MAD Solutions is taking part in at two conferences in the UAE today and tomorrow. Film Analyst Alaa Karkouti, Co-founder of the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) and CEO of MAD Solutions, is taking part in the Film and Visual Media in the Gulf Conference that will be held at the New York University Abu Dhabi Institute. In Dubai, Colin Brown, Managing Partner and Director of International Operations at MAD Solutions and Co-founder of the Arab Cinema Center (ACC), is taking part in the MENA Cinema Forum.

The following is the schedule of MAD Solutions' contributions to the two conferences according to UAE time:

On Sunday, October 28

Colin Brown is moderating the Panel Discussion "From Studios to MENA Cinema Screens" that discusses the Impact of supply chain in economic diversification film selection for exhibition in the market. The Panel includes; Stan McCoy, President and Managing Director of Motion Picture Association in EMEA; Gianluca Chakra, Managing Partner of Front Row Entertainment; and Bassam Hajjawi, as the Board member of the Royal Film Commission - Jordan.

On Monday, October 29 at 10:00 am

Brown is taking part in another Panel Discussion entitles "Cinema content for the Arab World" that discusses work and collaboration of Arab cinema commissions, film financiers, international production houses and talent on expanding Arab storytelling and reaching a wider target audience in KSA. The Panel is moderated by Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner at Great Minds Event Management. It also includes; Kaswara Al-Khatib, Chairman of UTURN Entertainment; Malik Nejer, Art Director and Co Founder of Myrkott; and Bassam Hajjawi as the President/CEO of INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION AGENCY.
On Monday, October 29 at 01:15 pm

Alaa Karkouti will be part of the roundtable entitles "Producing Audiences for Gulf Media" alongside a a number of experts in filmmaking with different backgrounds, such as Gianluca Chakra, Managing Director of Front Row Filmed Entertainment; Butheina Kazim, Co-founder of Cinema Akil; Lina Matta, Director of channels at MBC; and Gregory Unrau, Media Consultant for Image Nation Abu Dhabi. The Roundtable is moderated by Jay Weissberg, the Film Critic in Variety Magazine and the jury member of the Critics Awards, organized by ACC.

The Film and Visual Media in the Gulf Conference seeks to redefine the frameworks and concepts that best illustrate the perceptions and events in the Gulf region. This comes in light of the remarkable transformation witnessed by the visual media in the region over the last 20 years, including cinema, social media and the VODs and the changes that have taken place in the Gulf. The conference also aims at defining the political economy framework for the Gulf media, developing strategies to support sustainable visual media, and strengthening its links with Africa, the Arab world, South Asia and worldwide.

The MENA Cinema Forum brings together the entire spectrum of stakeholders involved within the cinema sector including but not limited to local and international governments, investment companies, mall owners, cinema operators and exhibitors, suppliers and industry leaders, to address the growing requirements of the cinema market within the region.