Latest news with #MohannadAl-Bakri
Roya News
6 days ago
- Business
- Roya News
New season of 'The Voice' begins filming in Jordan
The Royal Film Commission – Jordan announced that MBC Group, the largest media network in the Middle East and North Africa, has begun filming the new seasons of the hit singing competitions The Voice and The Voice Kids at Olivewood Studios in Jordan. The production will run for four consecutive months. According to the Commission, Jordan was chosen after years of effort to position the Kingdom as a hub for high-quality television and film production, strengthening its role as a cultural and creative center in the Arab world. The large-scale project will spotlight local talent while boosting Jordan's creative industries, which hold significant economic potential for generating direct and indirect job opportunities. The production is expected to create hundreds of jobs for Jordanian professionals, including photographers, sound engineers, lighting technicians, and costume designers. It will also involve contracts with 16 Jordanian companies providing logistics and technical services. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Imad Hijazin, highlighted the significance of hosting such a major Arab production, saying it reflects both regional and international confidence in Jordan's ability to deliver top-tier production services. He added that the show will showcase Jordan's rich and diverse tourism and cultural assets to millions of viewers, boosting global awareness of Jordan's destinations and stimulating tourism. Royal Film Commission General Manager, Mohannad Al-Bakri, said the project demonstrates the success of the Commission's efforts to develop Jordan's film and television infrastructure, underlining the added value of Olivewood Studios. Director-General of the Jordan Tourism Board, Dr. Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, described the show as an unprecedented promotional opportunity to position Jordan as both a tourism and creative hub. He noted that the footage filmed across the country will highlight Jordan's varied tourism offerings - nature, heritage, and culture - reaching tens of millions of viewers across the Arab world. Arabiyat emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Board's strategy of leveraging major productions to promote Jordan's positive image and attract more visitors, while strengthening cooperation between the tourism, cultural, and creative sectors for sustainable economic returns. Olivewood Studios Chairman, Raja Gargour, stressed the role of the creative industries within Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision as a driver of youth employment, noting that hosting a production of this scale is the result of close collaboration among national institutions. The project will also boost the transport and hospitality sectors, with Royal Jordanian handling air travel and local hotels accommodating over 11,000 room nights during filming. Scenes will be shot at 10 diverse outdoor locations across the Kingdom, giving millions of MBC viewers a chance to experience Jordan's beauty. Previous seasons of The Voice in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia attracted more than 100 million viewers.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jordan Boosts Film, TV Production Cash Rebate to Up to 45 Percent
Jordan has unveiled an 'enhanced financial incentives program' for film and TV productions early on Wednesday during the Cannes Film Festival. The Royal Film Commission – Jordan said its new cash rebate will cover 25-45 percent of the in-country spend for qualifying film and TV projects, compared to the 25 percent cap so far. The exact percentage is determined by 'a points-based system assessing the project's size, incorporation of Jordanian cultural content, and its artistic, cultural, and economic value,' it said. More from The Hollywood Reporter Rams Owner Plots Major TV and Film Production Facility at Hollywood Park 'Leave One Day' Review: Charming if Familiar French Musical Dramedy Opens Cannes 2025 How New Jersey Landed Netflix Projects with production expenditures exceeding $10 million and integrating Jordanian cultural elements can qualify for the maximum rebate of 45 percent. In addition, 'for local productions, the rebate has been raised from 10 percent to 30 percent for projects with spending over $500,000 – part of a broader effort to empower Jordanian producers and stimulate the domestic production industry,' the commission said. Existing additional financial savings on the likes of sales tax and customs duty also remain in place. 'The enhanced incentive aims to maintain Jordan's position as a key player and strong competitor in the regional and global production landscape, building on its diverse filming locations, skilled workforce, and advanced infrastructure,' the film commission explained. 'The updated rebate scheme is also expected to further drive film tourism by showcasing Jordanian locations in international productions, while strengthening technical infrastructure and encouraging the inclusion of Jordanian cultural heritage in global storytelling.' Jordan has hosted such major international productions as The Martian, Aladdin, Dune: Part One and its sequel, and John Wick, with Wadi Rum and Petra serving as key backdrops. Said Mohannad Al-Bakri, managing director of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan: 'The amendments aim to enhance Jordan's competitiveness as a major film production hub in the region by creating a supportive environment that fosters creativity, provides robust infrastructure, and facilitates the exchange of expertise, training, and knowledge transfer. They also aim to boost film tourism by promoting filming locations and highlighting Jordanian cultural identity and heritage in global productions.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
