Jordan's famed sites of Petra and the stunning desert landscapes of Wadi Rum have been attracting major international productions since the early 1960s. Now the new Olivewood Film Studios has expanded the country's production infrastructure

Jordan remains a beloved location not only because of its awe-inspiring cultural and geological sites but also due to a dynamic film industry and highly skilled crews honed over decades of hosting international productions.  

The world heritage sites of Petra and the unique desert landscapes of Wadi Rum have been attracting major international productions since the early 1960s. The country’s grand vistas have provided epic backdrops for such films as David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia”; Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”; Ridley Scott’s “The Martian”; Gareth Edwards’ “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”; Chad Stahelski’s “John Wick 4”; and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” films.

Earlier this year, Prashanth Neel’s upcoming Indian action saga “Dragon” shot key scenes Wadi Rum and in the port city of Aqaba.

Further bolstering the country as a prime location is the new Olivewood Film Studios, located in Amman. The first purpose-built complex of its kind in Jordan comprises two soundstages and a backlot.

One of the most recent domestic films to shoot at the facility was “Grant Me a Son,” by Jordanian sibling filmmakers Rana and Ahmad Al-Yaseer, the duo behind the acclaimed, award-winning short “Our Males and Females.”

Ahmad Al-Yaseer, whose credits also include the 2019 mystery series “Weapon Without Murder,” extols the local industry, stressing that Jordan “is an excellent hub for production services. Between the attractive rebate system, experienced crews, high-quality facilities, diverse locations, and favorable weather throughout the year, it has become a very strong destination for both local and international productions.

“The increased support and infrastructure are definitely creating more opportunities for Jordanian filmmakers while also helping attract major international projects.”

Indeed, Jordan’s filmmaking prowess left a strong impression on Gianluca Chakra, the Dubai-based producer of Zaid Abu Hamdan’s crime thriller “Boomah,” which world premieres in the Shanghai Film Festival’s Asian New Talent Selection.

“Jordan has spent decades building a filmmaking ecosystem that is often underestimated from the outside,” says Chakra, whose Front Row Productions produced “Boomah” along with Ahmad Abu Koush’s Bounce Productions. “Most people immediately think of the country’s extraordinary locations, but what impressed me most was the depth of experience within the local crews and filmmaking community.”

“We had crew members who had worked on productions such as ‘Dune,’ ‘John Wick,’ ‘The Martian,’ ‘Prometheus,’ ‘Transformers,’ ‘The Hurt Locker’ and ‘Zero Dark Thirty.’ These are professionals who have spent years working alongside some of the best filmmakers in the world and who bring an extraordinary level of expertise, discipline and problem solving to every production. That is one of Jordan’s greatest strengths.”

Chakra points out that Jordan, through decades of servicing major international productions, “has developed a highly skilled workforce whose expertise is now sought after across the region. It is no coincidence that Jordanian talent is frequently recruited by emerging industries looking to build their own production capabilities.”

Chakra also praises Jordan’s strategic efforts to develop an internationally competitive film industry.

“The Royal Film Commission has also played a transformative role in supporting filmmakers, developing talent, attracting productions and creating an environment where local stories can be told.

“What makes that achievement even more impressive is the environment in which it has taken place. Jordan has spent decades navigating the economic, political and humanitarian consequences of instability across the region, yet it has continued to invest in culture, creativity and storytelling.”

Shooting his latest film, “Grant Me a Son,” at Olivewood proved a great experience for Al-Yaseer.

The upcoming feature, which centers on a woman who goes into labor following a tragic sexual assault, stars Maria Zreik (“All That’s Left of You”), Shafiqa Al Tal (“Weapon Without Murder,” “Our Males and Females”), Maisa Abdel Hadi (“The Alleys”) and Motaz Allabadi (“Weapon Without Murder,” “Our Males and Females”).  

Al-Yaseer, who has shot countless productions at Olivewood, describes the studio as his “preferred location for any project, whether it’s a music video, a TV commercial or a film.

“When you shoot in a studio, you have much more control over the creative process and the surrounding circumstances. It elevates the work and gives you an incredible amount of freedom.”

With the film set entirely inside a house, the director was able to shoot it all at the studio, which allowed him complete control of creative elements that would not have been possible outside a studio environment.

“Building and shooting the house in a studio allowed us to work at a level of precision that is much closer to Hollywood-style filmmaking, where every wall, doorway, light source and camera position can be designed to serve the story. It gave us complete control over the visual language of the film and the freedom to execute creative choices that would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, in a practical location.

“It was a fantastic experience,” he adds. “Olivewood has everything a production needs. The team is highly cooperative, the facilities are well maintained, and the overall environment makes the production process much smoother and more efficient.”