’s project, the participants have used the medium of film to highlight important themes, including those of displacement and loss. I would like to commend all the participants and the wonderful actors for the beautiful way in which this moving story is told.”
Joan Burney Keatings, Cinemagic CEO, said, “Cinemagic is exceptionally proud to have developed another special project with Generations For Peace culminating in the production of ‘An Olive Branch’. We were delighted to be able to work with such a great team of young people and professional filmmakers throughout the whole process. The commitment and passion from everyone involved allowed us to create a powerful piece of work, offering skills development opportunities and a platform to discuss and debate important social issues. Thank you to all our partners in enabling these creative opportunities so we can inspire young people and nurture young talent”.
Following the premiere, the young changemakers shared their personal stories and highlighted their experiences in the training and the skills they developed from the international filming and production crew that supervised the filmmaking journey. Moreover, certificates were be distributed to all participants of the programme in recognition of their dedication and hard work.
The Filmi Programme covered 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 enhanced the participants’ understanding of the filmmaking process and honed their skills to create pathways for employment within Jordan’s rapidly growing film industry.
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Notes to editors
Generations For Peace
Generations For Peace (GFP) is a Jordan-based global non-profit peacebuilding organisation founded by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan in 2007. Dedicated to sustainable conflict transformation at the grassroots, GFP empowers volunteer leaders of youth to promote active tolerance and responsible citizenship in communities experiencing different forms of conflict and violence through carefully facilitated sport as well as art, advocacy, dialogue, empowerment, and media activities provide an entry point to engage children, youth, and adults for integrated education and sustained behavioural change.
Cinemagic
Cinemagic is a charity based in Northern Ireland which aims to educate motivate and inspire young people and annually, the organisation produces film festivals and many short films for young people to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds through film and teach skills in the creative industries. Cinemagic was conceived as a cultural antidote and a creative arena for self-expression for young people during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
