When Denis Villeneuve got the thumbs up from Warner Bros. and Legendary to shoot “Dune,” he knew he was headed back to the Middle East.
Specifically, to the deserts of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, which are inextricably tied to the Canadian director’s passionate vision of the planet Arrakis. These countries have also played key roles in several of the “Star Wars” installments, giving all these films a soul they never could have attained using green screens and the CGI visuals of most sci-fi movies.
Villeneuve in several interviews has said he started scouting for “Dune” a decade ago in Jordan when he first came to the region to make his 2010 Oscar-nominated breakout film “Incendies.” Even then, he was dreaming of bringing Frank Herbert’s book to life. As heard in promotional materials for the film, Villeneuve vowed to himself that if he ever got to make “Dune,...
Specifically, to the deserts of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, which are inextricably tied to the Canadian director’s passionate vision of the planet Arrakis. These countries have also played key roles in several of the “Star Wars” installments, giving all these films a soul they never could have attained using green screens and the CGI visuals of most sci-fi movies.
Villeneuve in several interviews has said he started scouting for “Dune” a decade ago in Jordan when he first came to the region to make his 2010 Oscar-nominated breakout film “Incendies.” Even then, he was dreaming of bringing Frank Herbert’s book to life. As heard in promotional materials for the film, Villeneuve vowed to himself that if he ever got to make “Dune,...
- 11/29/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Abu Dhabi Film Commission is understandably proud that Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures filmed at the Liwa desert, the large oasis area in the Western Region of the Emirate that doubled as the desert world of Arrakis, and in the past also served as a set for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
“Dune” director Denis Villeneuve filmed at the Liwa desert over 11 days with a team of local and international talent. The film benefited from a rebate through Abu Dhabi Film Commission, while production services were provided by Dubai-based Epic Films, along with support from a number of UAE production partners, including twofour54, Go Aerials, Filmquip Media, Fstop Location Services and Eman Transport.
This exclusive behind-the-scenes promotional footage shows the cast and crew on location for a sequence of key scenes set on Arrakis, and features Villeneuve praising the location and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s services.
“Dune” director Denis Villeneuve filmed at the Liwa desert over 11 days with a team of local and international talent. The film benefited from a rebate through Abu Dhabi Film Commission, while production services were provided by Dubai-based Epic Films, along with support from a number of UAE production partners, including twofour54, Go Aerials, Filmquip Media, Fstop Location Services and Eman Transport.
This exclusive behind-the-scenes promotional footage shows the cast and crew on location for a sequence of key scenes set on Arrakis, and features Villeneuve praising the location and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s services.
- 9/22/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The July 4 premiere of short “Off Hiatus,” presented by artist David Lachapelle and fashion designer Kai Milla, will be one of the highlights of the Monaco Streaming Film Festival.
The short follows Milla as she and her associates provide exclusive access and insight to what really happens behind the scenes of fashion, through storytelling and impromptu dialogue. The premiere will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, the festival’s flagship venue. The same evening, the festival’s gala awards will honor leading contributors to the world of on-demand content.
Speakers this year include Mitch Lowe, founding VP Netflix, “The Biggest Loser” producer David Broome, “MasterChef” creator Franc Roddam, composer Erran Baron Cohen (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”), and Buzz Hays, global lead, entertainment industry solutions, for Google Cloud.
Chris Fetner (Entertainment Globalization Association), Kay Meseberg (Arte), Elizabeth Markevitch (IkonoTV), Haymi Behar (Spi International), Jakob Mejlhede and Marius Johan-sen (Shahid...
The short follows Milla as she and her associates provide exclusive access and insight to what really happens behind the scenes of fashion, through storytelling and impromptu dialogue. The premiere will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, the festival’s flagship venue. The same evening, the festival’s gala awards will honor leading contributors to the world of on-demand content.
Speakers this year include Mitch Lowe, founding VP Netflix, “The Biggest Loser” producer David Broome, “MasterChef” creator Franc Roddam, composer Erran Baron Cohen (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”), and Buzz Hays, global lead, entertainment industry solutions, for Google Cloud.
Chris Fetner (Entertainment Globalization Association), Kay Meseberg (Arte), Elizabeth Markevitch (IkonoTV), Haymi Behar (Spi International), Jakob Mejlhede and Marius Johan-sen (Shahid...
- 5/17/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The Q&a Zoom event will take place on April 28 at 4pm BST.
Screen International’s sister site Kftv is hosting a webinar on Wednesday April 28 at 16:00pm BST with leading local and international production figures set to discuss getting to and filming in the United Arab Emirates.
Click Here To Attend
The confirmed speakers are Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner; Shane Martin, CEO, Executive Producer; Commercials Director, Boomtown Productions; Matteo Granziol, Location Manager, Fstop Location Services; Ben Porter, producer, Rsa Films in the UK.
