عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Entertainment

Saudi Film Commission Announces Opening of Virtual Production Platform in Collaboration with Sony and Pixomondo 

JAX Film Studios is a fully integrated, high-end production center, housing two 1,500-square-meter soundstages, a VIP lounge, a modern cinema screening room, and fully equipped production offices and prep spaces. (SPA)
JAX Film Studios is a fully integrated, high-end production center, housing two 1,500-square-meter soundstages, a VIP lounge, a modern cinema screening room, and fully equipped production offices and prep spaces. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Film Commission Announces Opening of Virtual Production Platform in Collaboration with Sony and Pixomondo 

JAX Film Studios is a fully integrated, high-end production center, housing two 1,500-square-meter soundstages, a VIP lounge, a modern cinema screening room, and fully equipped production offices and prep spaces. (SPA)
JAX Film Studios is a fully integrated, high-end production center, housing two 1,500-square-meter soundstages, a VIP lounge, a modern cinema screening room, and fully equipped production offices and prep spaces. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission announced on Tuesday the opening of an advanced virtual production platform at JAX Film Studios, the latest cinematic production facility in the capital, Riyadh, marking a pivotal step in developing the Kingdom’s film industry infrastructure.

The platform was designed in collaboration with Pixomondo, a specialist in visual effects and virtual production, and built with Sony’s latest VERONA Crystal LED technology, making the virtual studio ready to host the most ambitious film productions.

The platform comprises 2,720 Sony VERONA Crystal LED panels with a 2.3 mm pixel pitch and stage dimensions of 23 meters wide, 27.5 meters deep and 10 meters high. It features advanced integration of camera tracking, real-time processing, and in-camera VFX, enabling high-fidelity, photoreal simulation that meets the demands of major Hollywood productions.

JAX Film Studios is a fully integrated, high-end production center, housing two 1,500-square-meter soundstages, a VIP lounge, a modern cinema screening room, and fully equipped production offices and prep spaces, providing filmmakers with an end-to-end work environment under one roof.

CEO of the Film Commission Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Qahtani said: “JAX Film Studios is a milestone in the trajectory of Saudi filmmaking. Investing in world-class virtual production infrastructure is a strategic step toward building a globally competitive film industry and reflects the commission’s commitment to empowering filmmakers with the technologies, facilities and partnerships that support their creativity and output at the highest levels.”

General Manager of Sector Development and Investment Attraction at the commission Abduljalil Alnasser emphasized that the project represents a qualitative leap in the regional production landscape, noting that the integration of Sony and Pixomondo expertise and the technologies used at JAX Film Studios provide a production environment to global standards, from pixel precision to the highest levels of technical integration.

With its strategic location in Riyadh, JAX Film Studios offers filmmakers direct access to luxury hotels, the international airport, and a growing ecosystem of production services and talent in the Kingdom, making it a preferred destination for local and international productions.

Most Viewed

 
 
Entertainment

Paul McCartney Charts Childhood Streets in First Album in Five Years

Musician Paul McCartney attends the British premiere of ''If These Walls Could Sing" in London, Britain December 12, 2022. (Reuters)
Musician Paul McCartney attends the British premiere of ''If These Walls Could Sing" in London, Britain December 12, 2022. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Paul McCartney Charts Childhood Streets in First Album in Five Years

Musician Paul McCartney attends the British premiere of ''If These Walls Could Sing" in London, Britain December 12, 2022. (Reuters)
Musician Paul McCartney attends the British premiere of ''If These Walls Could Sing" in London, Britain December 12, 2022. (Reuters)

Paul McCartney ‌takes fans down the streets of his Liverpool childhood in his first solo album in more than five years due out in May.

The title "The Boys of Dungeon Lane" comes from a lyric in the album's first single "Days We Left Behind", released on Thursday - "a memory song for me," McCartney said in a statement.

"I was thinking just that, about the ‌days I ‌left behind and I do often ‌wonder ⁠if I’m just ⁠writing about the past but then I think how can you write about anything else? It’s just a lot of memories of Liverpool," the 83-year-old said.

