It has two soundstages, a backlot, a production support building, a basecamp area, a parking lot, and a dedicated technical vehicle parking area.
Olivewood Film Studios, the first dedicated film studio complex in Jordan, has officially opened its doors. The grand opening event took place on September 26, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC). The event was graced by the presence of dignitaries including King Abdullah II, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, and Princess Rym al-Ali from the country’s royal family.
This facility comprises two soundstages spanning 16,145 sqft each, alongside a 10,764 sqft mill. Additionally, the complex features a levelled backlot sprawling across 731,946 sqft, a 43,056 sqft basecamp area, an on-site canteen, parking facilities accommodating 95 cars, and a dedicated space for technical vehicles. Olivewood Film Studios is situated a 15-minute drive from Amman, the capital city.
In terms of filming locations, Jordan offers a diverse array, ranging from the desert of Wadi Rum with its immense rock formations and rolling sand dunes to castles, palaces, ancient ruins, and lush green valleys.
Olivewood Film Studios will operate as an independent entity with administrative and financial autonomy under the leadership of Raja Gargour, Executive Commissioner of the Royal Film Commission.
“With the new studios and a 16-acre backlot, Jordan now has all the right components in place to service all international filmmaking needs as well as giving the local production houses the opportunity to produce their stories for the regional and international markets,” said Gargour.
Notably, Jordan currently extends a cash rebate programme that enables film productions to recover up to 25% of local labour and supplier expenses. Furthermore, the government recently passed a law exempting both foreign and domestic productions from sales taxes.
Over the past two decades, Jordan has played host to numerous feature films, including blockbuster hits like The Martian, The Hurt Locker, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as well as independent titles like Holy Spider, and upcoming releases such as Dune: Part Two.
In addition to these developments, the RFC has established a partnership with New York Women in Film & Television, aimed at nurturing and mentoring aspiring Jordanian women filmmakers. This collaborative two-year lab programme will assist 30 selected women in securing funding, developing their craft, and producing their work, further enriching Jordan’s film industry.
