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In addition to the natural wonders that continue to make Jordan a unique filming location, increased government funding support and new partnership between the country’s Olivewood Film Studios and U.S. studio operator
Shadowbox have provided a major boost to the country’s film sector.
Last year the country increased its cash rebate program to 45% of local spend and introduced additional tax exemptions, making location shoots for foreign productions particularly attractive.
Overseen by the Royal Film Commission (RFC), the tiered cash-rebate program returns up to 45% of local spend to filmmakers, alongside an automatic exemption from the country’s 16% value added tax and 10% withholding tax — amounting to total savings of up to 56% of eligible spend.
The scheme, which also halves the minimum-spend threshold to just $250,000, is capped at $5.25 million per project but higher caps may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The country has also reduced bureaucracy for foreign productions, with the RFC facilitating rapid paperwork processing and necessary permits.
RFC’s chairman, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, has described Jordan’s film industry as “crucial” to the country’s overall cultural strategy and stressed the leading role played by the royal family and King Abdullah II himself in championing the film sector.
Further bolstering the country as a prime location is the recently established Olivewood Film Studios in Amman, which last year entered into a partnership with U.S. studio group Shadowbox. The first purpose-built complex of its kind in Jordan, Olivewood comprises two soundstages and a backlot.
“Since its establishment in 2023, Olivewood has aimed to contribute to Jordan’s growing film and television industry by providing professional studio infrastructure and production support, while working closely with the Royal Film Commission to strengthen Jordan’s position as a regional and international production destination,” says Jumana Sharbin, general manager of Olivewood Film Studios.
As part of the agreement, Shadowbox Studios is helping manage Olivewood’s operations. The global expertise offered by Shadowbox, which operates the Shadowbox Atlanta site as well as Shinfield Studios in the U.K., is seen as key in scaling up major international productions in Jordan, according to Sharbin.
“Olivewood’s international outreach is not limited to Western markets,” Sharbin points out. “While we continue to engage with Europe and the U.S., we are placing strong emphasis on Asia and India as key growth markets. Last year, we participated in Korea’s industry circuit, including the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan, and this year we look forward to engaging with companies from China during the Shanghai International Film Festival, the International Film & TV Market, and SIFF Project.
“For us, every market matters. Each country and each continent has its own stories, audiences, creative energy, and production ambitions, and Jordan has a great deal to offer as both a filming destination and a production partner.”
Over the past year, Olivewood has also hosted several series and productions shot at the studio, including MBC’s “The Voice” and “The Voice Kids.”
“These large-scale entertainment formats utilized Olivewood’s sound stages and production infrastructure, further demonstrating the studio’s ability to accommodate high-profile regional television productions with complex technical, operational, and audience-facing requirements,” Sharbin notes.
“And our current on-going negotiations looks very positive. At the end of July we are booked for an international game show.”
One of the most recent domestic films to shoot at the facility was “Grant Me a Son,” by sibling filmmakers Rana and Ahmad Al-Yaseer, the duo behind the acclaimed, award-winning short “Our Males and Females.”
