Abu Dhabi to refocus film activities

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The Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi, has announced that the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) is being brought to a close, in order to focus on future targeted initiatives to further support local and Arabic filmmakers and attract more film productions to Abu Dhabi, marking the next phase in the city’s maturing film industry.

The Media Zone Authority will continue its efforts in supporting Emirati and Arab filmmakers through the ‘SANAD’ Fund, which provides financial support for film projects during their development and post-production stages. Twofour54’s creative lab will also continue its role in supporting local talent. Going forward, the Media Zone Authority will focus on promoting Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a regional hub for film and TV productions through Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s 30 percent cash-back rebate on all qualifying spend of films and projects shot in Abu Dhabi.

“Over the last few years we have built a strong foundation for a self-sustaining film and television industry,” says Noura Al Kaabi, CEO, Media Zone Authority. “It is now the right time to deepen our commitment and further develop programmes to take the local industry to the next level. We attracted several major international and regional productions to shoot in the Emirate over the past two years alone, which brought large-scale investment, further built the film industry infrastructure in the region, and created significant opportunities for local talent.”

Ananke to partner with The Indian Trumpet

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Online magazine Ananke – www.anankemag.com – has partnered with The Indian Trumpet to explore new creative approaches in order to amplify its online engagement, with a focus on digital media and content creation.  The e-zine is a non-profit initiative that celebrates visionary women across the Middle East and beyond.

“Digital media is an empowering tool of engagement,” says Sabin Muzaffar, Executive Editor, Ananke. “By forming creative alliances, we can not only start meaningful debates on issues relating to women, but we can also explore new methods of engagement that can lead to sustainable social impact. Here at Ananke, we are thrilled to join with The Indian Trumpet to find new methods for creativity in the digital landscape.”

Emperor open office in Dubai

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Leading UK-based corporate communications, brand and digital design agency, Emperor has opened an office in Dubai. This will be the agency’s first on-the-ground presence in the UAE and is a continuation of its expansion, following the creation of a new Emperor partnership in Moscow last year. The Dubai office was created as a direct response to increasing demand for Emperors services from Middle Eastern companies and international operators with a GCC presence.

“We continue to pitch for, and win, significant corporate communications projects in the Middle East,” says Steven Kemp, Founder and CEO of Emperor. “Investing in a locally-based office provides a great opportunity to partner with local companies and to develop long-term, mutually rewarding relationships in the region.”

“We’re very much looking forward to being ‘on the ground’ in the GCC in order to help service our important existing clients,” adds Neil Reynolds, International Director, Emperor. “Sharing our knowledge and advice with prospective clients and partners will be a key focus.”

 

LIGHTBLUE expands its UK presence

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Dubai-based independent experiential agency LIGHTBLUE will open a new London office in Shoreditch. The new office will serve existing LIGHTBLUE clients, such as Gruppo Campari, and will offer a strategic base for new business opportunities as the agency continues to grow.

The new Shoreditch office will be LIGHTBLUE’s second in the UK – their first, in Glasgow, was opened in 2013. The creative outfit also has offices in Cape Town, Melbourne and Dubai, with the latter serving as its head office where the company started over seven years ago. LIGHTBLUE’s portfolio of active clients includes Reebok, Adidas, Perrier, Sony PlayStation and Costa Coffee. Outside of Dubai, the agency works with Heineken, Budweiser and Tiger beer brands as well.

The expansion comes at the same time as LIGHTBLUE celebrates its continued experiential work with Gruppo Campari on its Italian brands in the UK.

“LIGHTBLUE’s growth into other markets has been steady and while it is common for companies with large networks to move to places like Dubai from London, it is quite rare to see an independent outfit like ours move in the opposite direction,” says David Balfour, Managing and Creative Partner, LIGHTBLUE. “I think it shows our ambitious intent and it’s a move that we’re all very excited about.”

Middle East Brand Summit to be held in Dubai

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The Middle East Brand Summit is to be held in Dubai on June 2 2015. The summit will debate a range of topics including brand experience in the financial services sector, social enterprises and how aligning brand values with corporate social responsibility strategy can pay off.

Organised by Transform magazine, the second edition of the summit will bring industry leaders together for a programme that includes case studies, best practice examples and discussion around the industry’s pressing issues. Transform will also share the findings of its latest research, in association with YouGov, on the attitudes towards brands in the Middle East. Highlights of the summit will include a panel with Wael Bittar, Manager of branding agency Tonic Internaional, and Altaf Ladakm, COO of Roshan, an Afghani telecommunications provider, discussing ‘Social business: Putting social purpose at the centre of an overall business strategy’.

“The Middle East region has seen a positive transformation in branding and advertising over the last five years or so,” says Liz Foggitt, Publishing and Events Manager, Transform. “The region is not only breaking new ground in terms of international benchmarks for advertising and communication, but it is also home to some of the world’s best advertising and branding communities.”

Style.com/Arabia and DDFC launch Fashion Prize

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Style.com/Arabia and the Dubai Design & Fashion Council (DDFC) have announced the formation of the Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize, an annual endowment for the Middle East’s most promising fashion talents.

The Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize has been launched in partnership with luxury e-commerce site Farfetch, and addresses the DDFC’s mandate to invigorate regional talent. It will provide a global platform for emerging Middle Eastern designers to showcase their abilities, while simultaneously establishing quality control, standards, mentorship and broader visibility for the industry.

