Latest news with #YasMarinaCircuit
The National
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The National
Why F1 The Movie saved its biggest scene for Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit
Abu Dhabi 's Yas Marina Circuit isn't just home to some of the most memorable moments in Formula One history – it's now the setting of one of the most ambitious racing sequences in Hollywood history. The finale of F1 The Movie, directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, was filmed on location during a race weekend in the UAE capital. The production team merged the high-speed action of real-world Formula One with precision filmmaking, enlisting a massive crew that included 280 UAE-based professionals and 15 home-grown interns. 'This was a massive undertaking,' Mohamed Dobay, acting director general of the Creative Media Authority, tells the The National at the film's regional premiere, held at the same circuit where it all took place. 'For this movie, we had nearly 280 local crew members working on set. In addition to that, around 500 crew members came from abroad – places like Hungary, Romania, Canada, the US and the UK.' The film's cast and crew filmed at the Yas Marina Circuit for a total of 29 days across three shoots – with key sequences filmed at the 2023 and 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix races. Emirati Saleh Al Zaabi, a media studies graduate from Zayed University, was one of the interns supporting the production. He trained in the camera department and says working closely with professionals enriched his knowledge of filmmaking. 'I'm truly honoured to have had this learning experience,' Saleh says. Saleh was particularly interested in the equipment used for the thrilling on-board sequences, for which cameras were assembled and attached to the actors' cars. 'The cameras themselves were actually prototypes of a special Sony model, custom-made for mounting on Formula One cars,' he says. 'This experience reassured me that I'm capable of handling myself on large-scale productions. When I go back out into the field, I'll feel confident that I can take on whatever challenges come my way.' How Abu Dhabi assembled its interns for F1 This is the experience that Aysha Al Jneibi, director of talent management at the Creative Media Authority, had hoped the interns would have. Al Jneibi runs initiatives that place talented locals on projects in film, music, journalism, storytelling, digital marketing and other creative media. She says that for F1 The Movie, they whittled down a list 50 applicants and nominees to fill the 15 positions. 'All of our interns go through a screening and development process,' Al Jneibi explains. 'They typically begin by working on smaller local productions, such as documentaries or short films, before progressing to larger-scale projects. 'By the time they're selected for a major international production like F1 The Movie, they've already gained significant experience and training. At that point, they're not just learning on set – they're contributing and proving their capabilities.' While Dobay acknowledges that a skills disparity remains between local and international talent in some areas, the growing UAE industry is closing the gap. 'For example, in areas like stunts we currently lack local professionals, so we've been working to attract international stunt companies,' Dobay says. 'Stunts are just one area. There are also technical aspects like VFX and explosives that still require outside expertise. But we're actively working to develop these capabilities, and we're optimistic that, over time, we'll build a well-rounded local talent pool.' How UAE-based interns supported production Margarita Sataeva, from Russia, interned in the make-up and casting departments during the shoots. She says her first responsibility 'was to input background actors' information into the system so they could access the set'. During the second section of shooting, her main role was ensuring continuity for the actors in the background of a shot. 'I would take continuity photos of the extras, ensure their appearance matched previous scenes, and do touch-ups to maintain consistency,' Sataeva says. Emirati Hamdah Abdulrhman was an intern in the production department. She says her responsibilities included creating badges and passes for crew members and 'putting together welcome kits for everyone arriving from out of town'. 'I also helped organise the equipment ordered by the film crew and made sure it was delivered to the garages where the racing cars were kept.' Abdulrhman said of the experience: 'It helped me realise that production offers so many different paths, and it's really expanded my confidence in what I can do. 'This was my first experience working on a Hollywood film, and it gave me real motivation to aim higher. It inspired me to dream of becoming a filmmaker and director – someone whose work is seen not just locally, but around the world.' Building the UAE film industry Local internships have been part of every international production in Abu Dhabi and Dobay says that it has been great to see the number of interns rise. 'That's a big plus for us because it means our local talent pool is growing. One of the main objectives of hosting large-scale productions in Abu Dhabi is to help develop that local talent.' Abu Dhabi continues to host and assist international film and television production, made more attractive by the tax rebates it offers. Head of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission Sameer Al Jaberi says successes with productions such as Star Wars, Mission Impossible and Dune have created a good reputation for the city and its capabilities. 'Reputation and trust play a huge role in our industry, which relies heavily on word of mouth,' says Al Jaberi. 'Our previous successes have built a strong track record for Abu Dhabi and helped us earn the trust of international producers and studios.' Al Jaberi says the film commission's role is to support productions with everything they could need. 'We act as the link between government entities and the production companies to ensure a smooth process from start to finish.'
