Dubai Studio City – the region’s leading business community for the broadcasting, production and events sectors recently announced the launch of CineMENA, a unique platform that celebrates the art of content creation and nurtures local talent in the field.
The initiative aims to assist budding filmmakers and content creators in enhancing their skills through an annual agenda of events which include workshops, masterclasses and training sessions by industry influencers, actors and filmmakers.
Set to officially take place in February 2019, CineMENA will comprise multiple activations, an exhibition showcasing the latest technologies and trends, outdoor film screenings, and thought sessions focused on all aspects of the art and craft of content creation.
CineMENA will also introduce a new competition to recognize local and regional talent across four categories – Best Short Film, Best Short Documentary, Best Music Video, and Best Film inspired by the Founding Father of the UAE, Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Winners will be selected by a specialized jury committee.
Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Studio City, said: “In line with our core priority of nurturing a creative community through identifying, supporting and honing talent in the media and content creation industry, we are proud to announce the launch of CineMENA, our new platform that celebrates excellence in media across the MENA region.”
He added: “The media industry today features multiple platforms for different types of content creators and some of these stipulate a high number of followers as a prerequisite. In contrast, CineMENA caters to all ages and levels of expertise – from new entrants to seasoned professionals – equipping participants with the necessary skills and tools to create engaging content. Local content from the MENA region has a relatively low representation on a global level. We are keen for CineMENA to change the status quo through actively promoting locally produced content in both Arabic and English. We aspire to bring together passionate individuals to learn, generate content, and network with other members and stakeholders of the creative community.”
Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman of the Dubai Film and TV Commission, said: “For over a decade, there has been no doubt that the region has made significant strides in the content creation industry, and we intend to provide all the facilities to support our local talent. With CineMENA, we aim to build a platform where content creators can learn, inspire, network and explore new prospects. The initiative is poised to benefit all aspiring creators, whether they belong to the filmmaking, screenwriting, or pre- and post-production fields. CineMENA will provide our young people with an ideal opportunity to showcase their talent while helping develop the regional visual content creation sector and encouraging creativity.”
Over the past three years, Dubai Studio City organized diverse workshops in all aspects of film and media production that saw participation of over 2,000 amateurs and professionals from the region. In 2018, the community hosted 12 workshops in collaboration with the Emirati production house ‘Behind the Scenes’ at In5, Media Innovation Centre in Dubai Production City that supports entrepreneurs and startups in the media domain. Led by Mohammad Salam, Managing Director of Behind the Scenes, and conducted by award-winning specialists, the workshops covered topics such as Sound Recording, Cinematography, Voice and Speech, Post-production, and Directing.
Sources: Tabloid, MENA Herald and Digital Studio Middle East
Organizers of the film festival announced a “new approach” to support the region’s film industry.
After 14 years, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is taking a break and will be embracing a new strategy to support the growth and evolution of film and content industries in the region.
The strategic shift aims to adopt changes taking place in this region’s creative and entertainment landscape. The new strategy seeks to leverage the emergence of upcoming talent and new technologies that are changing the content landscape in this region.
DIFF will now transpire every two years, with the 15th edition to be hosted in Dubai in 2019.
Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman of Dubai Film and TV Commission said, “DIFF has established Dubai as a world-class destination in the film and content industry. It serves as a platform to promote cultural understanding between the region and the world, as well as the development of the local and regional film industry, giving the opportunity to many ambitious film makers to shine.”
He explained that with the changes taking place both in the regional and global movie making and content industry, the objective is to redefine the festival’s approach towards nurturing growth, creativity and talent.
“Innovative new approaches and technologies are transforming the distribution of content and the craft of movie-making. As a forward-thinking player in the global film industry, DIFF seeks to embrace the future of the industry through this strategic shift,” he said.
Sharif also added that the festival will continue its significant contribution to the industry, as they look forward to celebrating with the public, film-lovers and industry professionals in 2019.
DIFF has celebrated cinema over the past 14 years, with almost 2,000 screenings including 500 films from the Arab world, helped more than 300 films from the region reach completion, facilitated funding and partnership for a further 140, supported more than 200 talented Arab filmmakers through the Festival’s Muhr Awards, and driven tourism across the city.
For more information visit dubaifilmfest.com
Sources: DIFF, The Arabian Marketer, Hollywood Reporter and Arab News
