Alpine Entertainment's standing in the Middle East screen industry is not advisory at a distance. It was built by doing. David Shepheard was the founding director of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, the first film commission structure in Abu Dhabi, where he helped design the mandate, assemble the team, develop the incentive framework and establish the government and industry relationships that gave it credibility internationally.
That foundation, combined with years of subsequent work advising governments and investors across the region, means Alpine occupies a rare position. We understand the institutional landscape, the cultural context, the commercial frameworks and the people who actually make decisions. When producers, studios, financiers or governments are looking for experienced counsel on the Gulf screen industry, Alpine is where serious conversations begin.
David Shepheard served as Founding Director of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, establishing Abu Dhabi's first film commission from the ground up. He has since advised governments, broadcasters and investors across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the wider Gulf on screen industry strategy, inward investment and co-production development.
He holds dual Canadian and British citizenship and has operated at senior executive level across North America, the UK and the Middle East throughout his career.
Senior counsel for governments, investment bodies and creative economy organisations looking to develop or strengthen their screen industry presence across the Gulf. We have done this before, in this region, with these institutions.
Connecting international producers with Gulf-based partners, co-production structures and co-financing opportunities. We understand what makes these partnerships work in practice across cultural and commercial boundaries.
Helping Gulf governments and investment bodies attract international production to their territories. Incentive design, market engagement, international positioning and relationships with major studios and production companies.
Facilitating introductions and ongoing dialogue between international industry stakeholders and government bodies, cultural institutions and regulatory authorities across the Gulf. Relationships built over many years at the most senior levels.
Detailed, current knowledge of the Gulf screen industry landscape: incentives, broadcasters, production infrastructure, key players and the political and commercial context that shapes how decisions get made across each territory.
Establishing or strengthening film commission structures across the region. From mandate design and team building through to international positioning and incentive framework development. We have built these structures before.
Whether you are a producer, a financier, a government body or a studio looking to engage with the Gulf screen industry, we would welcome a conversation. This is a region we know from the inside.
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