State Information Minister: Cinematic city in Bahrain under study

Embassy Newsletter 25 November 2014

Dubai, Nov. 11 (BNA)— The State Ministry for Information Affairs is conducting a study on setting up a cinematic city in Bahrain, State Minister for Information Affairs and the Government’s Official Spokesperson revealed in a speech given at BroadcastPro Middle East’s Summit and Awards 2014 in Dubai.

The scheme is part of the ministry’s five-year strategy, she added stressing the need for more efforts and time to reform the cinematic sector and promote creativity and innovation. She also underlined the need to cope with the global trend while working out new alternatives to support the national cinematic and television production.

The minister emphasized the importance of being aware of international production and the cultural and economic challenges it poses, urging to support the national one as a response to the globalization of culture. Commenting on the high number of TV channels and programs, she wondered if those programs take into consideration the local needs of the viewers in the Middle East and North Africa as well as their sociological and cultural specifics.

The State Minister for Information Affairs warned of the negative image being spread by portraying the Arab as a terrorist, regressive and aggressive. She underscored the key role of the television in shaping public opinion and supporting national and regional issues. She also pointed out the shortage of television and cinematic production in Arab countries despite the efforts made over the past thirty years to purchase cutting edge equipment and technologies.

She asserted that the development process of the television production to serve cultural and media interests of the Arab countries should be carried out in a favorable climate of openness and flexibility to promote creativity and competitiveness.