| Building Name: | Iskandar Malaysia Studios |
| Completion Date: | 2014 |
| Status: | Operational |
| Building Type: | Film Studios |
| Architectural Style: | Modernism |
Iskandar Malaysia Studios (IMS) is a studio complex located at a 20ha site in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia,[1] It targets the Asia-Pacific region.
Pinewood Shepperton plc (now Pinewood Group) entered into a strategic agreement with Khazanah Nasional Berhad (the investment holding arm of the Government of Malaysia) in connection with the development of a new film and television studio facility in Iskandar, Malaysia. Construction began towards the end of 2010, with completion initially expected by the end of 2012. The project designers were GDP Architects, Kuala Lumpur[2] and structural engineer Hossein Rezai of Web Structures.[3] The facility officially opened on 14 June 2014.[4]
In July 2019, Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios was rebranded to Iskandar Malaysia Studios and the affiliation with Pinewood Shepperton plc ended.[5] [6]
In March 31, 2023, Singaporean entertainment company, GHY Culture & Media announced its intent in a filing on the Singapore Exchange to acquire 80% of majority stake in Iskandar Malaysia Studios.[7] Later, on April 9, Khazanah Nasional's wholly-owned special purpose vehicle, Granatum Ventures, has entered into a definitive share sale agreement to divest its 100% stake in the studio to Studio Management Services (SMS), a consortium led by its current Malaysian management team in partnership with GHY, to attract foreign investment as well as to brought the economic and social benefits to Malaysia.[8]
In June 2023, Deputy Finance Minister, Steven Sim said that Khazanah only divest its shares in Iskandar Malaysia Studios to looking for a new partner which could better manage the studio, but did not sold the studio's assets.[9] [10]
The facilities in the studio complex include 9300m2 of film stages, ranging from 1400m2 to 2800m2. The first two at 1400m2 while the other two at 1900m2. The biggest stage at 2800m2 has a water tank for productions that require work on or under water. There are 2 TV studios, each at 1100m2. The studio holds Southeast Asia's largest paddock tank measuring 65m (213feet) x 65m (213feet) and 1.4m (04.6feet) deep and a deep water tank with a diameter of 18m (59feet) and depth of 5.6m (18.4feet).