F1 film: Abu Dhabi shoot sets intern record

Five Emiratis among 15 trainees who worked on Brad Pitt blockbuster, commission reveals

Brad Pitt filmed scenes for F1 at the Yas Marina Circuit during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A record number of interns worked on the coming motorsports film F1 during scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

The Apple Original Films movie, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), was shot over three different periods, wrapping production at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit last month.

In total, 15 interns worked on the film, five of whom were Emirati, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission tells The National.

Sameer Al Jaberi, head of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, says: "This partnership was particularly special from a local, young talent perspective as we were able to place 15 young interns on set – the highest number of any major production to date that we’ve partnered on.

"The impact for the wider industry, given the total amount of shoot days at 29, provided large economic benefits and extensive on-ground working opportunities for a variety of local professionals."

In addition to the major sequences filmed at Yas Marina Circuit in December, filming also took place at Zayed International Airport and twofour54 Studios at Yas Creative Hub, with additional scenes shot at the circuit in April. Actors including Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem, all participated in the Abu Dhabi shoots, supported by a crew of 294 and the team at Epic Films.

The 2023 and 2024 shoots are one of 170 major productions supported by the commission's rebate scheme since 2013. A new scheme was launched this year, which offers rebates from 35 to 50 per cent of production costs.

"We look forward to seeing Abu Dhabi’s iconic locations on the big screen and also working with Apple Original Films in the future, with production teams across the world reaping the benefits of a safe and secure working environment and established talent pool alongside financial, logistical and technical on ground support from Abu Dhabi Film Commission," says Mohamed Dobay, acting director general of Abu Dhabi's Creative Media Authority.

The film was made in collaboration with Formula 1, including management and all 10 teams, drivers and the International Automobile Federation. Former world champion Lewis Hamilton co-produced the film, along with Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman.

Speaking to The National in December, Bruckheimer commented: "The 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.”

F1, which tells a fictional story of a former driver (Pitt) who returns to Formula 1 along side a young team mate (Idris), is set to be released in theatres on June 25 across the world.