ABU DHABI: The third edition of the International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries (Congress PCI) opened today (Sunday, 28 April 2024) in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) under the theme ‘Technological Transformations in the Publishing Industry and Drivers of Change’.
The Congress kickstarts the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2024, taking place from 29 April until 5 May at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The event was inaugurated by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
The Congress brought together speakers in various fields across cultural and creative industries and from 50 countries to discuss the latest developments in the sector and explore best practices and experiences from around the world, with an aim to drive the transformation of the publishing se
ctor. It contributes to promoting Arab content and exporting it to the world, opening new prospects for partnerships and collaboration among all parties participating in the event.
Speaking at the launch of the event, Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: ‘The commendable success that the International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries has achieved was made possible by the event’s early recognition of the critical role that creative industries play, constantly urging partners to invest in the Arabic language and its cultural diversity, and support projects in the creative industries, where a lot of work is still required – at the Arab level – to transform the sector into a bridge for communication that reflects Arab civilisation, its human values, and its narrative heritage, which is rooted in respect for and interaction with others.’
‘We welcome you here today, for the third consecutive year, to share ideas, exchange views, attract innovative minds and creative energies, and eng
age the youth, all in a bid to highlight the achievements of our illustrious past which continue to serve the present, and have the potential to lead the way towards a sustainable future, in line with the directives always issued by our wise and visionary leadership,’ Bin Tamim added.
A series of sessions at the Congress covered a range of vital topics related to the publishing and creative industries, such as ‘Foresight for Growth: Cultural and Creative Industries as a Driver for Economy’, ‘Creative Economy and Public and Private Collaboration’, ‘Filmmaking Alchemy: The Dynamic Relationship Between Literature and Film Adaptations’, and ‘Cross-border Storytelling through Game Adaptations’.
Furthermore, the event shed light on the ‘Evolving Consumer Tastes and Consumption in the Era of Multi-Platform Content Creation’, ‘New Readership: Fostering a Love for Reading in the Next Gen’, and ‘Beyond Bytes: Impact of Generative AI on Humanity’.
The Congress also hosted a programme to support young talent through a
variety of tracks, including exploring extended reality in storytelling and interactive content creation, as well as screenplay techniques for crafting impactful stories for the screen. It also encompassed social media promotion and strategies that empower authors and publishers to effectively market their works and engage with their audience. Additionally, it provided guidance on establishing a professional home studio through a set of guidelines for designing a sustainable and effective space for podcasting, content creation, and video production. Meanwhile, tracks focusing on comics and visual novels explored the art of storytelling through visual media. The Congress also provided detailed publishing data that offers valuable insights into market trends and consumer preferences.
Featuring matchmaking sessions with literary and film agents, the Congress supported the sale and purchase of publishing and translation rights, while also providing opportunities to convert texts into visual creations. Moreover,
a competition was organised during the Congress, in partnership with the private sector, with participants competing on highlighting how technology and innovation can bolster Arabic language learning and creative talent among UAE youth.
The event’s exhibition and demonstration theatre hosted interactive experiences that showcased the latest advancements in publishing and content technologies. Meanwhile, the theatre also served as a space for interaction, learning and discovery, inviting attendees to experience the latest technologies – from augmented and virtual reality applications in publishing, to cutting-edge software that has revolutionised content creation and dissemination. It also offered two-way interactions, where participants received direct feedback from the audience and visitors gained valuable insight into the future of the publishing industry.
Source: Emirates News Agency