Duo Behind Student Academy Award Hit ‘Subconscious Dive’: New Projects

Jordanian filmmakers Raghad Albakheet and Danial Salman are following up the success of their Student Academy Award-nominated short film “A Subconscious Dive” with separate feature projects.

Directed by Albakheet and produced by Salman, “A Subconscious Dive” made the short list of semifinalists in the Alternative/Experimental category, making it only the second Jordanian film in history to receive the recognition and marking a significant milestone for Jordan‘s growing film industry.

Produced as part of the Jordan Cinema Academy program, the visually stunning short illustrates Raghad’s memories and emotions as she sits in a hypnotherapy session, taking the viewer deep into her subconscious mind, descending into the sea, glimpsing often dark moments of her life as a child, a teenager, an adult and mother, as she confronts long hidden pain through beautiful and sometimes disturbing imagery.

“The strength of the film comes down to honesty, not being afraid to dive into deep, uncomfortable emotions,” says Albakheet. “Naturally, my lived experience as a woman shaped the narrative, making it spontaneously reflect the unspoken struggles that women endure. Yet, by allowing my own suppressed pain to be exposed in a raw, authentic way, the story transcends any single demographic.

“I approached it first and foremost as a human experience. Emotions are universal; they don’t carry a passport, and they aren’t bound by gender, race, or background. That willingness to be vulnerable without compromise is what allowed international audiences to see their own hidden truths mirrored in the film.”

For Salman, as a first-time producer, “the experience was both demanding and deeply rewarding.”

“When discussing decisions with Raghad, I wasn’t only thinking about logistics — I understood what she was trying to achieve artistically, and my role became finding practical ways to make that vision possible.”

“Producing the film was particularly challenging because, as students, we set out to make a project that extended far beyond Amman with a budget of $4,231,” Salman adds.

Among the biggest challenges was filming underwater sequences on location in Aqaba, in the south of Jordan, he adds. Albakheet had to complete scuba diving training so she could film underwater herself.

Shooting also took place at the Al Azraq Wetland Reserve. “We collaborated closely with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, whose support was invaluable throughout the production. From a producer’s perspective, this location required careful logistical planning: transporting the cast, crew, equipment, and props from Amman, while also ensuring the safety and comfort of our child actors by coordinating with their guardians throughout the shoot.”

For Albakheet and Salman, the success of “A Subconscious Dive” continues to raise their profiles.  

“It has been a defining launchpad for my journey as a writer and director,” Albakheet says. “Coming from a fine arts background, this recognition validated my visual and non-linear storytelling approach, while giving the film the global platform it needed.

“Beyond the exposure, it reinforced my belief that intimate, deeply psychological stories can cross borders and resonate universally. That momentum has driven me straight into developing my debut feature and given me the confidence to step forward and tell bigger stories on an international stage.”

Salman adds: “Being selected for the Student Academy Awards is a particularly meaningful milestone for us, as it marks only the second film in Jordan’s history to receive this recognition, after Murad Abu Eisheh‘s Student Academy Award-winning short film ‘Tala’vision.’

“We are incredibly proud that a project created through the Jordan Cinema Academy has reached this stage and can represent Jordanian cinema internationally, not to mention that we are the first cohort of the academy, which is great for the history of the academy itself and the Royal Film Commission.”

Salman, who sees himself primarily as a writer and director, currently has a short film of his own on its festival run following its premiere in July at the Amman Film Festival: “Acceptance,” about a young man crushed by deep grief after a painful personal loss and struggling to escape his pain.

He is also working on two other projects, a short and his first feature film. 

The short, “What Remains,” is in development and set to shoot next year. “The film explores the sensitive subject of honor killings and examines how their consequences and the ideas behind them can be inherited across generations,” Salman tells Variety.

The feature film, “The Memory of You,” is “a deeply personal story inspired by my own family,” he adds. “It follows the conflicts surrounding inheritance after the death of my late grandfather, my mother’s father, and the war that unfolds between the siblings. The film will also explore other layers, including Alzheimer’s and the idea that our memories may be among the most precious things we possess.”

Albakheet is also building on the international momentum of “A Subconscious Dive” while also taking part in screenwriting initiatives, including evaluating screenplays for top-tier fellowships. She is currently prepping her debut feature project, “Ice Cream Truck,” which she describes “as the narrative feature continuation of ‘A Subconscious Dive.’

“At its core, it is a psychological confrontation between ‘myself and I’ across different chapters of life, unfolding in the suspended space between life and death. It explores the subconscious mind narratively, with experimental elements, which will keep the audience engaged in the story as well as delivering intense abstract emotions,” Albakheet explains. “This film will resonate with international audiences, while still authentically mirroring the culture I grew up in, and it will give voice to women whose stories often go unheard.”  

Albakheet and producer Ahmad Alkhlaifat are in the mid-development stage, with a second draft of the script recently completed.

“We are actively applying to writing labs and development funds to solidify the budget,” Albakheet adds. “Creatively, the script is nearly ready for production. Any remaining polish will be minor. While the plan is to shoot on location across Jordan and the UAE, our final production footprint will depend on co-production and funding structure.”