The Creative Industry Summit (CIS) Annual Festival 2024, was held on October 21-22 at Cairo Business Park. This year’s festival marked a decade of transforming the creative economy in the region, under the theme “Impact Beyond Years.” CIS attracted over 170 speakers and thousands of attendees from around the globe. The festival was truly a creative hub, driving innovation across diverse industries.
The festival addressed critical challenges and opportunities through dynamic panel discussions, keynote speeches, fireside chats, and workshops across industries such as marketing, advertising, fashion, design, visual arts, film, TV, media, technology, Artificial Intelligence, real estate, entertainment, and more. The summit showcases how creativity is essential in driving innovation across these sectors.
A Decade of Growth and Impact
One of the festival’s most significant moments was the announcement of two major regional partnerships. The CIS’s partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Foaj Group aims to expand the summit’s influence in the kingdom. The collaboration will offer tailored solutions to the Saudi market, providing creative industries with new opportunities and fostering regional growth.
In a groundbreaking move, Misr Italia Properties and CIS revealed plans to launch co-branded offices within the Radical 1 development in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. This new venture, designed specifically for the creative sector, aims to transform the region’s creative economy by offering a dedicated space for innovation and collaboration.
“We are proud to celebrate 10 years of impact,” said Mai Salama, Founding Partner of the Creative Industry Summit. “The Creative Industry Summit has grown beyond expectations, and the partnerships we’ve announced today—including our unprecedented project with Misr Italia Properties in Egypt and the exciting new developments with Foaj Group in Saudi Arabia—are proof of how much more we can achieve together in the years to come.”
Karim El Assal, CEO and Managing Director, Misr Italia Properties affirmed this and added: “I’m thrilled to see how much we’re all learning from one another in such an energetic space filled with strong, positive vibes. Together, we’re not just collaborating; we’re building an environment where creativity thrives, inspiring innovation and fostering connections. That’s what we aspire to achieve in the future with our co-branded concept in Radical-1, a move that stands for elevated standards and allows us to unlock new frontiers in our industries.”
WWW’s Favorite Speakers, Sessions and Workshops:
The festival featured an impressive lineup of speakers from diverse industries. Some of our favorite speakers included; Ali Ali, Film Director and Co-founder of Good People Films, Bushra Rozza, Actor, Eman Alosaimi, CEO of Lampaah, and so many more. These industry legends shared their insights on diverse topics.
Throughout the Creative Industry Summit Annual Festival 2024, numerous standout sessions and workshops addressed critical themes across the creative economy. “The Business of Creative Impact: Bridging Financial Leadership and Cultural Influence.” The panel featured Sarah Moussa, Regional Communications Lead, International Finance Corporation (IFC); Sara Onsi, Founder and Creative Director, Sara Onsi Fashion House, Amy Mowafi, Cofounder and CEO, MO4 Network, and Neamat Khalil – Founding Partner, Creative Industry Summit.
“From Nile to Hollywood: Voy! Voy! Voy! Egyptian Filmmaking Quest for Oscar Gold” featured an engaging discussion with industry leaders. This panel included Mohamed Hefzy, Screenwriter and Producer, CEO and Founder of Film Clinic and Film Clinic Indie Distribution; Omar Hilal, Film Director, Producer, and Writer; and Mohamed Farrag, Actor. Sherif Nour El Din, a Media Personality at UMC, skillfully moderated the conversation.
The Creative Industry Summit Annual Festival 2024 also featured an array of insightful workshops led by industry experts. These sessions included “Data Made Simple: A Practical Workshop for Beginners” by Mohamed Salem, Executive Director at TAC Universe, and “Light Calligraphy” led by Ruairí O’Brien, CEO of Ruairí O‘Brien Architects and Lighting Designers.
A Focus on Innovation
The festival’s experiential zone showcased interactive activations by top creative companies, including Fifth Dimension, Phlog, and Big Buzz Network. Live performances, such as Peace Cake and Irtigalia’s Improv Show, energized attendees and brought the creative spirit to life.
As the festival came to a close, Neamat Khalil, Co-Founder of the Creative Industry Summit, expressed her optimism for the future, stating: “The success of this year’s festival is just the beginning. We are committed to growing our platform and expanding opportunities for the creative economy across the MENA region and beyond.”
The Future of Creative Industries
Over the past decade, CIS has become a central hub for creatives across the region. The festival has drawn more than 40,000 attendees, featured 2,600+ speakers, and hosted 423 days of insightful content. This year’s edition continued this legacy, including an exclusive announcement from Tayarah, Egypt’s leading content and advertising agency. Tayarah revealed its collaboration with UTURN, Saudi Arabia’s leading online entertainment network. This collaboration aims to empower regional creators and revolutionize content creation in the Arab world.
As the Creative Industry Summit celebrates 10 years of impact, it looks forward to expanding its influence. Through its partnerships, sessions, and workshops, CIS remains committed to building an innovative creative economy.