A Pioneering new film academy will be launched in Bahrain next month. The Showbiz Film Training Institute will open on July 12, in what is thought to be one of the first ventures of its kind in the Gulf.

More than 150 people are expected to attend a ceremony to mark the occasion, at the Bahrain Business Incubation Centre (BBIC), Hidd.

The academy will offer several short courses and workshops, ranging from two days to 12 weeks, covering scriptwriting, film production, filmmaking and an introduction to the film and video industry.

It will be managed and run by Bahrain firm Showbiz Media's managing director Hejris Al Shirawi and South African filmmaker Amour Elliot-Setter, who owns The Excellent Film School in Johannesburg.

The academy, open to all ages and nationalities, is being set up with the support of the Labour Ministry.

Officials said there was a huge interest from across the region for an academy and the facility would help independent filmmakers reach their potential.

'The idea and objective behind the institute is to help nurture the local film and video talent to the point where the majority of crew can be hired from Bahrain itself,' said Al Shirawi.

'Students will be taught various aspects of filmmaking to enable them to either work as freelance crew or to operate their own production companies.'

'One of the long-term goals is to set up a film and video producers association, which will help implement certain working conditions and regulate the industry,' he added.

Al Shirawi said talks were continuing with Labour Ministry officials on the cost of the courses but said students would be charged reasonably to encourage more applicants. TradeArabia News Service