By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com
Saudi Arabia’s First Full-Service Production Studio Launches as Its First Int’l Co-Prod Wraps
[pr] FIRST FULL-SERVICE PRODUCTION STUDIO “NEBRAS FILMS” LAUNCHED IN SAUDI ARABIA
Production Wraps on the Facility’s First International Co-Production “Born a King”
LOS ANGELES / SAUDI ARABIA: In advance of the Cannes Film Festival, Mr. Abdullah Al Nafisah today announced the launch of Saudi Arabia’s first full-service production studio Nebras Films. Setting out to develop and produce a diverse portfolio of feature films, TV series, documentaries and advertising content, the new 42,000 square-foot production facility offers complete post-production services as well as art workshops, 3D animation, audio, casting, crew, equipment, props and sets. State-of-the-art equipment covers all film production needs and includes Arri cameras and Master Prime as well as Anamorphic lenses, lighting and grips, vehicles, aerial drones, 3D scanners and surveying, camera stabilizers and cranes, as well as special effects.
The announcement follows a string of enriching cultural firsts for the Kingdom in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 transformation plan. Nebras Films’Principals include: Chairman Abdullah Al Nafisah, General Manager Niko Ruokosuo, Head of Production Matty Beckerman, Deputy General Manager Abdulrahman Al Nafisah, Assistant Producer Fouad Al Khateeb and Project Manager Saad Abutaily. The long-awaited production facilities provide the infrastructure, resources, depth and experience which will generate numerous jobs in the region. Ruokosuo has 20 years of experience at the largest and most diversified media companies in Scandinavia, Central Europe, North America and the Middle-East and along with producer, writer and director Beckerman will be taking meetings in Cannes at the Saudi Pavilion with further film and partnership announcements forthcoming.
“Amidst unprecedented levels of development and reform in Saudi Arabia, Nebras Films’ passion, world-class equipment and capabilities are unparalleled in the Middle East,” said Nebras Films’ General Manager Niko Ruokosuo. “We’re seeing unprecedented levels of interest in the Kingdom, with the studio rapidly becoming the epicenter for production, and we look forward to welcoming filmmakers looking to maximize the region’s mass-market opportunity.”
Production recently wrapped on the facility’s first international co-production, “Born a King,” produced by Andres Gomez, directed by Agustí Villaronga and starring Ed Skrein.
Headquartered in Riyadh and founded by Abdullah Al Nafisah, Nebras Films is home to an exceptional handpicked team of experts from around the world, each dedicated to transforming creative visions from an idea to reality. Nebras Films is Saudi Arabia’s only dedicated full-service movie production studio, backed by its parent company Alnafees Holding Company, which specializes in pioneering growth companies through various activities and investments aligned with the Vision 2030 transformation plan. Alnafees Holding Company is also parent to Diyar Najd, specializing in construction, project management, subcontracting and architectural design; Nafees World, specializing in interior design, finishing, and furniture manufacturing; and Madaen, specializing in Real Estate development, co-development, and project consulting.
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