DUBAI: Broadcast and cinema industry experts have reiterated the request for government financial support for professionals to create more regional and local content to address demand. It will also pave the way for budding professionals to enter the field with new ideas.

With latest technology innovations, content like short movies and others on online platforms have spiralled, so has viewership.

The experts also highlighted that the online video consumption is skyrocketing in the Middle East with consumers not only watching more video than ever before but also choosing video content over all other content on various devices.

The panellists were taking part in a session, ‘Video Production 101 With Canon Middle East,’ organised on the sidelines of the 3-day Cabsat 2018 which started at the Zabeel Hall in the Dubai World Trade Centre on Sunday.

The panellists were Nayla Al Khaja, the UAE’s first female film director and producer; Lowi Sahi, Dubai-based YouTuber; Rashel Shah, independent documentary film director and senior film lecturer at SAE Institute Dubai; Javan John, of Insomnia films and winner of the Dubai 48-hour film project and Paul Atkinson, Canon Europe Product specialist, professional video and cinema EOS cameras.

“The government should allocate some funds to support professional filmmakers to produce local content as short films as there is a dire need for such financial help for serious people,” said Nayla Al Khaja.

Responding to a question, Atkinson said that the technology has been revamped hugely to provide more ease for professionals to create their content from short films to documentaries and others forms with compact, highly sophisticated gadgets.