During the last thirty years, the National Film Organization (NFO), created in 1963 upon the model of the soviet Mosfilm, has been almost the only film producer in Syria. It has also been the distributor of European films.
The NFO only started its cinema activities in 1975 when the first Syrian directors came back from studying in Moscow. It has produced narrative feature films and documentaries.
The private sector is almost inexistent because of the political situation and because of the absence of a real market. This one, very small, is dominated by US and Arab speaking films.
For Syrian professionals, the emergency is to diversify the local production in order to preserve a national cinema.


Public funding available:
In 2006, around SYP150 million (€2,239,000) going directly to the National Film Organization (NFO) which can ask for more at the end of the year. This support is subject to the agreement of the Minister of finance.

Number of films produced per year:
In 2006, the NFO has produced 3 feature films, 9 shorts and 4 documentaries.

Number of coproductions: 0
But one animation length feature film coproduced with the private Syrian company "The Orée Star".

Source : Joud Said, Europa Cinémas
http://www.euromedaudiovisuel.net/Files/2007/03/20/1174351539015.pdf (consulted 28/07/2009)