CONTENTS DECEMBER 2022 6 UPDATE CNN NEWSROOM WITH MAX FOSTER & BIANCA NOBILO JOINS NEW CNN LINE-UP, NETFLIX AND MEMI PARTNER TO OFFER FOUR ARAB WRITERS $30K GRANTS, FILM ALULA SUPPORTS THE RED SEA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, AND OTHER HAPPENINGS FROM THE INDUSTRY 10 IN FOCUS HOW TWOFOUR54 IS POWERING UP CREATIVITY THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY HUB 14 EXCLUSIVE IN CONVERSATION WITH DR SAEED MUBARAK BIN KHARBASH, CEO OF THE ARTS AND LITERATURE SECTOR AT DUBAI CULTURE 16 SPECIAL FEATURE INSIDE EXIT11’S WORK IN ELEVATING THE UAE’S BURGEONING PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTION SECTOR 18 COVER STORY DIGITALISING DREAMS 24 ACCELERATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Intel’s Middle East General Manager Taha Khalifa on how the tech giant’s newest AI R&D centre aligns with the region’s digital transformation strategy 26 SETTING THE STAGE An exclusive look behind the production of the Swedish House Mafi a concert at F1 Abu Dhabi 28 TO NEW FRONTIERS OF SUBTITLING Game-changing technologies shaping the subtitling and audio dubbing landscape in fi lm and streaming 32 FIFA WORLD CUP SPECIAL Gravity Media on broadcasting the big-ticket event 33 STARRY NIGHT Looking back at META Film Festival’s debut edition 34 5 MINUTES WITH... Suzannah Mirghani, Director and Producer, AL-SIT 24 14 8 18 www.digitalstudiome.comDECEMBER 2022 / 3 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE WWW.ITP.COM/SUBSCRIPTIONSWW W. IT P.COM/SUBS CR IPTIONS DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! CH-1CH-2 Published by and © 2022 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve Deputy Managing Director Nicky Dawson EDITORIAL Group Editor Carla Sertin Editor Misbaah Mansuri Tel: +971 4 4443454 e-mail: misbaah.dilawar@itp.com ART Designer Mohammed Irqsosy ADVERTISING Digital Publisher, Enterprise Technology Group Paul Hylden Tel: +971 4 444 3396 email: paul.hylden@itp.com Sales Manager Philip Johnston Tel: +971 4 444 3637 email: philip.johnston@itp.com ITP LIVE General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 email: ahmad.bashour@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Photographer Marwan Elsayed Videographer Julius Garcia Videographer Muhammad Kaleem Video Editor Liju Cheruvathur Sound Engineer Borys Hridin PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Co-ordinator Manoj Mahadevan Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. www.digitalstudiome.com4 /DECEMBER 2022EDITOR’S COMMENT www.digitalstudiome.comDECEMBER 2022 / 5 e’re all just sponges taking in our surroundings and breathing out whatever is in our universe,” is a quote from Nora Ephron’s famed maxim that really spoke to me this month. It’s not only poetic, and in keeping with the gratitude that UAE National Day engenders, but is also the underlying philosophy behind this issue. Naturally, environment is the fundamental cornerstone of existence and growth for both individuals and businesses. So it only made sense to dedicate this edition to the UAE’s burgeoning creative and technological business economy and the region’s role in scaling it to great heights. When I arrived in the UAE a couple of years back, I found a place where I feel safe, at home, and happy. The more I travel, the more I admire the UAE and its leadership, for accomplishments, both big and small, from the region’s support of the creative community, to how it champions a landscape where culture, identity, and creativity are all so closely tied together. It is with great excitement and a sense of mission that the team at Digital Studio Middle East put together this special issue that is packaged with incredible personalities that together tell the story of this country that always aims to look forward, but without forgetting its heritage. When I write that we worked with a real sense of mission, I do so with gratitude. Working on this edition gave us an opportunity to come face to face and tell stories of cultural icons and agents of change from the region. From Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 which is infusing the fi lmmaking and tech landscape with a new dynamic by, unlocking opportunities that power innovation to Dubai Culture’s contribution in showcasing the region’s culture to the world by providing platforms for fi lmmakers and establishing creative zones to attract businesses in the sector, this edition is a heartfelt homage to this country I love and call home. We also spotlight the next-gen technologies defi ning the subtitling and audio-dubbing landscape in fi lm and streaming and also bring to you an exclusive report on how the production of the Yasalam After Race Concerts at F1 featuring music icons like Swedish House Mafi a and Kendrick Lamack was brought to life. Naturally, a special issue deserves a special cover. With that thought in mind, we have Digital Dubai gracing our cover, an entity that is breaking ground by leading the