A GUIDE TO FILMING IN JORDAN

In conversation with Digital Studio ME, Mohannad Al Bakri, Managing Director of The Royal Film Commission – Jordan talks about the rise in global productions and key guidelines for international filmmakers

- KARISHMA HINGORANI

The Royal Film Commission Jordan has been facilitation the shoot of several international, regional, as well as local film and TV productions in the Kingdom recently.

Talking to DS, Mohannad shares insights on what needs to be kept in mind by international filmmakers aspiring to shoot in the region.

Tell us about filming the Dune in Jordan. The Royal Film Commission also organized a gala screening of the film by Denis Villeneuve.

We are proud that once again an internationally acclaimed film director chooses Jordan as a filming destination such as Denis Villeneuve, who found exactly what he needs in the South for his latest film, Dune, adapted from Frank Herbert’s bestseller novel of the same name. Not only 90 percent of the movie was shot in the country, specifically in Wadi Rum and Wadi Araba, but also the foreign crew worked with some 400 Jordanians across the various departments. Dune had its world premiere earlier this month at the Venice International Film Festival and is now hitting cinemas worldwide with a promising start at the international box office.

The Royal Film Commission – Jordan is constantly seeking to improve the Kingdom’s enabling environment for film making, by facilitating the shoot of film and TV projects, offering various financial incentives as well as providing high quality production services.

How has filming in Jordan evolved during the pandemic? Also tell us about the shooting of the Korean film, The Negotiations. How did that go?