Abu Dhabi: An interactive conference on film financing and film making in the Middle East - the first of its kind in the region - will be held here next month, WAM reported Friday.

The event, named The Circle to run from Oct 6 to Oct 11 is aimed at promoting production and showcasing regional film industry talent from across the region.

The Circle, set up by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), will stage programmes through the year to raise Abu Dhabi's visibility to the international film and media community by informing local investors of financing structures, presenting new artistes, improving the skills of filmmakers from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East and facilitating production collaborations.

'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,' Adrienne Briggs, director of The Circle, said.

'The conference programme will include a number of activities that will help give rise to Abu Dhabi as the centre of the filmmaking industry in the region,' added Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director General of ADACH.

The conference will hold panel discussion, roundtables, and master classes in which selected filmmakers will have the opportunity to explore their craft with award-winning scriptwriters.

Source : IANS