Content Congress

Shaping the Media Narrative: Where Insights Ignite Change

    Here are some reasons why you should consider attending:

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    SPEAKERS

      AGENDA

      21 May 2024

      11:00 - 11:10
      Opening Remarks

      Border circle

      Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      11:10 – 11:30
      Opening Fireside Chat: Who is More Original: Human vs AI

      • How will Generative AI change the entertainment industry
      • AI disrupting media and entertainment - How do we process it?
      • Understand the opportunities and limitations of AI
      Border circle

      Eng. Saleh Lootah, Deputy CEO of Technical Support, Dubai Media Inc.

      Border circle

      Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      11:30 – 12:10
      Masterminds Chats: Learnings from Across the Ocean

      • The evolution of various cinema industries – taking cinema beyond the borders
      • Advancements of technology across various film industries – Assimilation & Challenges with AI developments
      • The big opportunity for OTT: Films & originals
      • Deep dive into global productions and integration of AI techniques
      • What are strategies for empowering the next generation of professionals, fostering creativity, and embracing innovation
      • The growth of VFX as a tool for directors to be able to tell stories is still the dominant trend. Examine case studies of productions with the use of VFX & AI tools
      Border circle

      Kabir Khan, Film Director

      Border circle

      Ashish Kulkarni, Chairman & Founder ,FICCI AVGC-XR FORUM

      Border circle

      Shekhar Kapur, Filmmaker & Actor

      Border circle

      Moderator: Sanjay Raina, Global Media & Entertainment Executive

      12:10 – 12:30
      Live Performance: Acoustic Bandura

      Border circle

      Viktoriya Zhytkova, Harp Bandura Player and Singer

      12:30 – 12:55
      Navigating New Horizons - the Future of Media and Entertainment in MENA

      • Media market prospects in the Middle East: comparative growth by segment, 2023-2027, MENA vs. Global
      • Media sector trends - and implications/opportunities for the Middle East
      • Role of government in media sector development
      • Forecast and future outlook
      Border circle

      Karim Daoud, Partner, Strategy & Middle East

      13:00 – 13:40
      Panel Discussion: Empowering Perspectives: Women's Role and Representation in Media & Entertainment

      • Embracing diverse voices for greater inclusion
      • How are women breaking into the big league? What are the challenges faced?
      • What does the future of media hold? From platforms and changing distribution models, to reaching audiences
      Border circle

      Darine ElKhatib, Vice President - Film Productions, Majid Al Futtaim

      Border circle

      Zainab Shaheen, Film Director, Fujairah Films

      Border circle

      Nahla Al Fahad, Film Director & Producer, Beyond Studios

      Border circle

      Sofia de Fay, Filmmaker

      Border circle

      Moderator: Mariam Al Serkal, Producer & Founder, Triplets on Set

      13:40 – 14:00
      Mastermind Talks: BTS for Streaming in the Middle East

      • Challenges of fragmentation in an increasingly competitive marketplace
      • Audience insights, AI and anthropology
      • Content acquisition and cost of content
      • Customer acquisition and costs associated with it
      • Road towards profitability
      Border circle

      Elie Habib, Co-Founder & CEO, Anghami & OSN+

      Border circle

      Natasha Matos-Hemingway, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer - VOD, MBC GROUP

      Border circle

      Moderator: Sanjay Raina, Global Media & Entertainment Executive, UAE

      14:00 – 14:20
      Fireside Chat: The IP-Enabled Set-Top Box Challenge: Solving for the Data Void That Cripples Operators

      • Service providers are losing subscribers to the cord cutting that results from the proliferation of IP streaming services, including off-the-shelf streaming sticks and Smart TVs. As providers enter the OTT market with IP-enabled set-top boxes (STBs), they face unique challenges because of unprecedented cost challenges, the complexities in providing TV-like quality across multi-modal delivery mechanisms, and ever more rich viewing experiences such as low latency, high frame rate, and personalized ads.
      Border circle

