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Film AlUla Expands Visual Production in the Region

Kandahar film marks the first major Hollywood production in the region (Film AlUla)
Kandahar film marks the first major Hollywood production in the region (Film AlUla)
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Film AlUla Expands Visual Production in the Region

Kandahar film marks the first major Hollywood production in the region (Film AlUla)
Kandahar film marks the first major Hollywood production in the region (Film AlUla)

The Royal Commission for Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Province is actively seeking to attract major global production companies to film in its territories.

This effort is being carried out through the agency of Film AlUla, established in 2020, which has been entrusted with the task of promoting local, regional, and international film and television productions in the region, as well as providing support.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Executive Director of Film AlUla Charlene Deleon-Jones emphasized that the goal is to establish a significant gateway and destination in AlUla for talented and ambitious filmmakers and producers.

Furthermore, there are plans underway to soon open a state-of-the-art production facility that offers comprehensive services, including a 30,000 square foot filming location.

Deleon-Jones pointed out that the agency has so far hosted 694 days of production for a number of films.

Among them are the action film “Kandahar,” starring Gerard Butler, and the drama film “Karaz,” directed by the Russo brothers and featuring Tom Holland.

Additionally, there is “Nora,” a film by Saudi director Tawfiq Al Zaidi, which is the first Saudi narrative film shot in the province with a team of Saudi actors, with over 40% of the crew being local talents from the kingdom.

Regarding television productions filmed in AlUla, they include the British series “Expedition” featuring Steve Backshall, as well as National Geographic documentaries.

Additionally, commercial advertisements, promotional presentations, photo shoots, and short films have also been produced in the region.

Deleon-Jones further added that work is underway on more international productions, including significant films from Hollywood, Bollywood, and South Korea, which will be announced within the next two months.

Regarding Film AlUla’s strategy to attract filmmakers to the region, the executive director affirmed that the agency continues to work on developing an attractive and supportive environment for film production, backed by strong infrastructure, high-quality services, and other encouraging factors.

Deleon-Jones also noted that the film industry is an investment and commitment, so the agency strives to give all diverse stories and narratives a fair chance to come to fruition in AlUla.

Furthermore, she revealed that the agency offers a 40% cash rebate as an incentive for all types of productions in AlUla, along with providing comprehensive logistical support.

Deleon-Jones mentioned that production works that employ talents and workforce from Saudi Arabia, showcasing the culture, history, and natural beauty of AlUla can also benefit from in-kind incentives, as well as financial support by covering travel and accommodation expenses.

Regarding logistics, Deleon-Jones confirmed that Film AlUla has a team of experts on the ground who can be contacted at any time to support production operations.

The team provides assistance in identifying and resolving issues, from the pre-production stage to delivery.

They also help with obtaining the cash rebate, as well as handling other administrative tasks such as production regulations, customs clearance, visa applications, filming permits, location selection, and talent recruitment.

Deleon-Jones touched upon infrastructure and revealed the nearing completion of the first phase of constructing a state-of-the-art production facility that offers comprehensive services.

This facility includes a 30,000 square foot soundstage equipped with advanced audio equipment, an outdoor filming location, production support buildings, workshops, warehouses, a recording studio, training and rehearsal spaces, a cafeteria, event space, and an administrative building.

The filming area will be located just 14 minutes away from the accommodation buildings of Film AlUla, with a dedicated team of professionals.

Accommodation options include 300 high-quality residential units and fully furnished living spaces, with private office areas for short and long-term stays specifically designed for film productions.

Additionally, there will be a selection of upscale hotels and mid-range accommodation options available.

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'It's a Bird! It's a Plane!' it's Both, with Pilot Tossing Turkeys to Rural Alaska Homes

This image taken from video provided by Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company shows a plane from Alaska Turkey Bomb, which was started by Esther Keim to air drop frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving to people living in remote rural Alaska, flying in November 2024, in Alaska. (Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company via AP)
This image taken from video provided by Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company shows a plane from Alaska Turkey Bomb, which was started by Esther Keim to air drop frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving to people living in remote rural Alaska, flying in November 2024, in Alaska. (Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company via AP)
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'It's a Bird! It's a Plane!' it's Both, with Pilot Tossing Turkeys to Rural Alaska Homes

