Film AlUla, the Royal Commission for AlUla’s film agency, in collaboration with the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA), successfully completed an intensive film industry training and workshop program.
The initiative brought together more than 70 aspiring filmmakers, providing them with an immersive, hands-on learning experience over a series of specialised sessions. Film AlUla seeks to harness the immense talent in AlUla and Saudi Arabia through platforms that elevate local skill sets to enable this close-knit community to provide international productions with strong on-ground support.
The programme featured a series of workshops and trainings designed by leading organisations, including Hopscotch, Kourtrajmé, and Travelling. The programme is structured to offer comprehensive skill-building opportunities, delivered by film experts. These sessions were tailored to equip participants with the essential technical skills required in the film industry. The programme featured:
- Two dynamic workshops and seven technical training sessions
- Nine esteemed industry experts who shared insights and guided participants
- The production and screening of six short films, showcasing participant creativity and skill
- 189 hours of hands-on experience, enabling participants to develop practical filmmaking competencies
Zaid Shaker, Acting Executive Director of Film AlUla, said: “AlUla has quickly become an exciting film destination that offers cutting-edge facilities and equipment and unparalleled landscapes for filmmakers across the globe. A key part of our growth has been through engaging and elevating local talent and enhancing their skills through programmes like our collaboration with AFALULA. Through this programme, we aim to inspire new careers by training participants in various cinema technical skills. In doing so, we hope to continue adding to the local film industry to build a sustainable film economy that can host high-quality film productions.”
Youssef Safouane, Director of Development at AFALULA, stated: “We are thrilled with the success of our collaboration with Film AlUla, which brought together local talent for immersive workshops and technical training. Watching participants gain hands-on experience, create original films, and learn from top industry experts has been incredibly rewarding. This collaboration is another example of our institutional cooperation and knowledge transfer in technical film trades that will benefit all levels within the industry and underpins AlUla’s reputation as a growing film destination.”
With major film productions slated to take place in AlUla’s newly built 2,500 m² mega-studios over the coming years, the demand for skilled professionals in the region is set to rise significantly. This influx of film shoots highlights the importance of training local talent in both technical aspects and artistic expression. Through this collaborative effort, Film AlUla, in partnership with AFALULA, focused on integrating the French cinematic ecosystem into AlUla’s development, creating a virtuous circle of awareness, artistic training, business promotion, and technical knowledge transfer. This collaborative effort is committed to establishing AlUla as a premier global hub for film production and education.
