Qatar Tries to Shake Off Hollywood's Perception as a One-Stop Shop for Middle Eastern Projects, Eyes Film Industry Ambitions
In a bid to shake off its reputation as a mere hub for productions tied to major international football events and television broadcasting rights, Qatar is now targeting the lucrative global film industry. The tiny Arab state rich in oil and gas has set ambitious plans to produce Hollywood-style content that showcases Arabic storytelling.
A recent meeting between top executives from U.S.-based studios such as Sony Pictures, Neon, A-24, Department M, and Miramax, along with former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, marked the beginning of this new chapter in Qatar's entertainment industry. Broccoli and actor/director David Oyelowo announced a Doha-set contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s "Othello," with Oyelowo set to direct and star alongside Rachel Brosnahan and Cynthia Erivo.
The U.S. studios attending the meeting have announced co-development, co-production, and co-financing deals with Qatar through which mostly Arab-language projects will be spawned. This is a key step in Qatar's aim to become another prominent regional player in the entertainment sector.
Hassan Al Thawadi, who oversaw the 2022 FIFA World Cup, now leads The Qatar Film Committee, tasked with driving growth of the country's film industry. However, he made it clear that Hollywood should not expect handouts from Qatar. Instead, the Qatari government aims to champion Arab cinema and nurture regional talent.
"We're here to champion Arab cinema, nurture regional talent, and deepen collaboration across the Arab world," Al Thawadi stated. "Our goal is to see this region recognized as a driving force in global creativity with Arab storytelling at its heart."
The Industry Days component of the Doha Film Festival marked a launchpad for Qatar's film industry ambitions. The country's freshly announced rebate, the Qatar Screen Production Incentive, offers up to 50% cash rebates on qualifying Qatari production spend. This move is aimed at attracting productions from both Arab and international studios.
The initiative is seen as part of a well-thought-out strategy by Los Angeles-based producer Stuart Ford, who heads AGC Studios. The Qatar incentive aims to bring in projects from the region, potentially benefiting local filmmakers and industry professionals.
As for Doha-based filmmaker Ahmed Al Baker, the new rebate is an invitation for Arab production companies to tap into Qatar's film industry ambitions. "The Middle East is our turf," he stated. "What The Film Committee is pushing is for the Qatar incentive to bring in projects from the region."
In a bid to shake off its reputation as a mere hub for productions tied to major international football events and television broadcasting rights, Qatar is now targeting the lucrative global film industry. The tiny Arab state rich in oil and gas has set ambitious plans to produce Hollywood-style content that showcases Arabic storytelling.
A recent meeting between top executives from U.S.-based studios such as Sony Pictures, Neon, A-24, Department M, and Miramax, along with former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, marked the beginning of this new chapter in Qatar's entertainment industry. Broccoli and actor/director David Oyelowo announced a Doha-set contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s "Othello," with Oyelowo set to direct and star alongside Rachel Brosnahan and Cynthia Erivo.
The U.S. studios attending the meeting have announced co-development, co-production, and co-financing deals with Qatar through which mostly Arab-language projects will be spawned. This is a key step in Qatar's aim to become another prominent regional player in the entertainment sector.
Hassan Al Thawadi, who oversaw the 2022 FIFA World Cup, now leads The Qatar Film Committee, tasked with driving growth of the country's film industry. However, he made it clear that Hollywood should not expect handouts from Qatar. Instead, the Qatari government aims to champion Arab cinema and nurture regional talent.
"We're here to champion Arab cinema, nurture regional talent, and deepen collaboration across the Arab world," Al Thawadi stated. "Our goal is to see this region recognized as a driving force in global creativity with Arab storytelling at its heart."
The Industry Days component of the Doha Film Festival marked a launchpad for Qatar's film industry ambitions. The country's freshly announced rebate, the Qatar Screen Production Incentive, offers up to 50% cash rebates on qualifying Qatari production spend. This move is aimed at attracting productions from both Arab and international studios.
The initiative is seen as part of a well-thought-out strategy by Los Angeles-based producer Stuart Ford, who heads AGC Studios. The Qatar incentive aims to bring in projects from the region, potentially benefiting local filmmakers and industry professionals.
As for Doha-based filmmaker Ahmed Al Baker, the new rebate is an invitation for Arab production companies to tap into Qatar's film industry ambitions. "The Middle East is our turf," he stated. "What The Film Committee is pushing is for the Qatar incentive to bring in projects from the region."
like they haven't been trying to play us for fools with those olympics games and f1 parties already? 
let's not forget, we're talking about a country that's still under some pretty shady international scrutiny. 
. It's about time they took control of their own narrative and showcased Arabic storytelling on a global stage 
. But, I gotta say, it's gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out - are they trying to create their own Hollywood rival or just use the film industry as another revenue stream for the government? Either way, I'm rooting for local filmmakers and Arab talent to shine on a global scale 
. And, yeah, it's cool that Barbara Broccoli is involved - who wouldn't want James Bond magic in Doha? 
It's about time we saw more representation from the region.
It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out and what kind of projects we get to see in the future. Fingers crossed for more Arabic films that showcase the region's rich culture and history! 
. the fact that hollywood studios are on board with their plans is a good sign tho 
they wanna produce hollywood-style content that showcases arab storytelling and i think it's a great move! 
we need more arab voices telling our own stories and getting global recognition 
and the fact that qatar is offering rebates to attract productions from both arab and international studios is genius 
. and i'm lowkey hyped about the othello adaptation tho, oyelowo's gonna crush it on screen 
. but also gotta wonder if qatar's trying 2 capitalize on their "cool factor" 2 attract more foreign investment 
. i'm curious to see how this all plays out 
. I'm curious to see how this whole thing unfolds, might just be an interesting ride for film buffs. The Qatar incentive is a good start, but we'll have to wait and see if they can deliver on their promises 
). They're actually trying to champion Arab cinema and nurture regional talent. That's the real MVP right there 
.
. This is some next-level stuff, folks. Bring on the Doha-set Othello, I'm ready 
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, and it's awesome that David Oyelowo is leading the charge 
. The Qatar Screen Production Incentive is a win-win for both Arab and international filmmakers. It's time we see more of our stories being told and recognized on a global stage 
. Let's support each other and bring more Arabic cinema magic to the world