UAE Media Council gets behind CineMENA initiative
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 02 July 2019

Dubai Studio City has linked forces with the UAE’s National Media Council to support its dedicated platform celebrating local and regional talent and content creation, CineMENA.

A series of industry-specific workshops are being held at innovation centre in5 Media in Dubai Production City, to help enrich the UAE film industry and assist Emirati filmmakers in developing and promoting content.

“Since the inception of CineMENA and our dedicated filmmaking workshops, we have seen a huge demand for film and content creation facilities. We are immensely pleased to partner with the National Media Council to support the local and regional content creation industry with a focus on Arabic content and Emirati film. We look forward to expanding the platform that seeks to position the MENA region as an international powerhouse in this strategic domain,” said Majed Al Suwaidi, managing director of Dubai Studio City.

Over the past three years, Dubai Studio City has organised over 30 free workshops covering a range of issues pertaining to content creation. Over the next few months, free courses on acting ,filming, producing and scriptwriting will all be offered.

Dr Rashid Al Nuaimi, executive director of Media Affairs at the National Media Council, said: “With its world-class infrastructure, studios and technical equipment, the UAE has all the right elements to help the film production sector grow and flourish.

“The National Media Council is keen to lend a helping hand to local filmmakers so that they can reach greater heights and contribute to shaping a vibrant film industry in the UAE. Our partnership with Dubai Studio City aspires to enhance the quality of local film production and provide meaningful opportunities for Emirati talent to excel.”

Going forward, CineMENA plans to introduce a new competition to recognise local and regional talent, featuring 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.