Dubai Studio City to highlight Dubai's distinct features to global filmmakers at AFM 2008 in US

More than 8,000 industry leaders from 70 countries will gather for the American Film Market that will be held from 5 - 12 November at Santa Monica in California.

In addition to 900 scheduled screenings, AFM will concurrently hold seminars and conferences, providing an interactive forum for acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, and writers.

Jamal Al Sharif, Executive Director, Dubai Studio City, will lead a panel discussion on 'Location Expo: National Perspectives', highlighting production incentives to film commissioners and representatives from around the world.

Al Sharif said:

"Dubai Studio City is keen to participate in high profile global events such as the AFM, which serve as an enabling platform for key players in the entertainment industry. We are delighted to showcase the location-specific advantages Dubai offers to international filmmakers and we encourage them to come to the emirate for commercial, television or cinema production that will be fully supported by our LAS department."

Dubai Studio City's Location Approval Services (LAS) department and its service range will also be highlighted at the AFM. With a sole mandate to issue permissions for filming and photography activities in Dubai, LAS offers instant convenience to international filmmakers by expediting and facilitating all aspects of filming in Dubai and the UAE, including location scouting, access of talent, arrangement of visas, and affordable accommodations for crew members.

"We are pleased with the phenomenal growth achieved by LAS that registered 126% increase in applications during 2008, with 1,600 applications approved from 2007 to date," he added.

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. Through the portal, suppliers and buyers have a virtual venue to conduct transactions that cater not only to the goods and service requirements of local film production firms but also that of global entities operating worldwide.

Spread over an area of 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 of the development includes three sound stages - one 15,000 sq ft unit and two units of 25,000 sq ft each. The sound stages are expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2009.

Currently, Dubai Studio City is home to over 70 broadcasters, while more than 160 TV channels operate from Dubai Media City (DMC), yet another TECOM Investments entity. DSC has over 140 licensed business partners, comprising recognized broadcasters such as MTV, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon and NDTV (Arabia), and value chain companies including EVS Broadcast Equipment SA, Irdeto, Alpatron, and Mediapro.