The prize will be overseen by a selection committee comprising of executives from Style.com/Arabia, DDFC, Farfetch, and both regional and international fashion communities, including: Tim Blanks – Editor, Style.com, Peter Dundas – Creative Director, Roberto Cavalli, Zuhair Murad – Founder and Designer, Zuhair Murad, Stephanie Horton – Chief Marketing Officer, Farfetch, Nez Gebreel – CEO, DDFC, Shashi Menon – CEO and Publisher, Style.com/Arabia, Sofia Guellaty – Editor-in-Chief, Style.com/Arabia, Patrick Chalhoub – Joint CEO, Chalhoub Group and Afef Jnifen – International model, presenter, and brand ambassadress.

The inaugural winner will be announced this autumn. The winning designer will receive a financial grant, the opportunity to produce a capsule collection for Farfetch, a year of mentorship from a collection of highly esteemed mentors, media/press coverage and an advertising campaign, collectively representing a value of over US $250,000.

“Style.com/Arabia‘s vision has always been to elevate the regional fashion scene to a truly global level – and to increasingly bring the world to this region,” says Shashi Menon, CEO and Publisher, Style.com/Arabia. “The Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize represents the culmination of years of effort and is another step we’ve taken to provide our burgeoning fashion ecosystem with the structure it needs to truly take flight.”

Full entry and application details can be found at http://arabia.style.com/fashionprize/

Noura Al Kaabi named fifth most influential Arab

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Noura Al Kaabi, CEO of Media Zone Authority and twofour54, Abu Dhabi, has been named the fifth most influential Arab under the age of 40 by Arabian Business Magazine. Noura is the most influential Arab in Media according to the list, which is the magazine’s guide to young Arabs with global influence.

Through her work with the Media Zone Authority, Noura oversees its industry-building initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and the Abu Dhabi Media Summit. Noura also heads up twofour54, a free zone that provides production facilities, training and business support services to Abu Dhabi’s growing media industry. She is also a member of the UAE’s Federal National Council and the Economic Development Committee.

“I am truly honored to have been selected as one of this year’s 100 most powerful Arabs under 40 by Arabian Business Magazine,” says Noura. “It gives me great pride to be in the company of other Arabs who play a vital role in shaping our culture and our successes in the Middle East. The list is a collective achievement because it reflects an image of excellence and showcases the capabilities of Arabs across the region.”

Mindshare prepares for media summit in KSA

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Global media agency network Mindshare, part of WPP, is gearing up for “Staying Agile” – a dynamic media summit that will be held on May 4, 2015 in Riyadh, KSA.

The summit will welcome global representatives from fields of film, sports, technology, communications and more, to discuss incorporating agility into existing operating frameworks and other critical issues in a fun and engaging manner. Panels will be led by industry leaders known for their agile approach in their respective businesses including; Daniel Sieber, award-winning reporter and author of The Digital Diet, Jordan Casey, 15-year-old entrepreneur and self-taught programmer, and Karim Rashid, industrial designer and interior architect.

“Mindshare is always commited to bringing the most dynamic and creative events in the industry, and “Staying Agile” is no exception,” says Samir Ayoub, CEO, Mindshare MENA.

Edelman to acquire DABO & CO

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Communications marketing firm Edelman today announced it plans to acquire independent communications agency DABO & CO. The combination of Edelman’s United Arab Emirates operations with those of DABO & CO will encompass 150 employees with a broad range of expertise from corporate to marketing to digital. The agency will offer creative, planning, research and event management capabilities across the region.

Edelman UAE opened its first office in Abu Dhabi in 2008; it now has an award-winning team of 85 consultants across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, working for UAE-based organisations as well as numerous multinational companies.

DABO & CO has grown over the past ten years to become a creative communications and experiential marketing business; it now has a team of over 60 staff and represents many world-renowned brands.

“Globally Edelman looks to invest in firms that are committed to reshaping the focus of the communications marketing industry, and DABO & CO demonstrates this vision through its highly-creative, client-centric approach,” says Matthew Harrington, Global Chief Operating Officer, Edelman. “As the industry develops in the Middle East, this partnership will position us to create engaging and innovative communications programs that support our clients’ needs.”

“We are excited to partner with Edelman as we believe this acquisition will unite two of the leading players in the market to create a regional powerhouse,” adds Camilla d’Abo, Managing Partner, DABO & CO. “Not only will our clients benefit greatly from this, it also constitutes a compelling proposition to brands seeking a new integrated approach in the region.”

Mindshare Dubai ranked #1 MENA Media Agency

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Mindshare Dubai, part of WPP, has been ranked number one media agency in MENA by the Effie Effectiveness Index 2015, an annual ranking of the marketing and communications industries’ most effective agencies, advertisers, and brands.

This is the third year in a row that Mindshare Dubai has been selected as the number one media agency in MENA. It scored 66 points on the index, also making it the most effective office in the Mindshare global network. In order to be ranked, Mindshare Dubai’s campaign effectiveness was thoroughly evaluated by a panel of respected industry professionals using data provided by Effie’s global partners to distribute points amongst outstanding agencies.

“Our passion for innovation in our marketing campaigns is at the core of what drives us, but ensuring that our creative campaigns produce outstanding results is critical,” says Samir Ayoub, CEO, Mindshare MENA. “It’s not enough to introduce new ideas – they have to exceed the project’s objectives and produce quantifiably successful outcomes that give our clients the competitive edge.”