The RFC was established by a temporary Government Law No. 27, issued in 2003 and started practically its activities in 2004. It has been approved by Law No. 22 issued by the Parliament in 2008. The RFC is a Government institution that enjoys, however, administrative and financial autonomy.

The RFC reflects the ambition of having Jordan play a leading cultural and economic role, regionally and internationally. The RFC relies on public funds (Government), as well as private donations and grants.

Three main areas of activities:

1. Providing production support to film and television productions in Jordan. This includes, but is not limited to: location scouting and spotting; facilitating the procurement of location permits; providing the productions with customs clearances; assisting in reducing production costs by locating cost-effective services. In addition, we work on promoting Jordan as a location for foreign productions.
2. Training for emerging film-makers and professionals, from Jordan and the region, in all fields of film and television production. Seminars and workshops are organized regularly. These workshop are usually free of charge. The partnership with the University of Southern California (two workshops organized every year) and with the Sundance Institute (Screenwriters Lab, organized yearly) plays an important role in providing know-how and adding value to the RFC’s educational programs. We do also provide some production support and advice for independent filmmakers.
3. Promoting film culture in Jordan by organizing screenings with local or international partners, such as the Jordanian Higher Council for Youth or the European Commission or the Qattan Foundation. The RFC also holds screenings independently, either on its premises or with Al-Balad Theater or at Al-Hussein Cultural Center.

The RFC is led by a Board of Commissioners headed by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein. The Board is made of eight other members, chosen according to their professional and cultural backgrounds. The Board’s role is to oversee and facilitate the implementation of the RFC mission.

Board of Commissioners

We are working on the establishment of a film fund. But the RFC does help liaise with the public and private sectors in an effort to locate and secure funds.

The RFC is currently working on an incentive plan. However, foreign crews do not pay taxes on their income in Jordan. The RFC can help by locating cost-effective production services in an effort to reduce budgets.

• The diversity of locations, including over ten different types of deserts, several beaches, forests, and historic sites. Films set in almost any part of the Middle-East and several other parts of the world may be filmed in Jordan. Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Afghanistan, Spain and New Mexico and many other places can all be artistically recreated in Jordan.
• The low cost of cast, crew and production services.
• Free public locations.
• The availability of efficient services (telecommunication, hotels).
• A stable political and social environment.
• Royal and Government support for the film industry.

The RFC issues shooting permits in Jordan.

• A production form (English and Arabic forms are available) must be filled, along with the synopsis and/or the script.
• Private places are however to be approached directly by the production company, since the RFC is a governmental entity and we can’t grant issuing permits for any private place.
• Locations needed for the shooting must be clearly specified.
• A copy of the foreign crew’s IDs/passports must be provided.
• Shooting permits will be issued within 4 - 10 working days.

In 2008, three feature length films, 60 documentaries, out of which 39 were Jordanian; other than 56 television commercials, video clips and TV series, were all shot in the Kingdom. In 2009, four feature length films were shot in Jordan, 25 documentaries 17 of them are Jordanian, 10 TV commercials, 22 video-clips and 15 TV series were shot in Jordan.

There have been several Jordanian films which did not gain the international recognition they deserved (“Struggle in Jerash” in 1957, “Watani Habibi” in 1962, “Storm on Petra” in 1965 and “The Snake” in 1971).

The RFC organizes screenings regularly all over the country. The RFC organizes its own screenings and events with film-makers/producers/actors. In 2007, an agreement was signed between RFC and the Higher Council for Youth to organize screenings every two weeks, in the youth centers, in all 12 Governorates. In addition, the RFC is keen on assisting in the organization of festivals and film weeks initiated by other partners. In 2008, 32 screenings were held in the Capital and Governorates, apart from other 15 film weeks or festivals hosted at the RFC.

It is worth mentioning the “Mish Saheb Aflam” series that was first broadcast on Jordan Television in 2006 and includes Jordanian shorts in addition to interviews with film-makers and feedbacks from viewers. Given the success of this experience, the second season of “Mish Saheb Aflam” was broadcast on JTV in September 2008.

Most workshops are organized on ad-hoc basis, trying to cover all aspects of film production. In 2007, 12 workshops were organized, including workshops that covered location management, acting, digital film-making, documentary film-making, scriptwriting workshop, etc. Some were short and intensive while others stretched over a longer period.

Each year, an advanced scriptwriter’s lab, open to film-makers from the region, is organized with the Sundance Institute at Wadi Feynan.

Two workshops are organized every year with instructors from the University of Southern California.

In 2008, 13 workshops were attended by 270 participants, organized at the RFC and covering various aspects of filmmaking from scriptwriting to directing, digital filmmaking to documentary and other film-related topics.

In addition, three film clubs have been set up in different areas of the Kingdom (Sahab-Amman, Aqaba and Irbid) in cooperation with Princess Basma Youth Center. They are educational and entertainment centers, where young people can learn the know-how of film-making and at the same time watch films and discuss them.

It all depends on the level of the workshop (beginner or advanced). Applications are looked into carefully and workshops should span a wide spectrum. For each workshop, there are selection criteria, depending largely on the level of the teaching and availability of seats.

This person has to fill in a “production form” outlining his/her film project and sign an agreement detailing the use of the equipment. The filmmaker should be independent, i.e. not supported by a company or institution. The outcome of his work shouldn’t be for promotional or commercial purposes. He/she has to commit himself/herself to bring back the equipment on time and without any damage.

Lending equipment is subject to a symbolic fee and, of course, depends on its availability. When a film is entirely done with RFC equipment, film rights will be shared with the RFC.

Anybody – professional or amateur – who fits the above-mentioned criteria is eligible to borrow RFC equipment.

Being a non-profit and national organization, our aim is not to compete with others but to complement and support any private initiatives that aim and work towards promoting the film industry in Jordan.
We do cooperate with the newly established SAE Institute, Yarmouk University and on ad-hoc basis with Al Balad Theater, Darat Al-Funun, Makan, etc., as well as the above-mentioned Princess Basma Youth Center (see above) and the Higher Council for Youth. Not to mention our close links to the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts.