The business and creative elements of film, television and digital media; new approaches to international financing and distribution and the Arab media industry will come under spotlight at an upcoming conference in Abu Dhabi.

David Shepheard, director of Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC), an initiative launched by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, has unveiled the programme for its 2010 Circle Conference, running from October 13 to 15.

The conference will also feature a unique lineup of TV and film executives from across the Middle East.

The conference will also feature panel discussions and workshops on topics including global investment models, the global sports media business, women in film in the Middle East, the rise of mobile technology, 3D and other new production and distribution platforms, and regional co-productions and location filming in the UAE.

For the first time this year, ADFC will debut a business-to-business social media platform at the Circle Conference allowing registered guests to network and organize meetings online.

The Circle Conference will culminate with the presentation of The Shasha Grant, ADFC’s international $100,000 screenwriting competition. The Shasha competition, which accepted Arabic-language entries for the first time this year, received nearly 150 feature-length submissions from across the Middle East and other parts of the world.

The winning filmmaker will be announced during the conference closing ceremony and will receive a $100,000 development grant and ADFC will assist the project to secure production financing.

“The growing scope of the Circle Conference, and the amazing range and diversity of this year’s Shasha Grant submissions, have been hugely rewarding for all of us at ADFC. We look forward to welcoming these industry leaders to Abu Dhabi,” said Shepheard.

The 2010 Circle Conference is being held concurrently with the opening of Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which takes place from October 14 to 23. – TradeArabia News Service