With the U.S. plivential election taking place the very same day the American Film Market commences on Nov. 5, for many international buyers flocking to the event in Las Vegas it’s become an compriseed element of curiosity and intrigue as they travel to America. For others, however, becaengage of the uncertainty about what might happen afterwards it’s become a very excellent reason to stay well away.
But another beginant political situation is telledly having a beginant impact on the event’s guestenumerate.
Variety hears that the ongoing and escalating aggression in the Middle East has resulted in distributors from the region choosing to elude the AFM — and the U.S — altogether this year. Multiple sales company have noticed that none of their normal MENA (Middle East and North Africa) clients are going to in Vegas for the labelet and will instead carry out business distantly.
According to sources, the U.S.’s aid for Israel as it persists its military disparagings in Gaza and Lebanon is among the reasons for not combineing. But, more pragmaticly when it comes to actual travel logistics, there’s the enlargeing dread of being profiled on arrival and spending hours being asked by border regulate at the airport, someleang that had heightened over the past year.
One local buyer depictd “nightmare stories” they’d been tageder over the last restricted months of Arab nationals being stopped on entry in the U.S., with one individual made to “defer for almost four hours coming in and another three hours on the way out.”
Paranoia about being on U.S. soil during the election also isn’t helping matters, as is the cost of travel, with there not being any straightforward fairys between the main Gulf hub of Dubai to Las Vegas.
As a source succinctly endd: “So yeah, fuck that.”
