Tuesday 29 September, 11:15 am
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #1
Connecting Continents, Markets & Audiences: A New Programme for Africa-Europe Partnerships
At the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Victor Chudal-Linden is the Project Manager of the European Union co-funded initiative Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture: Audio-visual, implemented by GIZ in partnership with Expertise France. The four-year programme, launched in March 2026, aims to strengthen business partnerships between Africa and Europe across the audiovisual sector, with a focus on film, series, animation, video games and immersive content. Its work promotes equitable co-productions, investment, distribution and audience development as key drivers of sustainable growth and closer cooperation between the two continents.
Victor has been working with GIZ in East Africa for the past ten years, specialising in the development of film industries, and is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya. GIZ is a federal enterprise with more than 50 years’ experience in international cooperation, wholly owned by the German Federal Government.
Between classics and new feature films, innovative strategies to develop our singularity in a very competitive market and reach our existing and new communities
After brief stints at Pathé Films and Paramount France, Thomas joined the programming department at Wild Bunch in 2008.
Director of programming since 2015, he had the opportunity to work on releases as diverse as Le petit Nicolas, The King’s Speech, Blue Is the Warmest Color, and The Boy and the Heron. In August 2024, he joined The Jokers Films.
The Jokers Films is an independent film distributor and publisher, serving both theatrical and home video markets. Our mission is to champion a bold, eclectic, and unique film catalog. From contemporary gems to restored classics, our cinema is free-spirited and curious, and our approach is bold and unconventional. In short, there’s something for everyone—our tastes, but above all, yours.
Wednesday 30 September, 11:15 am
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #2
Breaking the Invisible Wall
Monica was born in Tulcea, a little city on the banks of the Danube. Although she once dreamed of becoming an ecologist, she moved to Bucharest with the ambition of becoming a journalist. After graduating from the Faculty of Journalism, sheI entered the cultural press 20 years ago, just as Romania’s first multiplex cinema was opening. Over time, she grew closer to the world of film through her work with festivals, events, and the promotion of Romanian cinema. She was marketing manager for many movie distribution campaigns, festival manager, team manager, artistic director, guest manager and so on.
In 2016, together with her partner Ștefan Bradea, she founded Bad Unicorn. A year later, they released their first film in cinemas. Nine years on, they have brought more than 60 films to audiences and more than one million viewers. And hopefully this is only the first of many millions to come.
She is also mentor in Europa Distribution Mentoring Progamme for Women in Distribution, member of European Academy and Selection expert for European Film Awards from 2023 to 2026.
Bad Unicorn is an ambitious auteur film distribution company in Romania. The company was lauched in 2016, in Bucharest, by Monica Felea and Ștefan Bradea, 2 experienced film distribution specialists. Their first acquisition was Ildiko Enyedi’s 2017 Berlinale Golden Bear winner On Body And Soul.
Now, they have 12-15 film releases per year, over 330,000 admission last year and they dedicating extensive time and energy to each campaign. The portofolio is carefully curated and custom tailored, with emphasis on European cinema, but also they pick up a few quality animation titles, as well as horror titles.
At the beginning of the 2026 Bad Unicorn was awarded at Berlinale Market as European Distributor of the Year.
Same Film, Smarter Date, Stronger Box Office: Forecasting as Growth Strategy
Thomas Beranek is Chief Analyst at Gower Street Analytics since 2020. He has over 20 years of experience in the movie industry. Spending more than a decade at 20th Century Fox in EMEA and Germany.
Gower Street Analytics is the global leader in theatrical predictive analytics. Founded in 2015 and partnered with Rentrak, Gower Street enables the film industry to best utilize global theatrical market data to maximize business potential through its proprietary FORECAST box office simulation platform, currently covering over 85 markets.
