Three cities. One shared vision. A story still in motion.

Global Films was born from two parallel journeys — each rooted in a love of cinema and a belief in what film could become in the region.
In 2002, in a Saudi Arabia still finding its cinematic voice, Ziad Sarrouh took a bold step and founded X-Stream Productions — the Kingdom’s first company dedicated to local commercial filmmaking. With little infrastructure and most commercials still being shot abroad, he set out to build something new: training crews from the ground up, investing in equipment, and producing campaigns that helped define the Kingdom’s emerging commercial identity. The company’s breakthrough came in 2003, with a major national campaign for Toyota — shot on film, led by international talent, and produced entirely inside Saudi Arabia. What followed wasn’t just a series of successful commercials, but the early groundwork of what is now one of the fastest-growing film industries in the region.

Meanwhile, in 2006, across the Indian Ocean, Ravi Appathurai founded Global Films in Kuala Lumpur. With a focus on high-end international production, he positioned himself as a trusted execution partner for global brands. Ravi’s vision was clear: bring world-class execution and aesthetic precision to every frame — especially in the beauty, haircare, automotive, and FMCG sectors. Through collaborations with P&G, Unilever, Toyota Motor Corporation, and other international giants, Global Films Malaysia developed a reputation for delivering visually striking, technically flawless work — and for becoming a production destination for brands looking to shoot in Southeast Asia.

In 2011, Ziad and Ravi’s paths crossed — one bringing deep-rooted experience in the Saudi market, the other bringing equally deep expertise in the Southeast Asian production landscape. With Caroline Checrallah joining them that same year, the foundation was laid for what would become Global Films: a cross-regional production network spanning Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, built on cultural insight, operational excellence, and shared creative ambition.

Today, Global Films operates across three strategic regions: Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and Southeast Asia. Each office plays a distinct role in the network — with Malaysia long established as a hub of production excellence, and Saudi Arabia rapidly emerging as one of the most dynamic markets in the global film industry. From Riyadh to Kuala Lumpur to Beirut, teams collaborate across borders, sharing resources and delivering high end productions held to international standards.

Each operation is led by a dedicated Executive Producer: Ziad Sarrouh in Saudi Arabia, Ravi Appathurai in Kuala Lumpur, and Caroline Checrallah in Beirut. Together, they form a unified production network — one team, three regions, and a shared commitment to world-class filmmaking.