      Mark Noble, Service Management Director,Intigral, stc Group

      Border circle

      José Jesus, VP of Product Management, Conviva

      14:20 – 15:00
      Panel: Crafting Expansive Universes in Production

      • Explore the creative use of emerging tech
      • Now and the future of metaverse impacting production – film making for the unreal world
      • Explore about authentic storytelling and algorithms
      • How is AI changing fields of storytelling, dubbing and subtitling?
      Border circle

      Bilal Dayani, Chief Operating Officer, Eagle Films ME

      Border circle

      Crispin Dominic, CEO & Founder, Action Filmz Production

      Border circle

      Nancy Paton, CEO & Founder, Desert Rose Films

      Border circle

      Moderator: Hans Fraikin, Global Media Expert, Arthur D Little

      15:00 – 15:30
      Panel Discussion:Streaming Wars: Is Streaming Becoming the Future of Entertainment?

      • How does streaming change how we make and watch shows compared to regular TV?
      • How do new technologies help in creating and sharing content on streaming platforms?
      • What challenges do content creators face in making money and gaining popularity on streaming platforms?
      Border circle

      Alain Mayni, Head of Tech, Media, Telecom – MENA, Meta

      Border circle

      Ahmed Qandil, Director of Growth Marketing, Shahid

      Border circle

      Mohamed Harb, Head of Partnerships - MENA, TikTok

      Border circle

      Moderator: Hans Fraikin, Global Media Expert, Arthur D Little

      15:30 – 16:10
      Panel Discussion: How does the MENA Watch TV?

      • FAST & furious growth: Which model is sustainable and profitable across territories?
      • Future of linear TV - How fast is it dying?
      • What are the strategies TV networks are adopting to sustain growth in linear TV?
      • Is there a substantial difference in the way linear TV programming and channels are being curated?
      • Is there still a large audience that watches linear TV and paying for it?
      • Upcoming opportunities: identifying emerging trends and partnership opportunities that are created by AdTech in ad-supported content
      • The revenue holds that linear television is getting into – how are they sustaining business sustainability? How does TV networks sustain advertisement revenue?
      Border circle

      Nisrine Ghazal, Vice President Digital, Rotana Media

      Border circle

      Hamad Malik, Managing Director Ad Sales, STARZPLAY

      Border circle

      Manoj Mathew, Director - Studios & Events at Dubai Studios, Dubai Media

      Border circle

      Moderator: Moustapha Bekheet, Founder and CEO, PAM Inc., Egypt

      16:10 – 16:20
      Closing Remarks

      Border circle

      Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      22 May 2024

      10:50 - 11:00
      Opening Remarks

      Border circle

      Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      11:00 – 11:50
      Panel Discussion: The Arab Box Office: The Future of Arabic Production

      • Discussing the significance of establishing productive partnerships locally and internationally
      • Examining the pillars of global competitiveness for the Arabic film industry
      • Innovations and latest practices in cinematography and production
      • Can Arabic production be shoulder to shoulder with Turkish & Korean content?
      • How well is the Arab world garnered towards screenplay and scripts writing?
      Border circle

      Adil Adam Memon, EVP – Content & Marketing MENA, Zee Entertainment Middle East FZ LLC

      Border circle

      Bandar A. Almashhadi, Chief Executive Officer, Media Rating Company

      Border circle

      Wael Al Malki, Content Consultant, Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA)

      Border circle

      Talal Awamleh, CEO, Arab Telemedia Group

      Border circle

      Manoj Mathew, Director – Studios & Events at Dubai Studios, Dubai Media

      Border circle

      Moderator: Heba Korayem, Content Market & Distribution Specialist, H Consult

      11:55 - 12:10
      Fireside Chat: What AI could mean for the Middle East Media Industry

      • The role of media and current challenges to tradition media
      • Tech trends shaping the industry – diversify, pivot, innovate
      • Virtual production and audience of the future
      • Overview of AI disruptions across the media industry - is it a viable proposition?
      Border circle

