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About Us

The Yard Films is a premium production company based in the UAE, supplying local and international broadcasters with the highest level of content, unbiased market insights, and unique co-production opportunities.

We focus on scripted, non-scripted, children's entertainment and reality TV.

With strategic relationships with global and regional broadcasters and streamers, The Yard is uniquely positioned to identify and deliver previously unseen content in the region.

What we do

We develop stories and characters that global viewers universally recognize but with authentic Middle Eastern details, capitalizing on European standards to produce stories developed through regional knowledge and local talent. 

We work with the region's best production companies and crews, ensuring authenticity as well as growing local talent.

Our team

  • Jakob Mejlhede Andersen

    Co-founder

    Jakob has worked with TV content for more than 20 years across Scandinavia, Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

  • Camilla Hammer

    Co-founder

    Camilla has worked in media for more than 20 years and her skillset stretches across all monetizing aspects of the content business.

  • Phil Rostom

    Co-founder

    A production specialist with over 21 years experience creating and producing content for broadcasters, agencies and brands.

In The News Former Viaplay Group and Shahid Chief Content Officer launches new production company The Yard Films. Dubai, 28th November 2022

A company based in the MENA region with rich original TV Series and co-production experience.

Jakob Mejlhede Andersen, former Viaplay Group and Shahid Chief Content officer, launches new production and development company The Yard Films, based out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The executive team also includes Camilla Hammer, an industry expert with global acquisitions, sales and packaging experience and Phil Rostom, an industry veteran across the MENA region. Together they possess extensive expertise across creation, production, and financing of content across MENA, Europe, and the US.

The Yard Films aims to develop and produce original scripted and non-scripted content for both local and international players. The company has identified a strong need for storytelling that target’s millennials and Gen Z particularly within existing and upcoming OTT services.

During his career at Viaplay Group and Shahid, Jakob Mejlhede Andersen has had the responsibility for developing and executing the content strategy that led both Viaplay (Nordics) and Shahid (MENA) to market leading positions in steep competition with both global and local competitors. An integral part of the strategies has been local original scripted content. Jakob Mejlhede Andersen has been involved in more than 200 Nordic and Arabic scripted and non-scripted projects.

It’s our ambition to produce and deliver groundbreaking content for the buoyant Arabic streaming market. We aim to work in partnerships with the excellent local creative scene across the entire MENA region.

Camilla Hammer possesses a rich experience in sales, co-production and financing.

We strongly believe in partnerships within the region and internationally. There are a wealth of stories across the Middle East that have strong interest not only from local but also international platforms.
Phil Rostom is a leading production executive who has been based in MENA for the last 17 years, working with both local and international players.

We aim to bring the creative quality on screen to even higher levels than what exists now, working with the strong local creative scene but also bringing in international competence where needed.

© 2022 The Yard Films. All rights reserved.

Jakob Mejlhede Andersen

Co-founder

Jakob has worked with TV content for more than 20 years across Scandinavia, Europe, Russia and the Middle East. Previous Group Director & Chief Content Officer, MBC and Executive VP and Chief Content Officer, NENT.

He has successfully built and executed the content strategy and execution for Viaplay in the North and Shahid in the Middle East, two regional services that became market leading within OTT.

An instrumental part of the success of both Viaplay and Shahid has been a strong roster of local and regional scripted TV drama. Jakob has commissioned more than 200 scripted originals and is also behind several unscripted successful shows.

Jakob has worked with most companies and leading creative powerhouses across both Europe and the Middle East. He moved to the UAE in 2020.

Camilla Hammer

Co-founder

Camilla has worked in media for more than 20 years. Her skillset stretches across all monetizing aspects of the content business. Previously Camilla has worked for MTG, Shine International and Millicom before setting up her own companies across the US, Europe and now the Middle East.

She has full understanding of key content owners and media networks worldwide with extensive experience in how to produce, co-produce, presell and distribute content worldwide

Phil Rostom

Co-founder

A production specialist with over 21 years experience creating and producing content for broadcasters, agencies and brands. After completing a degree in film, Phil started working on productions for ITV, Channel 4 and eventually worked at Framestore CFC in London.

Phil moved to the UAE in 2005 and has worked here since with all the major regional broadcasters. Working with intentional brands and production companies to produce content for the region.

He developed and built WWE content in the region, with WWE Wal3ooha airing on both OSN and MBC and running for over 150 episodes.

With key MENA and UK relationships within the production, broadcast and creative industries, Phil can make any production come to life. Guaranteeing international production values with regional talent and crew.