Wednesday 30 September, 1:45 pm
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #4
Wednesday 30 September, 2:30 pm
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #5
The Last Mile: Where Film Marketing Wins or Loses the Ticket
Julia Langhof is the new face at Cineamo. During four years at the German arthouse distributor Alamode Film she launched more than 30 digital marketing and social media campaigns as Head of Digital – among them those for the Academy Award® nominated films THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE and THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG. Before that she spent ten years working in cinemas across Bavaria. A huge movie lover for as long as she can remember, Julia’s career has always been linked to film. Her goal now is to connect distributors in Germany and all over Europe with the technical innovations and the knowledge of Cineamo, in order to achieve what we all desire: to fill the cinemas.
In film marketing there is a lot of talk about trailers, posters and reach. About the moment in which interest turns into a purchased ticket, hardly at all – although it is exactly there that it is decided whether a campaign works. Cineamo’s own measurements show how late this moment happens: 20% of all tickets are bought within the last four hours before the show, and around three quarters of all visitors to cinema websites leave again without buying a ticket. The independent FFA audience study confirms the pattern – 46% of tickets are sold at the box office on the day of the screening.
The purchase requires five decisions at once: which film, which cinema, which showtime, with whom, and how to get there. Every one of these hurdles costs audience – and they all come into play long after the classic launch campaign has started. What the market needs are tools and services that do justice to the spontaneity of cinema-goers, and that address one of its largest and most overlooked target groups: the people who were interested, but dropped out because they did not make it to the cinema on the first attempt. AI can lend a helping hand.
In this keynote Julia Langhof shows how showtimes can be made more visible and sold more effectively on the last mile – with concrete figures, case examples from the German-speaking market and what this means in practice for a film release.
CINEAMO
Cineamo is a platform economy for showtime and ticket marketing and for the online sale of cinema tickets. The Würzburg-based software company provides cinemas and film distributors with digital services – apps, cinema websites, AI-based push messaging, landingpages – that connect film interest directly with the next available showtime. More than 100 cinemas are part of the Cineamo website network, with a rising tendency; the Cineamo apps reach over 500,000 users, growing by 5,000 to 10,000 per month. Among its clients are the largest German cinema chains as well as many independent houses, and around three dozen of the most relevant distributors, including major studios and leading independents.
What are the Audience Behaviors that matter during your film release?
Ben Johnson is the founder and Head of Strategy and Audience Technology at Gruvi, a company that stands at the forefront of the entertainment industry’s evolution. His dynamic career, which commenced in 2007 in film marketing, has propelled Gruvi into a cutting-edge media agency specializing in technology-driven solutions for film distributors seeking to connect with and captivate online audiences. Ben has orchestrated thousands of movie campaigns for major players like Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony, as well as independent studios including Wild Bunch, Scanbox, and many more.
Ben’s educational background includes an MBA in Technology Management and a foundation in Marine Ecology. Since the early days of online advertising and social media, he has been a pioneer, driven by an unwavering fascination with the potential to reach and engage audiences at scale. Rooted in his scientific background, this passion has become a driving force behind his commitment to understanding and leveraging the dynamics of online populations.
Gruvi is an audience-centered media and insights agency committed to measurability in brand and performance campaigns for the entertainment industry. Our mission is to ensure global audiences discover and enjoy exceptional films. At the heart of everything we do is our audience-centric approach and the insights that guide impactful campaigns and insights that propel our clients toward a successful future.
Wednesday 30 September, 2:55 pm
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #6
Wednesday 30 September, 4:00 pm
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #7
How World Cinema reshaped our thinking about strategy, uncertainty and market development
Eduardo Calla is Chief Strategy Officer at BF Distribution, where he has been with the company for more than 15 years and has served as CSO for the past five. In his role, he works closely with the CEO to shape the company’s long-term strategy, while collaborating with the content acquisition and commercial teams to align business strategy with market intelligence and audience trends across Latin America.
For nearly two decades, Eduardo has combined strategic planning with hands-on experience in theatrical distribution, exhibition, film programming and content acquisition. This combination of strategic and operational experience gives him a practical perspective on the opportunities and challenges of theatrical distribution across Latin America’s diverse and evolving markets.
