By Peter Townson
Tarak Ben Ammar’s Quinta Communications and the Doha Film Institute (DFI) have announced the local launch of filming on Black Gold, a $55mn epic and one of the biggest cinema projects to be inspired by the Arab world.
Based on Hans Reusch’s novel The Great Thirst, the film is being directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, famous for his work on films such as Quest for Fire, The Name of the Rose, Seven Years in Tibet, and Enemy at the Gates, and stars Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Tahar Rahim, Mark Strong, Riz Ahmed and Liya Kebede.
Principal photography on the film began in Tunisia in October last year, and wrapped on January 23 during the first few days of the revolution.
The team has now begun filming in Qatar at the dunes near Mesaieed, where the battle scenes from the film are being shot over a four week period.
Telling the story of two emirs in the 1930’s, played by Banderas and Strong, the film centres around the hero played by Rahim, who is torn between the various desert tribes and has to unite those around him.
Warner Bros and Universal Pictures International (UPI) will distribute the film worldwide on a multi-territory basis – an unprecedented feat for a film about the Arab world, said a DFI spokesperson.
Warner Bros will distribute the film in France, UK, Latin America and the Middle East, while UPI will distribute the film in Germany and Spain.
Quinta Communications’ Eagle Pictures will handle distribution in Italy, and deals are currently being finalised for a worldwide holiday release this November, she added.
Tarak Ben Ammar commented: “I am delighted to have started filming in Qatar. We are filming in some of the world’s most stunning desert landscapes and that will help Black Gold look even more spectacular.”
“Also, filming here gives me the opportunity to support and encourage the Doha Film Institute’s vision of building a sustainable film infrastructure in the country,” he added.
Executive director of DFI, Amanda Palmer, said: Black Gold is the first major international co-production for The Doha Film Institute and Qatar. A large scale production is a challenging and ambitious start for DFI’s co-production, but this film will give us the experience and know-how to build the beginnings of a dynamic film industry in Qatar.”
“We’re honoured to work alongside director Jean-Jacques Annaud. Not only does he possess the right sensibilities to tell this beautiful Arab story, he also understands the importance of teaching Qatari nationals and residents about film production,” said Palmer.
“He has integrated a Qatari based team into his staff to teach them on location about filming in their country and filmmaking in general,” she noted, adding “we’re mobilising a whole country behind this film to establish Qatar as a global film hub.
