Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City can provide a blueprint for the development of the Chinese film industry, according to officials representing the China State Administration of Radio, Film & Television (SARFT).

Hosting the five-person delegation to the Emirate, Jamal Al Sharif, managing director, Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City, said: “China is a huge market with enormous potential for growing sectors related to media and entertainment. Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City can offer a blueprint of how to develop an industry sector from scratch over the long term.”

“Our own infrastructure, in addition to the support services offered for international film makers and media companies, means that we can put forward a compelling case for more production to take place in Dubai.”

In addition to being a fact finding mission on Dubai’s “industry cluster model”, SARFT expressed an interest in formalising a relationship with the Dubai Film and TV Commission in order to increase the volume of Chinese films shot in Dubai.

Dubai already has a track record of hosting the filming of Chinese productions. 2012’s “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains” featured Dubai alongside China, Taipei, Tokyo and Milan.

In addition to providing a futuristic landscape, ideal for high impact movies, Dubai’s Location Approval Services (LAS), make the process of filming one that is straightforward and easy to understand.

In a demonstration of Dubai’s capability to not only host, but also provide technical support to big budget filming, this multi-million dollar movie sourced 50 per cent of its crew from freelancers and companies, licensed by Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City.

Zhanf Hongsen, counsel and deputy director-general, Film Bureau, SARFT, said: “Dubai’s Media City and Studio City have proven to be very impressive. From the perspective of their roles in establishing and growing the media and entertainment industries, as well as providing a home to talent, we can see how this could be a blueprint for us to follow.”

“China and Dubai have established strong trading relations and we hope to grow this in the film production industry,” Hongsen concluded. – TradeArabia News Service