Collaboration between Red Sea Fund and Film AlUla Empowers Filmmaking in AlUla
On Thursday, The Red Sea Fund and Film AlUla announced a partnership to provide a production grant for filmmakers to create projects set in the AlUla landscape.
Mohammed Al-Turki, the CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, shared his enthusiasm for the grant. He aims to offer a platform to support and encourage emerging talents in the region. According to Al-Turki, their organization’s goal is to help and encourage filmmakers from Arab and African regions and promote the film industry in Saudi Arabia. KSA is home to exceptional filming locations such as AlUla.
Al-Turki stated that they were thrilled to have Film AlUla as a financial partner for the third round. According to him, this collaboration would enable the fund’s beneficiaries to realize their creative visions on the silver screen and exhibit the magnificence and variety of KSA with the backing of two major allies.
Co-Producing Films: Red Sea Fund, Film AlUla, and Saudi Arabia’s Role in Funding and Supporting Projects
In June, Film AlUla became a strategic partner of the Red Sea Fund’s third production cycle. They will provide financial production support to filmmakers from the MENA region.
The Red Sea Fund will provide funding for a minimum of 10 projects from the MENA region. The number of projects may increase depending on the fund’s selection process.
Filmmakers can film a part of their project in the distinctive AlUla terrain through this initiative. Filmmakers who receive the grant will get extra financial, logistical, and administrative assistance while working on their project.
According to Charlene Deleon-Jones, who is the executive director of Film AlUla, their goal is to create a complete film industry in AlUla, and they remain committed to achieving it. She said that the Red Sea Fund was a partner in this project. They are known for creating and carrying out programs that help new talent and are fair to everyone involved. Deleon-Jones conveyed their enthusiasm and willingness to support and cultivate the upcoming group of grant beneficiaries.
The Red Sea Fund and Film AlUla will be named as co-producers, along with Saudi Arabia as a co-production country, for the films selected for funding.
Filmmakers will have complete creative control over their productions and will be judged entirely on production quality, talent, and script. In order to comply with the guidelines, a certain amount of each project needs to be recorded in AlUla. This amount is 15% of the total screen time for feature films, while for shorts, it is 40%.
Since its inception in 2021, the Red Sea Film Fund has helped over 170 films, eight of which made it into the official selection for this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Some of the winners include “Mother of All Lies” for best director, “Omen” for best new voice, “Hounds” for the jury prize, and “Goodbye Julia” for the Freedom Prize.
Takeaways
The partnership between the Red Sea Fund and Film AlUla is a noteworthy advancement in providing help and encouragement to filmmakers in AlUla, as well as in the larger Arab and African areas. This partnership seeks to support emerging filmmakers by offering production grants and resources. Its goals include fostering the growth of the film industry in Saudi Arabia and highlighting the stunning scenery of AlUla in cinematic form.
Last Updated on 1 year by News Editor
