AlUla & NEOM recognised at Cannes awards as world class film hubs
AlUla & NEOM recognised at Cannes awards as world class film hubs
Winning two awards and a special commendation at the Global Production Awards in Cannes, Saudi Arabia continues to take on Hollywood when it comes to producing top class productions
23 May 24
Film AlUla wins big at Global Production Awards
The film and production hub and agency created by the Royal Commission for AlUla's (RCU), Film AlUla, has been honoured at an awards ceremony in Cannes.
Film AlUla Wins Big
As part of the Cannes Film Festival, the Global Production Awards were developed to recognise the essential role of production and location in bringing films and shows to fruition. These awards spotlight active initiatives and completed projects, particularly those that prioritise sustainability, diversity, and the economic prosperity of local communities.
With this in mind Film AlUla was honoured with two coveted awards; the Emerging Location Award and the Film Commission Award.
Since its launch in 2020, Film AlUla has played a formative and central role in a number of local and international productions, spanning across various formats such as movies and TV series to documentaries, and has established itself as a pivotal and evolutionary entity in Saudi Arabia's film industry and bid to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas as part of Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia's presence at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is significant as Norah, the first film directed by a Saudi national, with an all Saudi cast which was filmed in the Kingdom (in AlUla) will be screened at the internationally acclaimed film festival.
Saudi Nominations & Category Winners
Emerging Location Award (sponsored by Dallas Film Commission)
- Film AlUla, Saudi Arabia (Film AlUla) Winner
- NEOM, Saudi Arabia (NEOM Media Industries) High Commended
- Placer-Lake Tahoe, US (Placer-Lake Tahoe Film Office)
- Tampa Bay, US (Film Tampa Bay)
- Tirana, Albania (Tirana Film Office)
Film Commission Of The Year
- Andalucía Film Commission, Spain
- Cherokee Film Commission, US
- Czech Film Commission, Czech Republic
- Film AlUla, Saudi Arabia Winner
Community Impact Award
- Fresh Film (Fresh Film, Ireland) Winner
- NEOM Media Industries (NEOM, Saudi Arabia)
- Working Together on a New Way Forward (Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People, US)
Film AlUla & the International Film Industry
Filming of Hajjan
In October 2023, Film AlUla and Stampede Ventures signed a transformative partnership that promises to elevate AlUla's film and creative industry. The $350 million deal secured AlUla's position as a growing production and film hub, and as a fully functioning alternative to shooting in the US.
As part of this agreement, filming for 'Motor City' is set to begin in July, marking the beginning of the groundbreaking partnership between Film AlUla and Stampede Ventures, a prominent Hollywood-based production company, as they embark on their first film of a ten-movie deal.
In response to the growing demand from the film industry, Film AlUla has built state-of-the-art production infrastructure, with ongoing upgrades. The completed Phase One includes two soundstages spanning 26,000 square feet each, workshop areas covering 15,400 square feet for each filming stage, a production facility equipped with hair and makeup rooms, and the Film AlUla Residence, which provides 300 fully furnished units. Additionally, a recording studio is scheduled to open in June 2024.
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