Royal Commission Inaugurates Film AlUla to Support Film Industry

Film AlUla was established in early 2020 by the Royal Commission for AlUla with a mandate to promote filming in the AlUla region. (Film AlUla)
Film AlUla was established in early 2020 by the Royal Commission for AlUla with a mandate to promote filming in the AlUla region. (Film AlUla)
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Royal Commission Inaugurates Film AlUla to Support Film Industry

Film AlUla was established in early 2020 by the Royal Commission for AlUla with a mandate to promote filming in the AlUla region. (Film AlUla)
Film AlUla was established in early 2020 by the Royal Commission for AlUla with a mandate to promote filming in the AlUla region. (Film AlUla)

The Royal Commission for AlUla has inaugurated the Film AlUla to support and facilitate filming in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla region.

The Film AlUla commission offers the opportunity to discover picturesque filming locations amid the breathtaking landscape of the region.

The new office will focus on supporting and encouraging local productions by working with several government agencies in the film industry.

It is part of the royal commission's efforts to realize the Kingdom's Vision 2030 by supporting national talents in the industry.

Several international producers have already expressed their interest in exploring AlUla as a location for their movies and a Hollywood-produced film will be announced soon.

Two Saudi movies will also be filmed soon in AlUla, "Bayn Al-Rimal" and "Noura", which are directed and produced by Saudis.

Film AlUla was established in early 2020 by the Royal Commission for AlUla with a mandate to promote filming in the AlUla region and develop a film-friendly ecosystem to support productions.

Film AlUla is a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) and follows best practices as laid out by the AFCI as well the Royal Commission for AlUla’s charter for best works practices.



Kendrick Lamar Surprises with New Album 'GNX'

FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club, April 16, 2017, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club, April 16, 2017, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
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Kendrick Lamar Surprises with New Album 'GNX'

FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club, April 16, 2017, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club, April 16, 2017, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present Friday with the surprise drop of a new album.

The Grammy winner's 12-track “GNX” is his first release since 2022's “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” and his sixth studio album overall. It also comes just months after his rap battle with Drake.

Lamar first teased the album with a cover art and video snippet of “GNX,” which features multi-instrumentalist Jack Antonoff as a co-producer on every track except for “Peekaboo.” Other notable producers include Sounwave and DJ Mustard, who both contributed production on the hit “Not Like Us,” the ubiquitous diss track emanating from the Drake feud.

Lamar's former Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate SZA appears on a couple songs including “Gloria” and “Luther,” which also features sampled vocals from Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn through “If This World Were Mine."
On the opening track “Wacced Out Murals,” Lamar raps about cruising in his Buick GNX (Grand National Experimental) car with listening to Anita Baker. He brings up Snoop Dogg posting Drake's AI-assisted “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss track on social media and Nas congratulating Lamar for being selected to headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans.
Lamar also shows admiration for Lil Wayne, who expressed his hurt feelings after being passed over as the headliner in his hometown.
Lamar, 37, has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album “DAMN.”
The surprise release caps a big year for Lamar, who was featured on the song “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin — a track that spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this year.
Lamar is up for seven Grammys, fueled by “Not Like Us,” which earned nods for record and song of the year, rap song, music video as well as best rap performance. He has two simultaneous entries in the latter category, a career first: “Like That” is up for best rap performance and best rap song, too.