Showcase
Film commission view on attracting shootings to the region

august 27 / 10:00 – 11:15
Tarkovsky Hall

Cinema is not just entertainment but also a powerful tool for promoting a region, attracting tourists, and investment, and subsequently creating new jobs. But how do you attract filming to a region? What needs to be done to make it attractive to filmmakers and unlock its potential for the film industry?

The panel discussion "Film Commission's View on Attracting Filming to the Region" offers a practical analysis of successful cases. We will dive into the world of film production and examine different aspects of attracting film shoots to a region. We will explore new trends in the film industry and how they can be leveraged to attract productions. Additionally, we will discuss how the film commission can serve as a bridge between filmmakers and local businesses.

Moderator:
  • Yulia Golubeva
    Film industry coordinator, deputy general director of METMASH Film Factory
    Yulia Golubeva is a film industry coordinator at the Moscow Department of Culture and Deputy General Director of the METMASH Film Factory. She has a background in psychology and has been working in the Moscow Government since 2004. Since 2022, she has overseen the development of the city's creative industries and coordinated interactions with representatives of the film industry. Under her leadership, the Moscow Film Commission was relaunched, and the concept of a film cluster based at the VNIIMETMASH plant was developed. She has been recognized with commendations from the Mayor of Moscow and certificates of merit from relevant agencies and organisations.

Speakers:
  • Mr Khalid Khouri
    Talent Development Director at Creative Media Authority, (United Arab Emirates)
    Khalid Khouri is the Talent Development Director at the Creative Media Authority, Abu Dhabi. With over 15 years of experience in the creative industry, he specializes in brand building, strategic commercial development, and talent nurturing. At CMA, Khalid leads initiatives to attract, train, and retain top talent, strengthening Abu Dhabi's creative landscape. He oversees innovative programs like Arab Film Studio and Creative Lab. Previously, he held leadership roles at Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Quest Arabiya, and twofour54, where he focused on driving operational efficiency, commercial growth, and brand strategy.
  • Mr Ahmed S. Badawi
    General director, Egyptian Film Commission (Egipt)
  • Mr Guillermo Saldana Puente
    General director, Mexico City Film Commission (Mexico)
    Guillermo Saldaña Puente is a stage director and producer known for works like "Orinoco" and "Amoratados." He was previously the General Director of the Youth-to-Youth Artistic Social Prevention Group. Currently, he is the General Director of the Mexico City Film Commission, which has positioned the city as a top filming destination in Latin America. Under his leadership, the organization has attracted over $1.7 billion in investments for the audiovisual sector since December 2018 and implemented policies to promote filmmaking, earning recognition from CANACINE in 2023 and the MPA Industry Champion Award in 2023.
  • Ms Shruti Rajkumar
    Head of Film Facilitation Office (India)
    Over the last decade, Shruti Rajkumar has worked in various capacities within the content business. She has developed, anchored, and produced shows for sports and entertainment and has managed research, content, and programming acquisition strategy for the English general entertainment portfolio at Star and the infotainment portfolio at Sony.
    In her current role at Invest India, she heads the Film Facilitation Office under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
    The Film Facilitation Office works to create a single window to support filmmakers, both domestic and international, in navigating the process of shooting in India and availing themselves of filming rebates.
  • Yajai Wattanapreeda
    Tourism Development Officer, Professional Level, Thailand Film Office (Thailand)
    Thailand Film Office a government unit under the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports which was established in 2002 to support foreign film production in Thailand and promote the country to international filmmakers as one of the world’s top destinations, as well as supporting an incentive program that offers a cash rebate of up to 20% for international productions that spend at least 50 Million Baht ($ 1.4m US) in the country.