Beyond business and dialogue, DICM continued to nurture new voices through its first edition of the Spotlight Stories Pitching Challenge.
The Dubai International Content Market (DICM) 2025 wrapped up its eighth edition on November 5 at Madinat Jumeirah, closing two days of networking, innovation and industry exchange. The event attracted more than 900 participants from 55 countries, including 94 exhibiting companies representing 19 nations and 230 buyers from 41 markets. With more than 2,000 meetings held, twice the number of pre-scheduled sessions compared to previous editions, DICM once again reinforced its position as the MENA region’s hub for content distribution, co-production and creative collaboration.
This year’s edition reflected diversity and growing international interest, with strong participation from key national pavilions representing Türkiye (Istanbul Chamber of Commerce), Korea (KOCCA and JCIA) and Russia (Roskino). Exhibitors and buyers also joined from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Gulf, underscoring DICM’s role as a truly global marketplace for the entertainment industry. Among the highlights, major broadcasters such as Qatar Media Corporation identified new animation projects and co-production opportunities, signaling the market’s increasing commercial and creative importance.
For industry participants, the event’s success was defined by meaningful connections and opportunities. “A successful exhibition is not about attendance, but about the meaningful connections and opportunities it creates, and DICM continues to deliver that every year,” said Tania Wazzan of Al Jadeed TV, reflecting a sentiment widely shared by attendees across the exhibition floor.
DICM Talks 2025 brought together more than 30 influential speakers and thought leaders for two days of discussions, case studies and trendspotting sessions. The programme opened with Parrot Analytics’ session “Unlocking Sports ROI: An 8-Step Demand-Driven Framework,” setting a data-driven tone for the event. Panels such as “Ramadan and Beyond: The Year-Round Content Formula for Success,” led by Sarah Btaddini with Bilal Dayani, Ali Ghamlouch and Dina Korayem, offered strategic insights into programming cycles. “Inside the Mind of a Commissioner,” featuring Tariq Al Ibrahim of MBC Group, gave audiences a behind-the-scenes look at decision-making in content commissioning. Another major highlight, “Stories in Seconds: How Micro-Drama and Social Platforms Are Redefining Storytelling,” explored how short-form narratives are reshaping viewing habits across the MENA region.
The day concluded with “Bridging Worlds: How MENA Productions Are Going Global,” presented by Fabric, followed by the Spotlight Stories Pitching Challenge—an inspiring platform for emerging creators to showcase their projects to industry leaders.
Momentum carried into Day Two with sessions such as “Learnings from Ramadan: Shifts in Media and Streaming Behaviour” by IPSOS and “Why Global Markets Should Pay Attention to Arabic Cinema,” featuring a panel of leading producers including Mohamed Hefzy (Film Clinic), Ali F. Mostafa (AFM), Hussein Fakhri (Katara Studios) and Gianluca Chakra (Front Row Filmed Entertainment). Additional sessions hosted by Rise Studios and Parrot Analytics further explored the evolution of regional creativity and content consumption, while “Women Shaping the Future of MENA Content” spotlighted female leadership in media and entertainment.
Exclusive screenings by Globo, Linmon International and UnicoPlay enriched the programme, connecting buyers with fresh international formats and dramas. The combination of market activity, industry talks and screenings highlighted DICM’s expanding influence as a crossroads of ideas and business for global entertainment professionals.
Producer and Film Clinic founder Mohamed Hefzy, participating at DICM Talks for the first time, added: ““This is my first year participating at DICM, and I’m impressed to see so many distributors and content creators from international markets , exactly the kind of connections we’re looking for to distribute our content and explore co-production opportunities.”
The inaugural Spotlight Stories Pitching Challenge also marked a new milestone for the market, celebrating originality and emerging regional talent. The jury awarded first place to Reborn by Diana Arab and second place to Landwards by Rama Ayasra, recognising both for their creativity and storytelling potential.
