The three-day festival opened with a special performance by the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra and was followed by various sessions, keynote talks, live concerts, workshops and panel discussions.
ON.DXB, an initiative of Dubai Media City in cooperation with the Dubai Film & TV Commission designed to support the growth and evolution of the region’s film, game, video and music sectors, began on November 21 as local, regional and international talent converged on Dubai for the festival.
Following a rendition of the UAE national anthem by the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra, ON.DXB’s Day one saw engaging sessions, keynote talks, live concerts, workshops and panel discussions at Dubai Studio City’s Sound Stages.
The event featured celebrated American filmmaker Spike Lee; Grime MC-turned Top Boy actor Kano; American comedy actress and YouTube sensation Liza Koshy; and respected Saudi gamer MJRM Games, while dozens of global brands including Facebook, Tencent and Spotify as well as entrepreneurs and content creators conducted sessions.
Commenting on the festival, Majed Al Suwaidi, MD Dubai Media City, said: “We created ON.DXB for a number of reasons – to attract and enhance the best talent in the region, to highlight the emirate’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and business environment, and to emphasise the importance of Dubai in elevating the regional media and entertainment sector on a global level. Through a carefully planned programme and three days of diverse sessions, ON.DXB will support talent development, industry growth and Dubai’s important regional position.”
Jamal Al Sharif, CEO Dubai Film & TV Commission, added: “ON.DXB provides a platform for sharing knowledge and identifying best practices that support the growth and development of the industry. Headliners such as Spike Lee can offer young regional talent so mush insight and knowledge. The event works both ways – Dubai has become a global hub for cinema production, and we are confident that the visiting talent will learn more about our expertise and our progressive legislative environment that inspires creativity and drives business facilitation.”
