Mumbai: Dubai Studio City, the Middle East’s first dedicated film production cluster and a member of TECOM Investments, will highlight Dubai as a compelling destination for international filmmakers during American Film Market (AFM) 2008 that will be held from 5 – 12 November at Santa Monica in California.
Dubai Studio City executive director Jamal Al Sharif will lead a panel discussion on Location Expo: National Perspectives, highlighting production incentives to film commissioners and representatives worldwide.
He said, "Dubai Studio City is keen to participate in high profile global events such as the AFM. We are delighted to showcase the location-specific advantages Dubai offers to international filmmakers and we invite them to the Emirate for commercial, television or cinema production."
Dubai Studio City’s Location Approval Services (LAS) department will also be highlighted at AFM. With a sole mandate to issue permissions for filming and photography activities in Dubai, LAS expedites and facilitates all aspects of filming in Dubai and the UAE, including location scouting, access of talent, arrangement of visas, and arranging affordable accommodations for crew members. LAS registered 126% increase in applications during 2008, with 1,600 applications approved from 2007 to date.
In line with its commitment to boost the growth of the film industry in the region, Dubai Studio City recently launched the DSC Market (www.DSCMarket.com), an online marketplace for film production, photography and ancillary services.
Spread over 22 million sq ft, Dubai Studio City has 14 fully equipped sound stages, a 3.5-million sq ft back lot for outdoor shooting, commercial offices, pre-built studios, a business centre and post-production studios. The first phase will feature a 15,000 sq ft sound stage and two units of 25,000 sq-ft each, which will be operational by 2009.
Dubai Studio City is home to over 70 broadcasters, while more than 160 TV channels operate from Dubai Media City, another TECOM Investments entity. DSC has over 140 licensed business partners, comprising broadcasters such as MTV, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon and NDTV (Arabia), and value chain companies including EVS Broadcast Equipment SA, Irdeto, Alpatron, and Mediapro.
