FILM ALULA AND STAMPEDE VENTURES ANNOUNCE ‘FOURTH WALL’ AS THE DEBUT PRODUCTION IN ALULA STUDIOS
Filming Begins in Q1 2025 with the Partnership to Introduce a Filmmaking and Training Initiative for Emerging Saudi Talent
AlUla, Saudi Arabia – 11th December 2024: Film AlUla, the film agency of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and global media company Stampede Ventures, led by founder and CEO Greg Silverman, have announced that Stampede, through its Stampede Arabia subsidiary, will begin production in Q1 2025 on Fourth Wall – the first film to be shot at the new AlUla Studios in Saudi Arabia.
Fourth Wall written by Jerry Kontogiorgis, will be produced by Greg Silverman and Grant Torre of Stampede, directed by Alexis Ostrander (Servant) and starring Emma Roberts (Space Cadet, Holidate). The announcement of the debut production at the state-of-the-art AlUla Studios is a major milestone in Film AlUla’s journey as a premier destination for global filmmaking.
The Fourth Wall production also ushers in a refresh of the strategic direction for the partnership between Film AlUla and Hollywood-based Stampede Ventures and its subsidiary Stampede Arabia. The initial collaboration has been recalibrated to focus on producing a specific slate of four films well-suited for production at AlUla Studios and to further the key objective of knowledge-sharing and mentoring local talent. Through this partnership, Stampede Ventures and Film AlUla will train Saudi film professionals, including aspiring youth, to help shape their careers in the screen sector as members of production crews.
Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “The announcement of Fourth Wall as the debut production at AlUla Studios marks a defining moment in our journey to establish AlUla as a premier global filmmaking destination. This milestone heralds a new era of cinematic excellence in the region and will showcase the capabilities of our state-of-the-art studios.
“Our partnership with Stampede Ventures underscores our commitment to advancing our long-term vision of AlUla as a global creative hub. By empowering Saudis to actively participate in the industry and share their stories, we aim to inspire the next generation of talent. We are thrilled about the selected films and confident that this focused approach will produce impactful productions that captivate global audiences and highlight AlUla’s unparalleled appeal as a filming destination.”
The AlUla Studios complex is a full-service facility designed to support international and local filmmaking. Its amenities include a 30,000-square-foot soundstage, a backlot, production support buildings, workshops, warehouses, a recording studio, training and rehearsal spaces, and event and administrative facilities.
Greg Silverman, CEO of Stampede Ventures, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “After a very positive recent experience shooting K-POPS on location in AlUla, Stampede Ventures is now thrilled to bring more films to our partnership with RCU. Our productions will celebrate the unique allure of AlUla as a setting for cinematic creativity and the inspiring energy and love for filmmaking of the men and women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
For each film produced at AlUla, Stampede will provide comprehensive training for Saudi talent to work as members of production crews. The program includes introductory workshops and on-site training across various departments, such as production staff, camera crew, art department, set operations, lighting, locations, transportation, sound, wardrobe, and makeup. Trainees will receive post-training evaluations and feedback, with opportunities to advance into specialised roles in future productions to further develop their expertise.
Film AlUla’s collaboration with Stampede Ventures is a significant step toward realising Vision 2030’s cultural goals, positioning AlUla as a global hub for filmmaking excellence.
Film AlUla has been instrumental in fostering Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning film industry, hosting over 744 days of filming since its inception in 2020. Productions include the action thriller Kandahar, starring Gerard Butler, the Russo brothers’ Cherry, starring Tom Holland, and Saudi filmmaker Tawfik Alzaidi’s debut feature Norah, which this year became the first Saudi film ever chosen as an official selection for the Cannes Film Festival. Also during the festival, Film AlUla received the Emerging Location Award and Film Commission Award at the Global Production Awards.
Other highlights for Film AlUla include location shooting for Stampede’s film K-POPS, which marks the directorial debut of eight-time Grammy award-winning artist Anderson .Paak and which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film was produced by Stampede Ventures and is in addition to the four-picture partnership with Film AlUla.