      Dr. Naser Refaat, CTO & Media Investments Advisor, Rotana Media Group

      Border circle

      Moderator: Moustapha Bekheet, Founder and CEO, PAM Inc., Egypt

      12:10 - 12:50
      Panel Discussion: Driving the Creative Economy: How is GCC Creating a New Hub for Film Production

      • Government Initiatives Driving Growth: Explore the various governmental policies and incentives that are attracting filmmakers to the GCC region
      • Discuss the effectiveness of these initiatives in fostering a thriving film industry
      • Delve into the infrastructure developments within the GCC region that support film production, such as state-of-the-art studios, post-production facilities, and specialized workforce training programs
      • Cultural Representation in GCC Cinema
      • Emerging Talent and Emerging Markets
      • Technological Innovations in Film Production
      • Impact of Streaming Platforms and Digital Distribution
      • Future Trends and Outlook
      Border circle

      Bassam Alasad, General Manager/Chief Content Officer, Creative Media Solutions

      Border circle

      Fadi Radi, Chief Creative Officer, Blinx

      Border circle

      Bruce Macdonald - Film Director/Executive - Boomtown Productions

      Border circle

      Karen Coetzee - CEO / Principal Producer - Central Films

      Border circle

      Crispin Dominic - Founder and CEO - Action Filmz Rentals & Studios

      Border circle

      Moderator: Layal Moukhal - CEO - Film Pudding

      12:50 - 13:10
      The Evolution of Non-English Content in MENA

      • Non-English content demand has grown globally to 40%, marking a significant shift from 23% in 2018
      • In the MENA region, over 50% of content demand is now for non-English titles, with Arabic content making up over a quarter of total demand – nearly doubling since 2022
      • Asian-language TV content, with its age-agnostic storylines, has surged in popularity, with dramas like Squid Game, The Glory and Big Bet making international waves
      • MENA audiences are increasingly drawn to animation, doubling its demand share to 12% in five years, due to its wide-ranging appeal across age groups
      • The growing appetite for Arabic content highlights an opportunity for regional storytelling and global market penetration
      Border circle

      Amanda Turnbull, CEO, Rise Studios

      Border circle

      Wared Seger, CEO, Parrot Analytics

      13:10 - 13:30
      Fireside Chat: Making a Global Service Locally Relevant

      • An overview of streaming in MENA
      • Adapting a global platform for local audiences
      • Importance of selecting and curating content in the Arab world
      • Exploring localizing content and user experiences for the region
      Border circle

      Tamim Fares, Director, Disney+ MENA, The Walt Disney Company Middle East

      Border circle

      Moderator: Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      13:30 - 14:10
      Panel Discussion: Generation Interrupted: Curious Learners. Global Thinkers

      • Kid’s content has become critical in streaming space – dive into new market dynamics
      • How is Gen Z & Gen Alpha creating their niche for the TV industry in various markets?
      • What will children's TV look like by 2030? – Mapping out the future of what kids and tweens want from the media industry
      Border circle

      Nathalie Habib, Co-Owner & Executive Producer, Blink Studios

      Border circle

      Katerina Pshenitsyna, Managing Partner, TwelveP Animation

      Border circle

      Shadi Nashwan, Chief Executive Officer, PIXITOON

      Border circle

      Ashraf Younis, Director of MBC3 & MBC ACTION, MBC Group

      Border circle

      Moderator: Rachna Arora, CEO, Seven Sab'a Media

      14:10 - 14:30
      GenAI, Automatization, Hyper-Personalization: Enhancing Media Workflows for Higher Viewer Engagement

      Border circle

      Jonas Michaelis, CEO, qibb

      Border circle

      Tobias Fröhlich, CPO & Founder, TeraVolt – a Qvest company

      14:30 - 15:00
      Panel Discussion: Unleashing the Potential of Esports & Esports Production

      • Telling stories across film and games - Generating mass impact through gameplay
      • Investigating the capability of e-sport production and the future of entertainment
      • How is Middle East positioned for the next wave of esports takeover?
      • How big is the esports and esports production market and what is its growth potential?
      Border circle

