Syria Today | Syria holds country’s first TV drama conference

Syria holds country’s first TV drama conference

In a bid to boost local TV drama production, the Syrian government organised the first conference for producers, writers and actors working in the country’s TV drama industry on December 7.

Opening the ceremony, Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal said he hoped the conference would pave the way for “serious and open talks” about ways to better support the country’s TV drama industry.

Participants discussed a range of issues, including government censorship and the possibility of partnerships in production between the private and public sectors.

“Today censorship has little effect; the days of national television channels are gone now that satellite has been introduced,” Syrian producer Adeep Kheir said. “We’re calling for real support from the government for our productions because we face serious competition from programmes produced in Egypt and the Gulf.”

Syrian TV drama expert Mohammad Ameen reiterated similar comments, emphasising the need for more Syrian satellite channels. “We have to see drama production as a national industry and should support and subsidise producers,” he said. “Discussion at a conference is not enough; we need action to improve this industry. We need more Syrian satellite channels on which to air our productions. Two or three channels are not enough.”

At the end of the conference participants called for the establishment of a state-run television drama production company, which, they hope, will encourage private companies to invest as well as maintain the high quality of Syrian productions.

Last year, Syrian companies produced roughly 28 drama series, the most popular type of programme with Syrian and Arab viewers. The Syrian-produced Bab al-Hara (The Neighbourhood Gate) series has the highest viewing rates among all Arab TV drama series.