Film AlUla offers producers a favourable and flexible financial model that includes a rebate and additional incentives for productions that recruit Saudi crew and talent above and below the line, feature AlUla’s culture and history or shoot at Film AlUla’s studios.
Fourth Wall written by Jerry Kontogiorgis, will be produced by Greg Silverman and Grant Torre of Stampede, directed by Alexis Ostrander (Servant) and starring Emma Roberts (Space Cadet, Holidate). The announcement of the debut production at the state-of-the-art AlUla Studios is a major milestone in Film AlUla’s journey as a premier destination for global filmmaking.
The Fourth Wall production also ushers in a refresh of the strategic direction for the partnership between Film AlUla and Hollywood-based Stampede Ventures and its subsidiary Stampede Arabia. The initial collaboration has been recalibrated to focus on producing a specific slate of four films well-suited for production at AlUla Studios and to further the key objective of knowledge-sharing and mentoring local talent. Through this partnership, Stampede Ventures and Film AlUla will train Saudi film professionals, including aspiring youth, to help shape their careers in the screen sector as members of production crews.
Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “The announcement of Fourth Wall as the debut production at AlUla Studios marks a defining moment in our journey to establish AlUla as a premier global filmmaking destination. This milestone heralds a new era of cinematic excellence in the region and will showcase the capabilities of our state-of-the-art studios.
“Our partnership with Stampede Ventures underscores our commitment to advancing our long-term vision of AlUla as a global creative hub. By empowering Saudis to actively participate in the industry and share their stories, we aim to inspire the next generation of talent. We are thrilled about the selected films and confident that this focused approach will produce impactful productions that captivate global audiences and highlight AlUla’s unparalleled appeal as a filming destination.”
The AlUla Studios complex is a full-service facility designed to support international and local filmmaking. Its amenities include a 30,000-square-foot soundstage, a backlot, production support buildings, workshops, warehouses, a recording studio, training and rehearsal spaces, and event and administrative facilities.
Greg Silverman, CEO of Stampede Ventures, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “After a very positive recent experience shooting K-POPS on location in AlUla, Stampede Ventures is now thrilled to bring more films to our partnership with RCU. Our productions will celebrate the unique allure of AlUla as a setting for cinematic creativity and the inspiring energy and love for filmmaking of the men and women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
For each film produced at AlUla, Stampede will provide comprehensive training for Saudi talent to work as members of production crews. The program includes introductory workshops and on-site training across various departments, such as production staff, camera crew, art department, set operations, lighting, locations, transportation, sound, wardrobe, and makeup. Trainees will receive post-training evaluations and feedback, with opportunities to advance into specialised roles in future productions to further develop their expertise.
Film AlUla’s collaboration with Stampede Ventures is a significant step toward realising Vision 2030’s cultural goals, positioning AlUla as a global hub for filmmaking excellence.
Film AlUla has been instrumental in fostering Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning film industry, hosting over 744 days of filming since its inception in 2020. Productions include the action thriller Kandahar, starring Gerard Butler, the Russo brothers’ Cherry, starring Tom Holland, and Saudi filmmaker Tawfik Alzaidi’s debut feature Norah, which this year became the first Saudi film ever chosen as an official selection for the Cannes Film Festival. Also during the festival, Film AlUla received the Emerging Location Award and Film Commission Award at the Global Production Awards.
Other highlights for Film AlUla include location shooting for Stampede’s film K-POPS, which marks the directorial debut of eight-time Grammy award-winning artist Anderson .Paak and which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film was produced by Stampede Ventures and is in addition to the four-picture partnership with Film AlUla.
Film AlUla offers producers a favourable and flexible financial model that includes a rebate and additional incentives for productions that recruit Saudi crew and talent above and below the line, feature AlUla’s culture and history or shoot at Film AlUla’s studios.