This image taken from video provided by Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company shows a plane from Alaska Turkey Bomb, which was started by Esther Keim to air drop frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving to people living in remote rural Alaska, flying in November 2024, in Alaska. (Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company via AP)
This image taken from video provided by Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company shows a plane from Alaska Turkey Bomb, which was started by Esther Keim to air drop frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving to people living in remote rural Alaska, flying in November 2024, in Alaska. (Mountain Mind Media/Alaska Gear Company via AP)

In the remotest reaches of Alaska, there’s no relying on DoorDash to have Thanksgiving dinner — or any dinner — delivered. But some residents living well off the grid nevertheless have turkeys this holiday, thanks to the Alaska Turkey Bomb, The Associated Press reported.
For the third straight year, a resident named Esther Keim has been flying low and slow in a small plane over rural parts of south-central Alaska, dropping frozen turkeys to those who can't simply run out to the grocery store.
Alaska is mostly wilderness, with only about 20% of it accessible by road. In winter, many who live in remote areas rely on small planes or snowmobiles to travel any distance, and frozen rivers can act as makeshift roads.
When Keim was growing up on an Alaska homestead, a family friend would airdrop turkeys to her family and others nearby for the holidays. Other times, the pilot would deliver newspapers, sometimes with a pack of gum inside for Keim.
Her family moved to more urban Alaska nearly 25 years ago but still has the homestead. Using a small plane she had rebuilt with her father, Keim launched her turkey delivery mission a few years back after learning of a family living off the land nearby who had little for Thanksgiving dinner.
“They were telling me that a squirrel for dinner did not split very far between three people," Keim recalled. “At that moment, I thought ... ‘I’m going to airdrop them a turkey.'”
She decided not to stop there. Her effort has grown by word of mouth and by social media posts. This year, she's delivering 32 frozen turkeys to people living year-round in cabins where there are no roads.
All but two had been delivered by Tuesday, with delivery plans for the last two birds thwarted by Alaska’s unpredictable weather.
Among the beneficiaries are Dave and Christina Luce, who live on the Yentna River about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage. They have stunning mountain views in every direction, including North America's tallest mountain, Denali, directly to the north. But in the winter it's a 90-minute snowmobile ride to the nearest town, which they do about once a month.
“I’m 80 years old now, so we make fewer and fewer trips," Dave Luce said. “The adventure has sort of gone out of it.”
They've known Keim since she was little. The 12-pound (5.44-kilogram) turkey she delivered will provide more than enough for them and a few neighbors.
“It makes a great Thanksgiving,” Dave Luce said. “She’s been a real sweetheart, and she’s been a real good friend.”
Keim makes 30 to 40 turkey deliveries yearly, flying as far as 100 miles (161 kilometers) from her base north of Anchorage toward Denali's foothills.
Sometimes she enlists the help of a “turkey dropper” to ride along and toss the birds out. Other times, she’s the one dropping turkeys while her friend Heidi Hastings pilots her own plane.
Keim buys about 20 turkeys at a time, with the help of donations, usually by people reaching out to her through Facebook. She wraps them in plastic garbage bags and lets them sit in the bed of her pickup until she can arrange a flight.
“Luckily it’s cold in Alaska, so I don’t have to worry about freezers,” she said.
She contacts families on social media to let them know of impending deliveries, and then they buzz the house so the homeowners will come outside.
“We won’t drop the turkey until we see them come out of the house or the cabin, because if they don’t see it fall, they’re not going to know where to look,” she said.
It can be especially difficult to find the turkey if there’s deep snow. A turkey was once missing for five days before it was found, but the only casualty so far has been a lost ham, AP quoted Keim as saying.
Keim prefers to drop the turkey on a frozen lake if possible so it's easy to locate.
“As far as precision and hitting our target, I am definitely not the best aim,” she joked. “I’ve gotten better, but I have never hit a house, a building, person or dog.”
Her reward is the great responses she gets from families, some who record her dropping the turkeys and send her videos and texts of appreciation.
“They just think it’s so awesome that we throw these things out of the plane,” Keim said.
Ultimately, she hopes to set up a nonprofit organization to solicit more donations and reach people across a bigger swath of the state. And it doesn’t have to stop at turkeys.
“There’s so many kids out in the villages," she said. “It would be cool to maybe add a stuffed animal or something they can hold.”