More related content on the BRIDGE
- Media Fireside 10 December 2:20 - 2:35PM
A Satirist's Survival Playbook
For comedians like Ahmed Albasheer, laughter has never been just entertainment. It’s been an act of defiance. From surviving assassination attempts to building one of the Arab world’s most influential political satire shows, Albasheer has turned humor into resistance, reflection, and reform. In this intimate conversation, he unpacks the price of speaking truth through comedy, how satire can still thrive under censorship and conflict, and what the next generation of storytellers can learn about courage in an age where jokes can shake regimes.
Forum Stage - Technology Presentation 9 December 11:00 - 11:15AM
The Next Billion Viewers Won’t Watch Stories. They Will Live in Them.
Namit Malhotra will discuss the seismic shift redefining global entertainment: the move from standalone content to engineered, multi-platform story-worlds. He will examine the creative-tech innovations enabling this transformation, why Eastern narratives like the Ramayana are poised for global dominance, and how the Middle East is emerging as a strategic hub for next-gen world-building.
Explore by Instagram - Media Workshop 8 December 2:15 - 2:55PM
Storytelling for Media: Make Your Message Stick
Master the art of storytelling to craft memorable messages that resonate with audiences and reinforce brand identity. Trainer: Chantal Saliba, Sky News Arabia
IMI Academy - Technology Panel 8 December 3:10 - 3:40PM
How AI Is Rewriting the Newsroom
With news now published in more than 50 languages in real time, AI is reshaping how media organizations operate and connect with audiences worldwide. This session explores how to expand these capabilities responsibly while navigating the risks of rapid change. It looks at data integrity, escalating operational costs, and the growing need to prepare teams to collaborate with intelligent systems, ensuring that innovation reinforces journalism’s mission rather than stretching it thin.
Central StageSpeakers
- Picture Panel 9 December 9:30 - 9:50AM
Foresights from a Lifetime in Cinema
Legendary filmmakers share stories of grit, reinvention, and creative survival. From the lowest to highest ranks in television, this session explores the firsthand accounts of storytelling, technology, and ambitions collision with culture; this session identifies the lessons learned across decades of hits, misses, and moments that defined the modern screen, from the first line of a script to the final cut. It’s a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and the art of staying relevant in an industry built on change.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Technology Fireside 10 December 2:55 - 3:10PM
Building with Heartware, Not Just Hardware and Software
As technology races ahead, reshaping economies, borders, and attention itself, what’s often missing is the “heartware”: the human capacity for purpose, dignity, and trust. This session calls for a recalibration. It explores how media, AI, and new financial models intersect and can be used to build more humane architectures for the future. From media ecosystems shaping perception in war zones to digital identity frameworks that can re-establish economic agency, we ask: Are our current models of progress neglecting the soul of society? What does it take to realign our innovation engines with collective wellbeing?
Forum Stage
