emirates7 - On the second day of the Film and Gaming Forum, held under the Dubai Media Council as part of the Arab Media Summit 2025, a session titled "City of Stories" brought together Emirati filmmaker Ali Mostafa and Ahmad Abdullah, Director of Dubai TV Channel, for a lively discussion. The event drew a diverse audience of directors, content creators, and professionals from the film and digital gaming sectors.
The highlight of the session was the screening of a teaser for City of Life Continuum, the sequel to Mostafa’s 2009 debut The City of Life, which was the first Emirati film to achieve box office success and marked a pivotal moment in the development of the UAE’s domestic film and TV industry.
During the session, Mostafa reflected on Dubai's vast storytelling potential, noting that Emirati filmmakers are best suited to authentically capture the city’s essence and cultural richness. He emphasized the importance of local voices in portraying the nation's narratives, while acknowledging that the story itself determines who should tell it.
The discussion delved into City of Life Continuum, which aims to explore the soul and diversity of Dubai, continuing the themes introduced in the original film. Mostafa underlined the value of hands-on experience in filmmaking, suggesting it often outweighs formal education in the field. He also hinted at the possibility of expanding the franchise, potentially through a third installment or a series. He envisioned a 10-episode show, each episode highlighting a different nationality and its daily life in Dubai.
Another session at the forum, titled "The Rise of Drama in the Digital Age", focused on the evolution of Arab drama in response to the digital revolution. Moderated by Sarah Dandrawi of Al Arabiya, the panel included Egyptian director Mohamed Sami, MBCI and MBC Drama Director Tariq Al Ibrahim, and Ahmed Qandil, Director of Direct to Consumer Business at Shahid.
The panellists shared the view that while technology is transforming how stories are made and consumed, narratives grounded in social and emotional reality continue to be the most compelling. Sami noted that despite changing platforms, the core appeal of drama rooted in family and social themes remains strong across the Arab world and beyond.
He observed that many hit streaming shows still rely on the storytelling techniques associated with traditional television, especially those seen in popular Ramadan series—emotional depth, steady pacing, and relatable themes. Sami also pointed out that while content developed for television can succeed on digital platforms, the reverse isn’t always true, as digital-first content may not suit a broad TV audience.
Al Ibrahim echoed these thoughts, explaining that digital platforms allow for greater creative expression and cater to more segmented audiences compared to traditional family-oriented television. However, he stressed that regardless of the medium, strong writing is essential. He described content creation as a collaborative process requiring close coordination among writers, directors, producers, data analysts, and executives.
Qandil added that to remain competitive globally, regional productions must meet international standards in both storytelling and production quality. He highlighted the role of data analytics in shaping creative decisions, such as determining content themes, episode length, and release timing. Understanding audience behavior, he noted, has become crucial in guiding the production process and ensuring engagement and relevance.
The highlight of the session was the screening of a teaser for City of Life Continuum, the sequel to Mostafa’s 2009 debut The City of Life, which was the first Emirati film to achieve box office success and marked a pivotal moment in the development of the UAE’s domestic film and TV industry.
During the session, Mostafa reflected on Dubai's vast storytelling potential, noting that Emirati filmmakers are best suited to authentically capture the city’s essence and cultural richness. He emphasized the importance of local voices in portraying the nation's narratives, while acknowledging that the story itself determines who should tell it.
The discussion delved into City of Life Continuum, which aims to explore the soul and diversity of Dubai, continuing the themes introduced in the original film. Mostafa underlined the value of hands-on experience in filmmaking, suggesting it often outweighs formal education in the field. He also hinted at the possibility of expanding the franchise, potentially through a third installment or a series. He envisioned a 10-episode show, each episode highlighting a different nationality and its daily life in Dubai.
Another session at the forum, titled "The Rise of Drama in the Digital Age", focused on the evolution of Arab drama in response to the digital revolution. Moderated by Sarah Dandrawi of Al Arabiya, the panel included Egyptian director Mohamed Sami, MBCI and MBC Drama Director Tariq Al Ibrahim, and Ahmed Qandil, Director of Direct to Consumer Business at Shahid.
The panellists shared the view that while technology is transforming how stories are made and consumed, narratives grounded in social and emotional reality continue to be the most compelling. Sami noted that despite changing platforms, the core appeal of drama rooted in family and social themes remains strong across the Arab world and beyond.
He observed that many hit streaming shows still rely on the storytelling techniques associated with traditional television, especially those seen in popular Ramadan series—emotional depth, steady pacing, and relatable themes. Sami also pointed out that while content developed for television can succeed on digital platforms, the reverse isn’t always true, as digital-first content may not suit a broad TV audience.
Al Ibrahim echoed these thoughts, explaining that digital platforms allow for greater creative expression and cater to more segmented audiences compared to traditional family-oriented television. However, he stressed that regardless of the medium, strong writing is essential. He described content creation as a collaborative process requiring close coordination among writers, directors, producers, data analysts, and executives.
Qandil added that to remain competitive globally, regional productions must meet international standards in both storytelling and production quality. He highlighted the role of data analytics in shaping creative decisions, such as determining content themes, episode length, and release timing. Understanding audience behavior, he noted, has become crucial in guiding the production process and ensuring engagement and relevance.