If you're passionate about films and intrigued by Saudi cinema, you're in for a treat. Saudi filmmaker Abdulaziz Alshlahei is all set to shoot his next feature film, Hobal, at Bajdah Studios in northwest Saudi Arabia this September, with production support from Neom. The film follows a Saudi family living in isolation in the desert in the early 1990s, following the strict instructions of their grandfather, who forbids them from leaving. But a series of events changes everything, and the family struggles between life and death. The film stars Mohammed Altoyan, Mishal Almutairi, and an all-Saudi cast. The film's scriptwriter, Mufarrej Al-Majfel, was a recipient of a fund award at the Saudi Film Commission's Daw Film Competition, an initiative launched by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture in September 2019 to support Saudi film production and encourage the next generation of filmmakers. With Neom's assistance in crew, location scouting, logistics, and on-the-ground production expertise, the production team will have access to exceptional and majestic landscapes, and Bajdah Studios, located in the heart of Neom, will provide state-of-the-art sound stages and all necessary back-of-house facilities. Being near the filming locations will enable the team to shoot quickly and efficiently. Hobal is the third feature from Alshlahei, with his second feature film, the period drama The Tambour of Retribution, securing two awards at the Cairo Film Festival and being selected as the Saudi Arabian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022. Alshlahei is excited about shooting in Neom and thanked the Neom Media Industries team for welcoming and supporting the film. Wayne Borg, Managing Director of Media Industries, Entertainment, and Culture at Neom, is proud to support the new generation of filmmakers and talented individuals in the region. He believes that supporting these trailblazing filmmakers and their compelling, authentic stories, of which Hobal is a part, will create a film ecosystem and help cement Neom's position as the regional gateway to the industry.
