His Majesty King Abdullah visited the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) on Thursday and was briefed on its programmes and future plans.

King Abdullah met with heads of the RFC’s departments and a number of Jordanian filmmakers.

At the meeting, His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, chairman of the RFC’s board of commissioners, expressed appreciation for His Majesty’s support for the Commission, which seeks to develop the Jordanian film industry to enable it to compete internationally, and to give Jordan a leading and innovative role in filmmaking in the region and the world.

RFC Managing Director George David gave a briefing on the Commission’s achievements, noting that over 110 local and international films have been shot and produced in Jordan over the past few years, in addition to dozens of television shows.

The RFC is currently working on attracting major international film productions to shoot in Jordan, David added, outlining the Commission’s strategy for the coming years and the main areas it covers in its work.

The Commission, according to the managing director, supports local television and film productions, and provides training opportunities in film and television for aspiring and professional filmmakers from Jordan and the region.

David said the RFC also holds regular film screenings in Amman and the governorates, in cooperation with local and international partners, to promote cinema culture in Jordan.

Also during the meeting, a number of Jordanian filmmakers highlighted their experiences in the film industry and their aspirations for the field in Jordan.

They also spoke about the RFC’s role in supporting their careers.

In an interview, filmmaker Mahmoud Hammash said the RFC offered him free training in documentary filmmaking at the Zarqa Film Centre, after which he was able to produce a documentary short on his city and area, as well as a feature-length documentary that was screened at international film festivals.

Hammash said filmmaking has become an income-generating career for him, enabling him to improve his economic situation.

For her part, film director Anwaar Al Shawabkeh said the RFC helped facilitate her work when she began filming her picture “Rusoomat Amman” (“Drawings of Amman”), and the Commission also offered multiple workshops that helped her produce the film “Ibdaa Alaan” (“Start Now”), which has been screened at four film festivals in the United Kingdom.