The AlUla Studios complex is a full-service facility that includes a 30,000-square-foot soundstage, a backlot, production support buildings, workshops, warehouses, a recording studio, and training and rehearsal spaces.
Film AlUla, the film agency of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and Stampede Arabia, a subsidiary of Stampede Ventures, will begin production on Fourth Wall in the first quarter of 2025. This will be the first film to be shot at the new AlUla Studios in Saudi Arabia and marks a major milestone in Film AlUla’s journey as a premier destination for global filmmaking.
Fourth Wall, written by Jerry Kontogiorgis, will be produced by Greg Silverman and Grant Torre of
Stampede. It will be directed by Alexis Ostrander and features Emma Roberts.
With the production of Fourth Wall, Film AlUla, Stampede Ventures and its subsidiary Stampede Arabia, have also redefined the strategic direction of their partnership. The initial collaboration has been recalibrated to focus on producing a specific slate of four films well-suited for production at AlUla Studios. Further, under the partnership Stampede Ventures and Film AlUla will train and mentor Saudi film professionals, including aspiring youth, to help shape their careers as members of production crews.
Elaborating on the announcement, Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “The announcement of Fourth Wall as the debut production at AlUla Studios marks a defining moment in our journey to establish AlUla as a premier global filmmaking destination. This milestone heralds a new era of cinematic excellence in the region and will showcase the capabilities of our state-of-the-art studios.
“Our partnership with Stampede Ventures underscores our commitment to advancing our long-term
vision of AlUla as a global creative hub. By empowering Saudis to actively participate in the industry
and share their stories, we aim to inspire the next generation of talent. We are thrilled about the
selected films and confident that this focused approach will produce impactful productions that
captivate global audiences and highlight AlUla’s unparalleled appeal as a filming destination.”
The AlUla Studios complex is a full-service facility designed to support international and local
filmmaking. Its amenities include a 30,000-square-foot soundstage, a backlot, production support
buildings, workshops, warehouses, a recording studio, training and rehearsal spaces, and event and
administrative facilities.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the partnership, Greg Silverman, CEO of Stampede Ventures, said: “After a
very positive recent experience shooting K-Pops on location in AlUla, Stampede Ventures is now thrilled to bring more films to our partnership with RCU. Our productions will celebrate the unique allure of AlUla as a setting for cinematic creativity and the inspiring energy and love for filmmaking of the men and women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” K-Pops marked the directorial debut of eight-time Grammy award-winning artist Anderson .Paak. The film was produced by Stampede Ventures and is in addition to the four-picture partnership with Film AlUla.
For each film produced at AlUla, Stampede will provide comprehensive training for Saudi talent to work
as members of production crews. The programme includes introductory workshops and on-site training
across various departments, such as production staff, camera crew, art department, set operations,
lighting, locations, transportation, sound, wardrobe, and makeup. Trainees will receive post-training
evaluations and feedback, with opportunities to advance into specialised roles in future productions to
further develop their expertise.
Film AlUla’s collaboration with Stampede Ventures is a significant step toward realising Vision 2030’s
cultural goals, positioning AlUla as a global hub for filmmaking excellence. Film AlUla has been instrumental in fostering Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning film industry, hosting over 744 days of filming since its inception in 2020. Productions include the action thriller Kandahar, starring Gerard Butler, the Russo brothers’ Cherry, starring Tom Holland, and Saudi filmmaker Tawfik Alzaidi’s debut feature Norah, which became the first Saudi film ever chosen as an official selection for the Cannes Film Festival. Also during the festival, Film AlUla received the Emerging Location Award and Film Commission Award at the Global Production Awards.
Film AlUla offers producers a favourable and flexible financial model that includes a rebate and
additional incentives for productions that recruit Saudi crew and talent above and below the line, feature
AlUla’s culture and history or shoot at Film AlUla’s studios.
