More related content on the BRIDGE
- Music Panel 8 December 4:10 - 4:30PM
Crafting Connection For Icons Through Live Storytelling
As algorithms shape attention and screens mediate emotion, the world’s most influential artists are turning to technology to reconnect with audiences. This session brings together creative directors and producers behind shows for artists like ABBA, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift to explore how cutting edge technology can deepen human connection. Through real examples they show how innovation and intimacy can coexist and how technology can still bring people together through story.
Explore by Instagram - Media Workshop 8 December 11:20AM - 12:00PM
Empowering Youth: Unlocking Opportunities through "Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation" Programs/ year of community
An engaging workshop exploring how the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation and IMI empower youth through education, mentorship, and skill development. Participants will discover real success stories, engage in collaborative activities to identify gaps and opportunities in media and communication, and leave with tangible steps to join AGF and IMI initiatives driving the Year of Community.
IMI Academy - Marketing Fireside 9 December 3:45 - 4:05PM
The Future of Storytelling at Scale
A mainstage fireside chat with Grigory Lavrov, VP of Marketing, Local Brands & Franchise Management for CEE & MENAT at Warner Bros. Discovery. This conversation explores how global entertainment giants localize storytelling to connect with diverse audiences. It dives into the intersection of creativity, data, and culture revealing how brands sustain iconic IPs while building authentic local voices that shape the next era of global entertainment.
Central StageSpeakers
- Media Panel 8 December 1:00 - 1:30PM
Fighting for Depth in a Shallow Media World
In a landscape driven by clicks, speed, and algorithmic reward, depth is becoming a lost art. “Churnalism”, the recycling of online content, has replaced original reporting, leaving audiences skeptical and disengaged. With just 32% of Americans expressing trust in the media (Gallup), the challenge is clear: how can journalism reclaim substance in a digital age built for brevity? This session explores how newsrooms, platforms, and creators can harness technology to restore depth, context, and credibility in an attention-fractured world.
Academy StageSpeakers
- Creator Economy Panel 8 December 3:40 - 4:00PM
Blueprints of Belonging
In a world where content shapes identity, what makes audiences feel they belong? This session explores how creators and producers design connection through storytelling, community, and emotion. Featuring Stas Natanzon and Mohamad Hosam, the conversation unpacks how digital storytelling, humor, and culture-building turn viewers into participants. Together, they reveal how creators can craft spaces online or off that feel human, inclusive, and unforgettable.
Impact Stage - Media Panel 9 December 3:15 - 3:40PM
Mobilising Capital for a Future Media Ecosystem
As the world’s information systems fragment and distrust rises, media is no longer just entertainment – it is strategic future infrastructure. Capital is shifting to hubs that combine innovation, regulatory clarity, talent mobility, and global cultural exchange. Dubai, Singapore, and Latin America are no longer “emerging” – they are designing the systems that will govern the future of content, trust, and participation. This panel examines how forward-looking governments and investors can partner to unlock next-gen media ecosystems powered by AI, immersive storytelling, and cross-border creative talent – ensuring media remains competitive, inclusive, and resilient.
Forum StageSpeakers