region’s readiness for digital transformation and beyond, leaving their lasting legacy. As the UAE looks ahead, so do we, racing toward its rightful place as one of the world’s most exciting and multifaceted cultural stages. MADE IN THE UAE MISBAAH MANSURI “WTOP NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN THE TV AND FILM PRODUCTION INDUSTRY INSIGHT CNN NEWSROOM WITH MAX FOSTER & BIANCA NOBILO JOINS NEW CNN LINE-UP only, at 8am ET. The two shows will join the network’s recently announced CNN This Morning show, with Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins, which will air worldwide. Mike McCarthy, EVP & General Manager, CNN International, said: “Max and Bianca have a unique combination of experience, insight, and expertise across a range of topics, as well as fantastic chemistry, which will bring international news to life at a key hour for our audiences around the world. We’re excited to add this dynamic new show to the suite of programming from our London hub.” The two shows will join the network’s recently announced CNN This Morning show A n all-new show featuring CNN anchors Bianca Nobilo and Max Foster will air on both CNN International and CNN U.S. from November 1st. CNN Newsroom with Max Foster & Bianca Nobilo will broadcast from the network’s London studios at 4am ET every weekday. Foster and Nobilo will together update audiences on the latest breaking news and unpick developing stories with guests and analysts from around the world. The show completes a new European daytime and Asia late afternoon line-up on CNN International, and brings additional international news to the early morning audiences in the United States. Max Foster will also anchor a new 30 minute edition of CNN Newsroom with Max Foster, airing on CNN International CNN NEWSROOM WITH MAX FOSTER & BIANCA NOBILO WILL BROADCAST FROM THE NETWORK’S LONDON STUDIOS AT 4AM ET EVERY WEEKDAY www.digitalstudiome.com6 / DECEMBER 2022INSIGHT N etfl ix and The Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI) have teamed up to off er four writers from the MEMI Summer program a grant of $30k each to help further their creative projects. Every year, MEMI identifi es a dozen or more mid-career and up-and-coming writers from the region and invites them to Los Angeles for 5-weeks to workshop their show ideas in a writer’s room facilitated by a professional TV writer. As part of its ongoing partnership with MEMI, Netfl ix has selected four writers from this cohort – Sultan Tamer (Saudi), Summer Shesha (Saudi), Ahmed Essam Ali Elsayed (Egypt), and writing partners Karim Ariqat and Mohammad Ali Al Nablsea (Jordan), off ering them a one- time grant to complete their projects. NETFLIX AND MEMI PARTNER TO OFFER FOUR ARAB WRITERS $30K GRANTS, BOOST ARABIC STORYTELLING As per the partnership, MEMI’s summer program participants and alumni get a yearly opportunity to meet with Netfl ix executives and pitch their stories The writers will be given 6 months to use the funds, whether to assemble a writer’s room, extend their stay in the US to work with MEMI instructors to hone their series or hire a Netfl ix-approved consultant to advise them on the continued development of their series. At the end of the term, the writers will pitch the fully developed stories to Netfl ix. Speaking of the partnership, Deana Nassar Fernandez, Netfl ix’s Grow Creative Manager for the Middle East and North Africa, said, “We have an ongoing partnership with MEMI to support emerging and established talent from the region. As we work to tell more stories from the Arab world that can be loved globally, we’re collaborating with industry partners to equip storytellers with the tools they need to tell the best version of their stories. Together with our creative partners, we want to do more to invest in and empower those in the industry, and those on the cusp of breaking through. This partnership is an important milestone in helping us identify the next generation of writers from the Arab world.” “What makes both MEMI and Netfl ix MENA unique is their access to top global resources, combined with expertise of their Arab executives, many of these come from grassroots movements of creative economy.” Said Hisham Fageeh, Head of the Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI). He added, “There is no shortage of good stories or storytellers back home, it just comes down to the method of cultivation. The School of Cinematic Arts at USC was open to an interpretation of its pedagogy, to fi t the needs and cultural contexts of the Arab world and we are fi nally seeing the fruits of this beautiful partnership.” THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF GOOD STORIES OR STORYTELLERS BACK HOME, IT JUST COMES DOWN TO THE METHOD OF CULTIVATION. THE SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS AT USC WAS OPEN TO AN INTERPRETATION OF ITS PEDAGOGY, TO FIT THE NEEDS AND CULTURAL CONTEXTS OF THE ARAB WORLD AND WE ARE FINALLY SEEING THE