The Syrian drama and cinema industry is moving towards a new stage to strengthen its presence in the Arab market, amid growing interest in investing in this vital sector and expanding the production base. Ali Anouz, head of the Cinema and Television Industry Committee, confirms that the National Drama Committee focuses on reviving the concept of family drama, which left a historical mark, citing productions such as "The Four Seasons" and "Big Dreams".
Anouz clarified that this direction respects Arab family values and enhances communication with new generations, while developing monitoring mechanisms for artistic works to ensure content quality. He also revealed growing interest from investors in other economic sectors, with an ambition to raise investment volume between $100 and $200 million, compared to $25 to $30 million last year.
For his part, the spokesperson noted that production continuity is linked to the availability of funding and effective marketing, stressing the expansion of artistic activity to include various Syrian governorates through theatrical and folkloric projects. He emphasized the importance of reviving the memory of Syrian art and introducing new generations to its creative history, pointing to the "Nostalgia: Memory of Syrian Art" project.
Anouz added that funds allocated to the sector are experiencing annual growth ranging between 25 and 30 percent, with work underway to clearly define the responsibilities of relevant authorities and provide facilitations to protect capital. He noted that the sector supports approximately 40,000 Syrian families and relies on young talents to renew the sector's vitality and ensure its sustainability.
Anouz affirmed that Syria possesses all the necessary components to regain its role as a regional center for drama production, relying on tax exemptions and financial facilitations. He highlighted the importance of establishing internal Syrian satellite channels to ensure permanent exhibition outlets, reducing the industry's reliance on external station policies, especially for the 2027 season and beyond.
He stressed the need to benefit from international experiences, such as those in the US and UK, where creative industries in the United States amount to approximately $170 billion and contribute about 5 to 6 percent of GDP. He explained that these models highlight the economic importance of art in stimulating related sectors such as transport, distribution, and services, and providing employment opportunities.
The spokesperson indicated that the syndicate is working on projects that evoke the history of theater, drama, music, and folk arts, stressing that producers always need to know the markets and exhibition outlets that will absorb their works in advance to ensure their success and continuity in the local and Arab markets.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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