November 12, 2022
The second screening this week of the coming-of-age tale “Theeb”, the first film from Jordan to receive an Oscar nomination for the best foreign language film in 2016, took place on Saturday November 12 at IBARAKI Prefectural Library in Mito City.
The movie was screened following a panel discussion on developing local soft adventure tourism and the lessons drawn from the “Jordan Trail” and “KENPOKU Long Trail Ibaraki” (KLTI).
Ambassador Lina ANNAB participated in the panel discussion along with Mr. WATAHIKI Shinichi, Director General at Ibrabaki Prefectural Government, and Mr. WADA Ikuo, President of Namche Bazaar and an active volunteer on the KLTI. The panel discussion was moderated by Mr. OMORI Shigehiro, Vice Counsellor at the Prefectural Government.
WATAHIKI san and WADA san shared with the audience their recent experience in visiting Jordan and in hiking the Jordan Trail which took place in May 2022. One of the sites visited on the Trail was Wadi Rum the filming location of THEEB.
The role of the movie industry in promoting touristic destinations was briefly discussed. THEEB is filmed entirely in Wadi Rum with stunning cinematography that showcases the breathtaking beauty of Jordan’s lunar and majestic desert.
We are grateful to IBARAKI Prefectural Government, its Governor and great team, and the community of volunteers at KLTI for the opportunity to share the story of Jordan’s beautiful and widely popular national trail “The Jordan Trail”.
About the film making industry in Jordan:
“Jordan can accommodate multiple productions and aims to entice productions to base themselves in the country, not just use it as a location. With high-end infrastructure, hotels and services, Jordan is set to add the next element: a studio facility. “Within 16 to 18 months, Jordan will have the first phase of a studio, most probably with three soundstages, on the outskirts of Amman,” says Mohannad Bakri, managing director of Jordan’s Royal Film Commission (RFC). This studio will be a new attraction for Jordan as a destination to film.
Jordanian cast and crew make up between 60%-70% on foreign and local productions shooting here. The first ADs on both Aladdin and Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker were Jordanian, hired because of capability and not for tax rebate eligibility.
Jordan has increased the maximum cash rebate available from 10% of Jordan spend to 25% for international productions. For a minimum local spend of $1m up to $3m, Jordan offers a 10% rebate, rising to 15% for productions between $3m to $5m. For spends of between $5m to $7m, the rebate is 20% and for $7m and above, productions are offered 25%.”
