NEOM, Saudi Arabia, The forthcoming Saudi motion picture "Hobal," from renowned director Abdulaziz Alshlahei (The Tambour of Retribution, Zero Distance), will begin filming in September at Bajdah Studios and its expansive epic vistas in NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi family at the center of "Hobal" is one that is alone in the desert in the early 1990s. They are forbidden from leaving the desert, as per their grandfather's stringent instructions. However, a series of events shakes the family's foundation, forcing them to choose between life and death. Mohammed Altoyan, Mishal Almutairi, and the rest of the cast are all Saudi actors.
The Tambour of Retribution, a Saudi period drama that won two awards at the Cairo Film Festival and was chosen as the Saudi Arabian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, is Abdulaziz Alshlahei's second feature. Hobal is his third feature.
The Saudi Film Commission's Daw Film Competition, which the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture launched in September 2019 to support Saudi film production and champion the next generation of filmmakers by setting up a sustainable funding program to bring Saudi content to the screen and to a wider audience, presented Mufarrej Al-Majfel with a fund award.
NEOM, which is aiding with crew, site scouting, logistics, and on-the-ground production skills, will give the film production support. Bajdah Studios' ideal location gives producers the chance to film on location in the breathtaking NEOM landscapes while still being close to the cutting-edge sound stages with back-of-house facilities like make-up rooms, green rooms, and production offices.
According to the director, Abdulaziz Alshlahei, "Since 2018, we have been considering unusual locations to shoot our film. We chose NEOM and, more especially, Bajdah, where the mesmerizing landscapes will have a significant impact on and be essential to the story. For this magnificent and spectacular location, our director of photography will use anamorphic lenses to give it justice and create a lovely atmosphere for the movie. I want to use this chance to express my gratitude to the NEOM Media Industries team for welcoming us and helping the project. I'm looking forward to shooting.
We are happy to be the venue of choice for Abdulaziz Alshlahei's most recent local feature, "Hobal," according to Wayne Borg, Managing Director of Media Industries, Entertainment, and Culture at NEOM. In this very exciting time for local businesses, we look forward to helping him every step of the way as he realizes his vision on the big screen. We are delighted to be a part of the enormous demand for gripping, real-life stories from the region in a variety of genres that are now crossing international boundaries. As we solidify our position as the regional entry point to the business, supporting the next generation of avant-garde filmmakers and talent is crucial to building a film ecosystem.
Over 30 local projects, including 'Desert Warrior' by Rupert Wyatt, starring Anthony Mackie and Sir Ben Kingsley; 'Dunki,' directed by Rajkumar Hirani and starring Shahrukh Khan; 'Million Dollar Island,' the first regional reality TV show; and 'Rise of the Witches,' the biggest-budget TV production in the area, have received support from NEOM in the past 18 months. In addition, filming on MBC's 200-episode drama series "Exceptional" is scheduled to start in July.
