Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, the film agency of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), has announced the start of construction on the first phase of its ambitious new studio complex.
The first phase will be approximately 330,000 square feet (30,000 square meters) and is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The complex will include two world-class sound stages, production support buildings, workshops, a pyro/SFX building, a catering facility and an administration building, as well as a 70,000 square foot (6,500 square meter) back yard and recording studio.
The complex also comes close to nearly 12 square kilometers of special outdoor filming locations that showcase AlUla’s landscape and ancient heritage.
Located in northwestern Saudi Arabia, AlUla is home to two mountain ranges, three volcanoes and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra.
The area is at the heart of the country’s efforts to attract local and international productions to shoot in the region, combined with a refund discount of up to 40% for international and local productions.
A large delegation of Hollywood celebrities who were in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival also visited AlUla this week, including director Guy Richie and actors Scott Eastwood, Lucy Hale and Henry Golding .
“AlUla is a thriving center for art, culture and heritage. With the film and screen sector at its core, the first phase of this studio complex has been carefully planned and is part of a much larger infrastructure development programme,” said Charlene Deleon-Jones, Executive Director of Film AlUla.
“This complex will meet the growing demand from regional and international producers for AlUla’s recordings while providing an epicenter for our production ecosystem. The studio complex will diversify AlUla’s economy in line with RCU’s goals as we build a home to nurture Saudi talent in the film industry for generations to come.”
Film AlUla said it has worked with US live experience company Tait to ensure the production experience at AlUla is completely seamless and comfortable, even during the summer months.
The studio complex is 14 minutes from the Film AlUla Residence, which features 300 rooms, restaurants, recreational facilities and office space for industry professionals, and 20 minutes from AlUla International Airport, which recently opened a private jet hangar. The studio complex is located outside the airport’s approach runway.
Details of the second phase will be announced in the second quarter of 2023.
Film AlUla has organized 694 production days since opening in 2020.
Features shot there are included Kandahardirected by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Gerard Butler, the first major Hollywood film shot almost entirely on AlUla.
Other productions include the Iraq War story cherry, starring Tom Holland and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo; and Nora, the first Saudi film shot in AlUla with an all Saudi cast and over 40% Saudi crew.
In addition, many TV productions have been filmed in AlUla, including the British series Expedition with Steve Backshall and Nat Geo documentaries, as well as commercials, promotions, photo shoots and short films.
Writer: Melanie Goodfellow
Source: Deadline
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