UK-based financier Goldfinch International — part of finance and production group Goldfinch — and Fablemill, a Middle East-based creative industries consultancy and production company, brought together government, business and finance decision-makers from the Middle East, North and West Africa, Southeast Asia and South Asia in Cannes for a networking event aimed at unlocking the creative industries’ potential in countries across the Global South.
The private event was co-hosted by Goldfinch International and Fablemill, and supported by Parrot Analytics, the government of Côte d’Ivoire alongside SICA (Salon International du Contenu Audiovisuel d’Abidjan 2026) and the Commonwealth Creative Industries Alliance. It took place on Thursday aboard a yacht in Cannes harbour, beside the Palais des Festivals, where Goldfinch and Fablemill had signed a deal with the Indonesian government earlier in the day.
“This is a flag-planting moment for us, one we have been working towards for the past couple of years,” says Phil McKenzie, co-founder and COO of Goldfinch. “We are building relationships and partnerships across what we see as exciting emerging markets in the Global South, with a particular focus on the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council], Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa.”
The strategic advisory partnership between Goldfinch and Fablemill positions the companies as operational partners for governments seeking to build sustainable production ecosystems capable of attracting international productions and private capital. Their work includes advising on policy frameworks, tax credits and rebates, infrastructure and investment, talent development, and sales and distribution.
The approach is tailored to each market, says Eman Alsabah, co-founder and CEO of Fablemill: “It’s about understanding what kind of impact each territory wants and what tangible outcomes it’s seeking, whether that’s raising the country’s profile internationally or empowering local production,” she says. “It is not one-size-fits-all, and a bespoke approach is key.”
Alsabah emphasises the importance of long-term thinking: “Our goal is to provide a holistic view and foster healthy partnerships.”
“In the GCC in particular,” she adds, “there is a strong belief that the creative sector is the new frontier, and we need to empower talent and creators to tell the stories they want to tell.”
Kirsty Bell, founder and CEO of Goldfinch, says international thinking is essential. “We need to think smarter and re-establish media and film as an investable asset. Content needs to be seen on the global stage, and having an international partner like us helps make that possible.”
On-the-ground partners, including Fablemill and Goldfinch International founding partners Fadi Ismail, based in Dubai, and Justin Deimen, based in Singapore, have been instrumental to the companies’ strategy. This includes the launch last year, with Friday Industries, of a $20m emerging markets debt fund, which is currently 50% committed and is expected to begin deploying capital by the end of the summer.
Burgeoning relationship
“Jakarta is making a real push to become Southeast Asia’s business centre for the entertainment sector,” says McKenzie, as Goldfinch and Fablemill celebrate signing the Indonesian government agreement.
The partnership also involves bringing in private capital, creating fund structures to finance local productions and retain IP in-country, as well as developing infrastructure “that is future-proof and ready for the changes ahead as the industry shifts further towards AI”.
The companies are in talks with several other governments and institutions across the Global South, with further deals expected to be announced in 2026, including in West Africa. Goldfinch and Fablemill are also among the founding members of the Commonwealth Creative Industries Alliance, a network spanning 56 Commonwealth countries.
Jaime Otero and Alejandro Rojas, media and entertainment executives at the global entertainment analytics firm Parrot Analytics, agreed the region offers significant opportunities. “There is a great deal of untapped potential in content from the Global South, including the MENA region,” says Otero. “It made sense for us to partner with Goldfinch and Fablemill to support the development of this ecosystem and provide reliable data to inform investment decisions.”