      Naji Ghaziri, Head of Mobile Gaming Products, MBC GROUP

      Border circle

      Meena George, Head of Esports, e&, UAE

      Border circle

      Elie Gemayel, Chief Executive Officer, Quest Esports

      Border circle

      Moderator: Ralph Bejjani, CEO, Estaz

      15:00 - 15:20
      AMA (Ask Me Anything) with Kabir Khan: Script Writing and Direction

      Border circle

      Kabir Khan, Film Director

      15:20 - 15:50
      Panel Discussion: Sound Investment - The Audio Revolution

      • Breaking down the engagement of higher reach, higher targeted ads and higher capability.
      • Audience of 2030: Hear from our audio experts on their predictions for interactive and higher engagement
      • What is the audio industry's plans for the next 5 years?
      Border circle

      Raby Hamza, Manager – Content & DCX MEA, Dolby

      Border circle

      Alex Mubert, CEO, Mubert

      Border circle

      Tarek Majdalani, Media and Music Executive, MBC Group

      15:50 - 16:20
      Panel Discussion: Breaking News: Newsrooms Existential Face-Off

      • With AI takeover, how do newsrooms see revenue growth and profitability in the short to medium term?
      • Understanding the massive transformation that Generative AI promises to bring to content creation. What are the plans for print & digital media?
      • Fake News Epidemic: Navigating Misinformation in Today's Media Landscape
      • The Role of AI in elections and how broadcasters are combatting misinformation and deep fakes
      • The new format of news: there are over 300 new channels on YouTube. How does TV news networks adapt or compete with short forms of news
      • What is the future of breaking news if everything is online? How does TV network cope up with the speed of breaking news?
      Border circle

      Maxime Carboni, Chief Business Officer, Euro News

      Border circle

      Riad Hamade, Director of Business News at Asharq News, Asharq Business with Bloomberg

      Border circle

      Georgia Tolley, Presenter of The Agenda, Dubai Eye 103.8 FM

      Border circle

      Moderator: Moustapha Bekheet, Founder and CEO, PAM Inc., Egypt

      16:20 - 16:30
      Closing Remarks

      Border circle

      Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      23 May 2024

      11:00 - 11:10
      Opening Remarks

      Border circle

      Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      11:10 – 12:10
      Masterclass: How to Create a Video Entirely Using AI.

      • This workshop will guide participants through an exploration of various AI tools that enhance video production processes. Attendees will be taken on a comprehensive journey, starting from idea research and scriptwriting, to generating footage and editing, and culminating in the use of AI voices and the creation of a new, faceless YouTube channel. Participants will gain insights into valuable AI tools and learn how to maximize their potential in content creation, social media management, and the development of creatives for advertising purposes.
      Border circle

      Arjun Radhakrishna, Lead Senior Producer, Nas Daily Studios

      12:10 - 13:10
      Meet The in5 Startups

      Border circle

      Iqbal Haider, Co-Founder & CEO, iinfinitty media and technologies

      Border circle

      Mustafa Hazam, Founder & CEO, Grambell

      Border circle

      Olga Nayda, Co-founder & CEO, Glocal

      Border circle

      Naser Jahednia, CEO, Lichi Studios

      13:10 - 14:10
      Masterclass: The Making of VFX for a Film that has over 4500 Visual Effects Shots

      • The VFX for "Ayalaan" involved a collaborative and meticulous process, blending creativity and technology to bring the film's visionary world to life. The film has over 4500 visual effects shots, the most for an Indian film. Learn how PhantomFX’s team worked on every aspect, from initial concept to final rendering, to deliver an immersive cinematic experience. Besides providing visual effects, Phantom FX also co-produced the film through Phantom FX Studios, which would mark their first production
      Border circle

      Asif Bhushan, Senior Creative Head, Phantom Digital Effects

      14:10 - 14:20
      Closing Remarks

      Border circle

      Jane Witherspoon, Bureau Chief Middle East, Euronews

      Book a Stand
      HOME