The Talk, sponsored by Boomtown Productions, will cover locations, crew, logistics, incentives, equipment,...
Screen International’s sister site Kftv is hosting a webinar on Wednesday April 28 at 16:00pm BST with leading local and international production figures set to discuss getting to and filming in the United Arab Emirates.
Click Here To Attend
The confirmed speakers are Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner; Shane Martin, CEO, Executive Producer; Commercials Director, Boomtown Productions; Matteo Granziol, Location Manager, Fstop Location Services; Ben Porter, producer, Rsa Films in the UK.
The Talk, sponsored by Boomtown Productions, will cover locations, crew, logistics, incentives, equipment,...
- 4/28/2021
- ScreenDaily
The Abu Dhabi Film Commission has signed a cooperation agreement with the Israel Film Fund and the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film & Television School to foster film and TV ties in the region.
The agenda focuses on four initiatives, which interestingly include plans for a new regional film festival. The Middle East previously had the Dubai International Film Festival, which established itself as a key event for the Arab World’s nascent film biz but last took place in 2017 and is not expected to return. Saudi Arabia has the new Red Sea International Film Festival, though this has had a rocky beginning, and Israel has fests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, but the level of investment in film production in the region, particularly in the UAE, has created expectations that another event could be inaugurated.
The new event would rotate annually between Abu Dhabi and Israel and will focus on Emirati and Israeli productions and co-productions,...
The agenda focuses on four initiatives, which interestingly include plans for a new regional film festival. The Middle East previously had the Dubai International Film Festival, which established itself as a key event for the Arab World’s nascent film biz but last took place in 2017 and is not expected to return. Saudi Arabia has the new Red Sea International Film Festival, though this has had a rocky beginning, and Israel has fests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, but the level of investment in film production in the region, particularly in the UAE, has created expectations that another event could be inaugurated.
The new event would rotate annually between Abu Dhabi and Israel and will focus on Emirati and Israeli productions and co-productions,...
- 9/21/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
In the Middle East, the push to get back into production is best encapsulated by Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates city that’s been steadily growing as a global hub for Hollywood and Bollywood shoots, and where even during the coronavirus crisis production never stopped.
“We maintained full production throughout the pandemic,” says Michael Garin, CEO of Abu Dhabi’s Twofour54, the outfit that provides infrastructure and incentives to more than 500 entertainment companies.
Though Hollywood and Bollywood shoots went on hiatus, it was “Inheritance,” the world’s first Arabic-language, U.S.-style soap opera, produced by Twofour54, Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Saudi-owned Mbc Studios, that kept the cameras rolling in dedicated studios where safety measures — such as temperature checks, Covid-19 testing and sterilization of sets and equipment — were put in place in February.
“The difference with us is we really did it immediately,” says Image Nation chief content officer Ben Ross.
“We maintained full production throughout the pandemic,” says Michael Garin, CEO of Abu Dhabi’s Twofour54, the outfit that provides infrastructure and incentives to more than 500 entertainment companies.
Though Hollywood and Bollywood shoots went on hiatus, it was “Inheritance,” the world’s first Arabic-language, U.S.-style soap opera, produced by Twofour54, Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Saudi-owned Mbc Studios, that kept the cameras rolling in dedicated studios where safety measures — such as temperature checks, Covid-19 testing and sterilization of sets and equipment — were put in place in February.
“The difference with us is we really did it immediately,” says Image Nation chief content officer Ben Ross.
- 9/9/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Hans Fraikin was the founding commissioner of the Quebec Film and TV Council, where during his tenure the region saw $1.5Bn in inward investment, staging shoots for titles including 300 and X-Men: Apocalypse, as well as becoming a world leader in animation.
Now, he has set up shop in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, the Middle East city which is attempting to establish itself as a global hub for film and TV shoots. To date, the location has housed shoots including 6 Underground, Sonic The Hedgehog, Mission: Impossible – Fallout (where they filmed the famous Halo stunt jump), Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Fast & Furious 7. The location is also popular with high-profile Bollywood shoots, with its proximity to India and tax rebate system proving a draw for producers from that huge industry. Recent large scale Indian productions include Bang Bang, Baby and Tiger Zinda Hai.
Going forward,...
Now, he has set up shop in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, the Middle East city which is attempting to establish itself as a global hub for film and TV shoots. To date, the location has housed shoots including 6 Underground, Sonic The Hedgehog, Mission: Impossible – Fallout (where they filmed the famous Halo stunt jump), Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Fast & Furious 7. The location is also popular with high-profile Bollywood shoots, with its proximity to India and tax rebate system proving a draw for producers from that huge industry. Recent large scale Indian productions include Bang Bang, Baby and Tiger Zinda Hai.
Going forward,...
- 8/4/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
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