01-08-2025
Co-Production Salon returns to MIPCOM Cannes for second year
Co-Production Salon will debut the 2025 MENA Co-Production Guidebook, host curated in-person and virtual networking sessions, and launch a year-round Virtual Networking Lounge to connect Arabic producers with global partners and showcase key industry insights and projects.
Co-Production Salon, a platform dedicated to nurturing co-production partnerships and investment channels involving the Arab world, is set to return to MIPCOM Cannes for the second year in a row. Scheduled to run from October 13 to 16, 2025, at the Palais des Festivals, the initiative will feature an upgraded presence at the MIP Creative Hub, strategically positioned along the Cannes beachfront. The event underscores Co-Production Salon's growing role in linking Arabic content creators and investors with international distributors, broadcasters, and financiers to develop globally marketable content.
Heba Korayem, Founder of Co-Production Salon, said: 'CoProduction Salon was created to bridge worlds — bringing Arabic production houses and investors together with international partners to create meaningful, marketable content. MIPCOM gives us the stage to make more of those connections happen.'
A recent Omdia report predicts the region's VOD market will grow fivefold to reach $8.4bn by 2029, while Parrot Analytics data points to a dramatic rise in demand for Arabic content — up 400% in Saudi Arabia, 300% in Morocco, and 200% in Iraq since 2020.
Since its inception, Co-Production Salon has facilitated over $12m in partnership deals. For 2025, the platform is introducing several new initiatives aimed at deepening engagement and insight. These include the launch of the MENA Co-Production Guidebook (2025 Edition), offering in-depth analysis of market trends and investment opportunities, and a Networking Power Hour, designed to foster real-time, curated meetings between Arabic and international stakeholders. Additionally, a Virtual Networking Lounge will provide continuous access to industry data, professional connections, and project highlights throughout the year.
The initiative invites participation from a wide array of industry players, from production companies and distributors to investors, broadcasters, OTT platforms, and advertising agencies, all seeking to tap into one of the fastest-growing, youth-driven content markets in the world. Participants will gain access to premium projects, vetted partnerships, and curated networking opportunities.
The Virtual Lounge already features over 200 verified profiles from top-tier MENA content entities, including Saudi Broadcast Authority, Thamaniya, Sadaf Media Production, Rise Studios, Cedars Art and Pixitoon. The physical lounge at MIPCOM will serve as a key venue for face-to-face engagement with these and other leading industry names.
With its enhanced presence and expanded programming, Co-Production Salon is positioning itself as a central force in the internationalisation of Arabic content. Visitors can connect with the team at PALAIS C12 HUB 6, explore ongoing projects, or join high-level networking events at MIPCOM.
'Our goal is to make those partnerships not just possible but profitable,' added Heba Korayem.
