Film-finance seminar set for next month

ABU DHABI // The capital's first film-finance conference will be held next month, promoting local talent and the burgeoning regional film industry. The conference is one of several events organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage as part of an initiative called The Circle, which the authority hopes will help launch Abu Dhabi into the international film scene.

"We were set up to provide year-round programmes to grow the film industry in Abu Dhabi and become a conduit for industry representatives from Hollywood, Europe and Asia to meet the brightest emerging filmmakers in the Middle East," said Adrienne Briggs, director of The Circle. During next month's conference, panel discussions, roundtables and master classes will be offered. Organisers of the event said they hope the conference would inform local investors of the film industry's financial structure.

"In order to enrich the event even further, we established the Interactive Media Circle, which includes panels and an exhibition focused on introducing new media technology to industry players and the general public," Ms Briggs said. The conference is Oct 9-11 at Marina Mall. @Email:jhume@thenational.ae