His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Batti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and Chairman of the UAE Media Council, met with Prince Konstantin Christophe Frederick Ashwin, Honorary President of the World Press Photo Foundation from the Netherlands, and Jean-Michel Arnaud, President of the Cannes Film Festival and Deputy Mayor of Cannes, during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity held in Cannes, France. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Director General of the National Media Office, was also in attendance.
The meeting was part of the preparatory efforts for the upcoming Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi scheduled for December, focusing on enhancing international cooperation and expanding strategic partnerships with global organizations.
The Chairman of the National Media Office stated that the anticipated Bridge Summit represents a strategic platform that embodies the UAE’s vision for establishing effective media partnerships, exchanging successful experiences, and innovating new operational models that will support the media sector and reinforce the values of constructive dialogue and social responsibility. He emphasized the importance of developing strategic partnerships to achieve these objectives.
During the discussions, His Excellency Abdullah Al Hamed and Prince Konstantin Christophe Frederick Ashwin explored avenues for joint cooperation and ways to build strategic partnerships that would enhance the role of media in promoting humanitarian values and elevate global initiatives in journalism, imagery, and cultural communication.
The Chairman also extended an invitation to Prince Konstantin Christophe Frederick Ashwin to participate in the Bridge Summit, highlighting the extensive opportunities it offers for collaboration and exchanging experiences among key players in the global media sector. He pointed out the significance of engaging leading institutions, such as the World Press Photo Foundation, to enrich the summit’s discussions that focus on the future of media and the role of imagery in shaping public awareness and fostering cultural understanding.
Additionally, His Excellency discussed potential collaborations with Jean Arnaud between the Cannes Festival and the Bridge Summit, particularly in terms of enhancing skills in the cinema and drama sectors through training programs and exchanges of expertise with leading global specialists. This would contribute to building a sustainable creative industry and increasing the presence of local productions on the international stage. They also examined the crucial role cities play in enhancing the creative economy by hosting major global events and developing integrated systems that attract talent, investments, and innovation.