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Brad Pitt's F1: The Movie premieres in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi hosted the regional premiere of F1: The Movie at Yas Marina Circuit, where fans gathered to celebrate the release
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
'Filming on Yas Marina Circuit was amazing', says F1 The Movie star Brad Pitt
Abu Dhabi rolled out the red carpet at Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday for the regional premiere of F1 The Movie. In a purpose-built cinema set up directly on the track, actors and influencers in the UAE, along with key figures from the emirate's sport and creative sectors, were among the first to see the highly anticipated film. While stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon, along with director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, were unable to attend in person, the team sent a virtual message from London thanking Abu Dhabi for its support in bringing the film to life. Pitt said: 'As a huge fan of Formula One, to be here shooting on the iconic Yas Marina Circuit with our incredibly talented local crew was an amazing experience.' Idris added: 'To the people of Abu Dhabi, thank you for your unparalleled hospitality. You left us all with memories we'll treasure throughout our careers.' The film follows ageing racer Sonny Hayes (Pitt), who returns for the second half of a Formula One season 30 years after a race nearly killed him. He's there to help his former teammate-turned-team owner secure a win by the end of the season so the board can't force a sale. Abu Dhabi's role in the film is no mere cameo. As in real life, the final race of the season is held in the emirate, making it crucial to the team's fate. As a result, the film's thrilling and lengthy climactic sequence is set entirely on Yas Marina Circuit. The movie's director also thanked Abu Dhabi's leadership for their 'unwavering support' throughout the 29-day shoot, with filming taking place during both the 2023 and 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Kosinski cited the Creative Media Authority and Abu Dhabi Film Commission as key partners in bringing production to the UAE, with Bruckheimer adding that Yas Marina Circuit and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism 'showed us the best of Abu Dhabi while we visited'.
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
How big is Abu Dhabi's role in Brad Pitt's F1 film?
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews join the hype around F1 The Movie, the thrilling motorsport film that was partly filmed in Abu Dhabi. The Nationa l's arts and culture editor William Mullally returns to the podcast to give his take on the film on its UAE cinema release day. He talks about the fine details that went into the production to make the race scenes as real as possible, and to capture the emotional experience of being a motorsport driver. He also gives some hints, but no spoilers, about the Yas Marina Circuit scenes in the movie and other Abu Dhabi landmarks that made the cut. With summer in full swing, the hosts suggest good books to read, inspired by The National 's staff. Farah shares some of her favourites, including All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. They also talk about the staff's picks, ranging from the classic Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres to the biographical The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri.
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
What is Abu Dhabi's role in F1 The Movie?
The anticipated blockbuster F1 The Movie, which stars Brad Pitt, is being released in cinemas on Thursday. Fans of the sport will notice that Abu Dhabi has a central role in the film – just as in real life. Every year, the Abu Dhabi race serves as the season finale, making it the final opportunity for teams to secure crucial points. For the movie, scenes were filmed during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2023 and 2024. F1 The Movie follows the fictional tale of Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a former driver forced into retirement. He is persuaded to return to the world of racing to mentor young newcomer Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Together, they join an underdog team aiming to challenge some of the top names in motorsport, including Ferrari and Mercedes, with the story building to a thrilling finale at Yas Marina Circuit. The track itself is a worthy setting for a blockbuster – not only for its importance in the sport, but also as a beautiful backdrop. Being a race that starts in the day but goes into the night, the majority of the action takes place during what is referred to in filmmaking as the 'magic hour'. Speaking at an online launch event for the film's trailer in March, director Joseph Kosinski praised the racing circuit in the UAE capital: 'We end the film in Abu Dhabi, on this incredible track. That is just a spectacular way to end the film.' Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who spoke The National last year, was also full of praise. 'Yas Marina Circuit is amazing, and the people in Abu Dhabi have been so gracious and wonderful to us,' he said. 'They have welcomed our production with open arms and made everything very easy for us to film here.' Spotlight on Yas Marina Circuit In the film, the fictional Apex GP – 11th on the grid – is in desperate need of a good performance from its drivers at the Abu Dhabi race. The Yas Circuit becomes host to the hopes and dreams of a team and its owner, played by Javier Bardem. With everything on the line, the two Apex drivers go all out, giving viewers an adrenalin-filled glimpse of what it's like to race a Formula One car around Yas Marina Circuit. For the shoot, the film crew transformed a garage on the pit wall into the fictional team's base, complete with team colours, photos of the stars and a fully outfitted pit crew in uniform. Pitt and Idris filmed their driving scenes on the track using vehicles rigged with cameras. While made to look like F1 cars, the vehicles were actually modified F2 cars, offering a safer setup for the actors to drive at speed. Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton served as a producer, which ensured that scenes filmed in the pit lane and on the track were as accurate as possible due to his input and extensive expertise in the sport. A local affair The production for F1 The Movie was supported by local crew members who worked for a total of 29 days in the UAE capital alongside the international team. During that time, scenes were shot at Yas Marina Circuit, Zayed International Airport and twofour54 Studios at Yas Creative Hub. It also featured a record number of young talent working on set, with 15 interns working on the film, five of whom were Emirati. 'The impact for the wider industry, given the total number of shoot days at 29, provided large economic benefits and extensive on-ground working opportunities for a variety of local professionals,' Sameer Al Jaberi, head of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, previously told The National. History of F1 in Abu Dhabi Formula One came to the UAE in November 2009. The first race at the newly opened Yas Marina Circuit was the thrilling season ender in which British driver Jenson Button claimed his first and only world championship. The capital had been waiting for that first race since it was announced in 2007 that the prestigious motorsport would be coming to our shores. Since then, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has become one of the most important races on the F1 calendar, often being the last race of the season.
