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Company 3, the US post-production and VFX firm, has signed an agreement with the Film Committee at Media City Qatar, which will see the launch of a visual effects studio in Qatar.
The studio will be based in Qatari capital Doha, and will be the first phase of a longer partnership between Company 3 and the Film Committee.
Through the collaboration, the two bodies will enter a consultation on the creation of a post-production rebate scheme, in addition to Qatar’s production rebate announced yesterday.
Details of the post-production rebate are still in the works; as an untethered scheme, it will not require production to take place in Qatar; and will have a low minimum spend of $50,000, allowing smaller films to access the rebate as well as larger titles.
Work on the post-production studio facility is underway, and expected to be completed in around six months. The Film Committee will coordinate with local stakeholders and government partners to help the facility contribute to Qatar’s broader creative economy.
Company 3 will provide technical, creative, and operational guidance in building the region’s post-production services, as Qatar looks to boost its incoming international productions with yesterday’s announcement of the production cash rebate of up to 50%.
This guidance will include working with international film schools to bring training programmes to the region. The Company 3 facility in Qatar will be staffed by a combination of the firm’s international employees moving over; and new staff from the region, who will be trained up.
Company 3 will be working on projects by the US companies that announced expansions into Qatar in recent days, which have included Neon, Miramax and Department M.
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LA-headquartered Company 3 offers colour grading, visual effects, and finishing services.
The firm’s credits include blockbuster Wicked: For Good – out this weekend around the world through Universal – F1, Superman, Frankenstein and the upcoming final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things.
It was acquired by visual effects firm Framestore in 2020, forming the Framestore and Company 3 Group, which employs 6,000 people around the world. The partnership with Qatar’s Film Committee currently involves only Company 3.
Company 3 CEO Stefan Sonnenfeld said he has been in discussion about the partnership for almost two years, following a call from Sheika Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of the Doha Film Institute and sister of Qatar’s ruling Emir.
“I spent four or five days here; I had such a good experience,” said Sonnenfeld. “The MENA region is super exciting and booming, and we don’t participate in that. I felt compelled to come more, learn about it and start working with the people who are the creative forces in this region, and Qatar represents that.”
“This partnership embodies Qatar’s vision to support the very best creators in Qatar, the region and the Global South,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, chairman of the Film Committee. The partnership was the latest deal to be announced at Doha Film Festival’s Industry Days, overseen by Al Thawadi.
“The Film Committee’s forward-thinking approach to developing a sustainable creative ecosystem aligns perfectly with our mission to empower storytellers through technology and artistry,” said Sonnenfeld. “This partnership represents the foundation for a new era of post-production excellence in the Middle East.”
The Doha Industry Days continue tomorrow (Sunday, November 23) with a closed-door session between producers Barbara Broccoli and Nicky Bentham.
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