The Red Sea International Film Festival offers Film AlUla the opportunity to not only celebrate bringing an incredible slate of films to audiences in the country but also showcase AlUla to an international and regional network of creators and industry professionals as well as champion the incredible pool of local talent in the programme.

To celebrate the new partnership, Film AlUla will host a lunch for the global industry, participate in ‘Souk Talks’ to discuss the opportunities of filming in AlUla and partnering with KSA. They will also have an exhibition booth promoting AlUla alongside other commissions and institutions from around the world.

Currently filming in Film AlUla is Ric Roman Waugh’s ‘Kandahar’ starring Gerard Butler (Greenland, Angel Has Fallen), Ali Fazal (Victoria & Abdul, Death on the Nile) and Navid Negahban (Homeland). Produced by Capstone and Thunder Road Films, the epic action thriller is the first big budget US film to shoot against the breath-taking landscape. Capstone is financing the film along with MBC Studios.

The film will also shoot in Jeddah and is supported by the Saudi Film Commission, and will recruit a team of local skilled crew and local talent working as extras. The film has benefited from an exceptional cash back rebate based on production spend in Saudi and incentives granted by His Highness Prince Badr as Minister of Culture.

Stephen Strachan, Film Commissioner at The Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “We are thrilled to be an Industry sponsor to join forces with the Red Sea International Film Festival and support this exciting new chapter in the both the country and industry at large. Film AlUla shares the same bold vision as the Festival to build the flourishing film industry in the country and champion emerging Saudi filmmakers. We look forward to working with the Festival to build a fruitful partnership in the coming years.”