While the majority of the biggest international TV markets and events are boycotting Russian companies and content due to the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the organizers of DISCOP Dubai have decided to allow their presence. The event takes place from May 17 to May 19.

Thus, 28 Russian film, series and animation companies will present their projects to the market; twelve of them in the offline format at the joint Russian Content Worldwide booth, organized by ROSKINO with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

The previous experience of interaction of Russian companies with the MENA market and a number of successful transactions in this region have shown the great interest of the Middle East audience in Russian content and the potential for further cooperation. More than 80 buyers from the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia participate in the DISCOP Dubai market - those countries where the Russian industry sees opportunities both for export and for joint initiatives.

12 companies will present their projects at the Russian Content Worldwide booth: All Media (a START company), CTB, Vodorod, Sovteleexport (the official content distributor of the RTR holding), Digital Television, online cinemas Kinopoisk, IVI, START, Russkoe film company, representatives of the animation industry Soyuzmultfilm, Riki Group, Platoshka studio. Also, international representatives will be able to get acquainted with the products of other Russian content producers within the print and digital catalog: Central Partnership, Art Pictures Distribution, Mars Media Entertainment, 1-2-3 Production, Star Media, Russian World Vision, KION, Odin-Media, Igmar, Sreda production company, Rock studio, Channel 5 Russia, NTV, KINOLEND, PRAD-media, Parovoz animation studio.

The main focus of Russian companies will be on series of different genres (dramas, comedies, thrillers, historical) and animation - such content is popular in the MENA region. Also in the catalog of projects are feature films, mainly action, comedies, sports dramas, fantasy and sci-fi thrillers. A number of companies will bring documentaries to the Middle East as well.

The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova said: “The large-scale geography of DISCOP Dubai market participants - from the United Arab Emirates to Algeria and Turkey - allows us to count on the effectiveness of the presentation of Russian content and new business contacts necessary for active promotion in the MENA region. I am sure that among more than 120 projects of Russian companies, representatives of the industry of the Middle East and North Africa will be able to choose content that is interesting for the audience of these regions. Films, series and animation under the Russian Content Worldwide brand will open up new dimensions of Russian culture and worldview for local viewers. DISCOP Dubai is not only a business platform, but also an important event in terms of strengthening the international cultural dialogue between Russia and the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.”

ROSKINO General Director Inna Shalyto commented: “Participation in the DISCOP Dubai market is in line with the new strategy for the international promotion of Russian content. This is already the second organized visit of the industry under the single brand Russian Content Worldwide to the UAE - this country is a major hub in the Middle East: distributors are concentrated there, purchasing content for the entire MENA region. More than 400 million audience in the Middle East and North Africa are potential viewers of our films, series, animation, documentaries. The entire range of content will be presented by Russian companies at the Russian Content Worldwide booth. Considering the growing presence of Russia in the MENA region market and the record level of trade with the UAE in 2021, we hope that the creative industries and cinema from Russia will also contribute to the development of non-primary exports to this market in the near future.”