The tracks evoke his childhood in post-war Liverpool, his parents ⁠and adventures shared with band mates ‌George Harrison and John ‌Lennon before the world had woken up ‌to the Beatles, according to a statement on ‌his website.

"It involves a bit in the middle about John and Forthlin Road which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon ‌Lane is near there," McCartney said about "Days We Left Behind".

"I used to ⁠live ⁠in a place called Speke which is quite working class. We didn’t have much at all, but it didn’t matter because all the people were great and you didn’t notice you didn’t have much.”

McCartney worked with producer Andrew Watt and recorded the album, which also includes new love songs, in Los Angeles and Sussex, between legs of his global tour.

"The Boys of Dungeon Lane" is McCartney's 18th solo studio album.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift and 'Showgirl' Dominate iHeartRadio Music Awards

Taylor Swift arrives at the IHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Taylor Swift arrives at the IHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
TT
TT

Taylor Swift and 'Showgirl' Dominate iHeartRadio Music Awards

Taylor Swift arrives at the IHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Taylor Swift arrives at the IHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)

Music superstar Taylor Swift scored a leading seven trophies at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday including artist of the year and best pop album for the upbeat record "The Life of a Showgirl."

In one of her moments on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Swift encouraged artists to give themselves ‌time to learn a ‌craft without seeking immediate feedback on ‌the Internet. ⁠

The singer said ⁠she had spent "thousands of hours" as a teenager playing her guitar, writing songs, making mistakes and learning from them - in private.

"I'm a firm believer that anything you feed your mind, it will internalize, and anything you feed the Internet it will attempt to kill," she said as ⁠she held the album of the ‌year trophy. "And I don't want that ‌for your dreams."

Swift, who wore a seafoam green velvet ‌corset and matching miniskirt with light pink bead accents, ‌also took home awards including song of the year and best music video for "The Fate of Ophelia."

Olympic figure skating gold medalist Alysa Liu presented the artist of the year award to Swift, ‌who gushed about Liu's Olympic performance. "You brought me so much happiness," Swift said.

Earlier, Swift told ⁠the crowd ⁠that "Showgirl" was inspired by the positivity she felt from fans on her record-breaking Eras Tour.

"The album came out with this energy of just feeling really happy and strong and confident and free. And so I want to say thank you to the fans for giving me that feeling," Swift said.

Her daily life with fiance Travis Kelce provides similar energy, Swift said. "So thanks for all the vibes," she said to the NFL star, who was seated in the front row wearing a brown leather jacket. The pair announced their engagement in August.

Entertainment

Singer Rosalia Quits Milan Concert with Food Poisoning

Rosalia is shown after winning the best international artist at the Brit Awards in February. Adrian Dennis / AFP/File
Rosalia is shown after winning the best international artist at the Brit Awards in February. Adrian Dennis / AFP/File
TT
TT

Singer Rosalia Quits Milan Concert with Food Poisoning

Rosalia is shown after winning the best international artist at the Brit Awards in February. Adrian Dennis / AFP/File
Rosalia is shown after winning the best international artist at the Brit Awards in February. Adrian Dennis / AFP/File

Spanish singer Rosalia was forced to interrupt a concert in Italy halfway through due to food poisoning, according to fan footage posted on social media.

The 33-year-old Grammy-winning singer was performing at the Unipol Forum in Milan on Wednesday, when she stopped to tell the crowds she was feeling unwell, said AFP.

"I've tried to do this show. Since the beginning I've been sick. I've had big time food poisoning," she said in English in a video posted on X.

"I've tried to push it until the end, but I'm feeling extremely sick. I'm puking out there. I really want to give the best show, and I'm like in (on) the floor," she said.

After saying she would try to carry on if physically possible, a sad-looking Rosalia eventually blew a kiss to the crowds and -- with a hand on her stomach -- walked off stage.

Rosalia, hailed for her genre-defying versatility, was in Milan as part of a tour which began in France earlier this month and will end in Puerto Rico in September.

The singer, who won best international artist at the Brit Awards this month, has earned widespread praise for her fourth album "Lux".

The sweeping, spiritual work, released at the end of last year, marks a departure from her previous flamenco and R&B rhythms.

The album features lyrics sung in 13 languages including German, English and Sicilian in addition to her native Spanish.