FRUITS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP . ” www.digitalstudiome.comDECEMBER 2022 / 7 INSIGHT T he Red Sea International Film Festival has announced that Film AlUla, a fi lm agency established to promote and support fi lm and TV production in the county of AlUla situated in northwest Saudi Arabia, will strengthen its ties with the Festival as the newly appointed strategic sponsor of this year’s edition. Film AlUla will present the Audience Award and the Best Saudi Film Award, each one holding a prize value of $50,000 for the winning fi lms. Film AlUla Audience Award is a vote-based, audience-driven award designed to encourage the festivalgoers’ engagement with the fi lms and inspiring the audience to appreciate and celebrate creativity in cinema. The winning fi lm will be awarded $50,000 in prize money. FILM ALULA SUPPORTS THE RED SEA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO FURTHER BOOST THE FLOURISHING FILM INDUSTRY IN THE REGION Film AlUla named Strategic Sponsor of the Festival’s second edition will present monetary awards for the Audience Award and the Best Saudi Film Award along with the 40% cash rebate program and a range of support incentives to assist in the development and production of international and local feature fi lms, television series, commercials, and documentaries shot in AlUla. Mohammed Al Turki, CEO of the Red Sea International Film Festival, explained: “AlUla is a fi lmmaker’s dream location, its spectacular sites are now being discovered by the world and we look forward to sharing the stunning scenery and wealth of stories with audiences for years to come. We are delighted to be partnering with Film AlUla on these two important awards, celebrating Saudi talent and the Audience Award to distinguish the top title at the Festival as voted by the viewing public.” Charlene Deleon-Jones, Executive Director at Film AlUla added, “We are thrilled to strengthen our support of the Red Sea International Film Festival as we share the same goals of creativity, driving the growth of the Kingdom’s fi lm industry, championing, and promoting homegrown talent around the world. The sponsorship of these two awards celebrates the most exciting, innovative new fi lms and cinematic storytelling which is at the heart of everything we strive to achieve in AlUla.” Film AlUla will also present the Best Saudi Film award voted on by the audience at the Festival. The award celebrates creative Saudi talents and innovative Saudi works that are faithful to their identity, heritage, and cultural depth, boasting originality in their presentation. In addition to presenting two prizes, Film AlUla will present an exhibition booth at the Festival Red Sea Souk to promote the unique and breath-taking location $50,000 of prize money will be awarded to the winning fi lm www.digitalstudiome.com8 / DECEMBER 2022INSIGHT TAP DIGITAL MEDIA VENTURES CORPORATION SIGNS FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 DISTRIBUTION ON ABS-2 CAPACITY ABS will provide additional bandwidth coverage for the World Cup TV channel which will broadcast live transmission of the matches in Qatar throughout the Philippines, in partnership with ABS,” commented Gonzalo de Guia, Chief Technology Offi cer of TapDMV. “ABS is extremely excited to be selected by TAPDMV to facilitate and provide the broadcast delivery solution for one of the world’s most iconic and coveted sporting events,” said Jennifer Blasko, EVP of Sales & Marketing of ABS. “ABS-2, at 75˚East is strategically located for interconnecting Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, making it the ideal choice for video contribution and distribution of live sports, news, and entertainment content where service reliability and low latency are critical.” STAY UPDATED FOR LATEST NEWS, VISIT WWW.DIGITALSTUDIOME.COM ABS-2, AT 75˚EAST IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED FOR INTERCONNECTING ASIA, EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST, MAKING IT THE IDEAL CHOICE FOR VIDEO CONTRIBUTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIVE SPORTS, NEWS, AND ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT WHERE SERVICE RELIABILITY AND LOW LATENCY ARE CRITICAL. ” T AP Digital Media Ventures Corporation (TAPDMV) has selected ABS as the satellite broadcast partner for the distribution of FIFA World Cup 2022 on their World Cup HD TV (WCTV) channel on ABS-2 East Hemi beam. ABS will provide additional bandwidth coverage for the World Cup TV channel which will broadcast live transmission of the matches in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022. “TapDMV is pleased to be working again with ABS as our broadcast solution provider in delivering the nationwide HD Feed of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on our linear channel, WCTV. It is with pride that we are able to bring the world’s most prestigious sport tournament to our cable affi liates www.digitalstudiome.comDECEMBER 2022 / 9 Next >