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AJYAL: A Joint Programme with Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (USJ)
Postgraduate Degrees in Theatre and Film Studies | Academic Year 2025-2026
Basel Ayman Alfaour | Master's in Theatre - Institute of Theatrical, Audio-Visual and Cinematographic Studies - Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
Basel Ayman Alfaour is a Syrian playwright, dramaturge, and screenwriter who graduated in 2023 from the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts in Damascus - Department of Theatrical Studies. He currently works as an assistant lecturer at the same institute, where he teaches courses in "Theatrical Writing" and "Modern Classicism". For his graduation project, he presented a comparative study entitled "Contemporary Oedipus" between Sophocles' play "Oedipus Rex" and Sam Shepard's play "A Particle of Dread", which he translated from English, exploring the structural and aesthetic extensions of classical tragedy in contemporary theatre. He has written several theatrical texts including scenes from "The Living Room", "Outside"; "Inside", and "The House", which was presented as a reading at Zawaya Gallery in 2021 directed by Majd Fadda, then staged in Damascus in 2023 directed by Yasser Al-Bahr. He has worked as dramaturge and artistic supervisor on theatrical projects at the institute, and participated in film projects as assistant director and dramatic consultant. Basil is active in literary writing and translation, having translated Sam Shepard's text "A Particle of Dread", and won first prize (shared) in the "Vienna Literature" competition for his short stories "Another Face of the Rose" and "The Invisible Ones". Additionally, he works in the field of dramatic writing, adaptation, and dramaturgical consultancy for cinema and television, reflecting his multifaceted expertise in the world of theatre and dramatic arts.
Amin Abu Qasem | Master's in Cinema - Institute of Theatrical, Audio-Visual and Cinematographic Studies - Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
Amin Abu Qasem is a Palestinian-Syrian documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Beirut, who graduated in 2023 from the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts in Syria - Department of Visual Arts. He currently works as a fellow in the Artists Protection Fund (APF) at the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), and as a board member of "Al-Oyoun", and is a graduate of the Arab Documentary Photography Programme (ADPP). Amin's work addresses personal environments and survival amidst societal challenges and unstable conditions, highlighting ongoing crises and their impact on individuals and the toxic patterns of life they produce. In 2023, he won the award for Best Long-term Documentary Project from POY Asia for his project "How Was Everything Before All This Destruction?", and received a grant for his second project "My Short-term Memory" which was selected to participate in the Bucharest Photo Festival 2024. He received support from the Southern Culture Fund, and an ADPP fellowship for the photobook "A Song from the Diaspora", and was selected in 2025 for the "Joop Swart" programme of the World Press Photo Foundation.
Jury Committee
Elie Yazbek, Marianne Noujaim, Nour Ouayda
Statement of the Jury Committee
This is the third edition of the Ajyal Scholarship Programme at Saint Joseph's University, where this year's applicants stood out for the depth of their artistic vision and its connection to their personal and social experiences. They presented art as a fundamental tool for expressing and approaching their reality. Their passion for learning was evident, as was their clear desire to develop their academic and professional careers, as well as their interest in benefiting from collaborative opportunities and scholarships. The committee noted that many applicants had strong artistic and academic backgrounds and were enthusiastic about pursuing further academic educational opportunities.
The committee was aware of the difficult circumstances in which the applicants live and the fact that there have been few recent opportunities to see various artistic performances, especially in the theatre field. As a result, the artistic approaches in many applications were similar, but this also reflected shared artistic experiences.
It was evident that most applicants are looking for opportunities to develop, network and receive support. They are more aware of these opportunities than applicants from previous editions. The committee found that applicants are passionate and committed to the learning, regardless of their current employment status or personal challenges. Many of them prioritised academic and artistic development and saw the acquisition of knowledge as an essential part of their journey. Committee members were impressed by the fact that many theatre students expressed an interest in cinema and vice versa, demonstrating their artistic curiosity in both areas on an academic and practical level.
The committee noted that some good applications were not selected due to certain remarks and hopes that these remarks will not discourage applicants from developing their expertise and applying again next year or seeking other opportunities that match their skills. Although the selection process was not easy given the large number of applications, which in some respects reflect similar overlap and experience, the Committee was careful to establish precise criteria for the selection of deserving candidates.
The Committee congratulates this year's selected applicants and wishes those who were not successful all the best in their future endeavours and is confident that the opportunities ahead will open up new horizons for them to continue to create and find their rightful place in the cultural and artistic landscape.
