#108 Competition, Clients & Creative Freedom (ft. AK Films)

In this episode of Creatives Grab Coffee, Dario Nouri and Kyrill Lazarov speak with Amr Khani, founder and creative director of AK Films, a Dubai-based production company operating at the intersection of high-end corporate and creative work.

Amr shares how he built a successful production house in one of the world’s most competitive creative markets, what it’s like running shoots in the UAE, and how Dubai’s film landscape has shifted from cinema to corporate over the past decade. He also dives into the realities of pricing, international collaboration, and why strong systems matter as much as creative talent.

Topics Covered:

00:00 – Intro & background of AK Films

05:00 – How Dubai’s film scene evolved over the last decade

10:00 – The decline of film festivals & rise of corporate media

15:00 – Industry diversity in the UAE

17:00 – The reality of competition and pricing in Dubai

25:00 – Why most clients are international

31:00 – How AK Films structures its in-house and freelance teams

36:00 – Scaling to a 7-person production company

41:00 – Finding the right time to hire permanent staff

47:00 – Client education and self-sabotage in production

49:00 – Inbound vs outbound lead generation

52:00 – Long-term goals and returning to filmmaking

Key Takeaways:

• Dubai’s production market is booming — but competition is relentless.
• The corporate sector has overtaken cinema as the main driver of production work.
• Strong business systems and communication protect creative integrity.
• Local partnerships are essential for foreign productions due to legal structure.
• Balancing creative ambition with sustainable operations is the key to long-term success.

🎥 Guest:

Amr Khani – Founder & Creative Director, AK Films

📍 Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee explores the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with studio owners and filmmakers around the world on scaling, creativity, and industry evolution.

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SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

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