For more than 20 years, BF Distribution has been connecting stories from around the world with Latin American audiences through theatrical distribution, establishing itself as one of the region’s leading independent film distribution companies.
Founded in Chile in 2005, the company has built a strong regional presence with offices in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador, as well as strategic partnerships throughout Latin America, becoming a key player in the region’s film industry.
Over the years, BF Distribution has released acclaimed franchises such as The Hunger Games, John Wick, Saw and Twilight, alongside independent commercial successes including Train to Busan, Wonder, The King’s Speech, The Little Prince, Midnight in Paris, Belle, The Whale, Fall, The Substance, Concrete Utopia, and the upcoming Godzilla Minus One, among many others.
With a catalogue of more than 1,700 titles and over 90 million admissions, the company remains committed to expanding audience choice, championing world cinema, and developing new theatrical markets throughout Latin America.
BF Distribution also plays a key role in supporting local film industries, having distributed more than 300 productions from Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.
Today, the company operates across the audiovisual value chain, combining theatrical distribution, film production through BF Films, and international content sales across all distribution windows.
Hakka Distribution : building an alternative distribution network in Tunisia
HAKKA Distribution -since 2013- is one of the most active theatrical indie film distributors in Africa and the Mena region. Building the first theatrical market for indie films in Tunisia. Promoting the finest cinema for the larger audience.
Mohamed Frini’s Bio:
Festival director of the “Journées du Film Documentaire de Redeyef” (2015)
Partner, co-founder and CEO of Hakka Distribution
President of “Échos Cinématographiques” association.
Cinema Manager of “Cinéma Amilcar” (Tunis from 2015 to 2022) and “Cinéma Le Métropole” (city of Menzel Bourguiba from 2019 to 2023)
Wednesday 30 September, 4:45 pm
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #8
Wednesday 30 September, 6:00 pm
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #9
Films on the Big Screen and Beyond – from Release to Relationship
Eve Gabereau is an award-winning film executive, working across the film value chain from co-productions to international distribution to theatrical and digital exhibition. She is currently the Director of Distribution for Vue Lumière, the film distribution division of leading European exhibitor Vue. Alongside this, she is the Executive Chair of Modern Films, a company she founded in 2017. Over the last year, she has released such films as The Thing with Feathers starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Japan’s highest grossing live-action film of all time Kokuho and documentary Broken English featuring Tilda Swinton and George MacKay, alongside the Oscar and BAFTA nominated animation Little Amelie and family sensation Bluey at the CInema. Through Modern, she has represented such films as Oscar and BAFTA-winning Drive My Car, ItalianVermiglio by Maura Delpero and Happy as Lazzaro by Alice Rohrwacher, Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border and Steve McQueen’s documentary Occupied CIty in partnership with A24 and Film4.Historically, she is known for bringing such films as Toni Erdmann, Paterson and My LIfe as a Courgette, as well as numerous films from Joachim Trier and Kelly Reichardt to UK & Irish audiences. She holds a BA in Political Science and Modern Languages from McGill University, an MA in Communications and East Asian Studies, with a specialisation in Chinese and Japanese cinema, and is an accredited ACE Producer. She holds both Canadian and French passports and lives in London.
Vue Lumière is the film distribution division of Vue, Europe’s leading cinema operator. Officially launched in 2025, the company now represents a library of over 15 films from leading family fare of Bluey at the Cinema and Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature Little Amélie to British indies starring such award-winning actors as Benedict Cumberbatch, Emma Corrin, Felicity Jones, Richard E Grant, Tilda Swinton and George MacKay to book adaptations from such bestselling writers as Max Porter and Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro to contributions by musical artists ranging from Nick Cave to Suki Waterhouse to Charli xcx.
In terms of festival and awards recognition, our films premiered at A-list festivals from Sundance to Berlin to Cannes to Venice, received multiple notable awards and were nominated for 10 BIFA across four films, two European Film Awards, one Golden Globe, seven Annies, two Oscars and a BAFTA.
Vue has 1951 screens across 222 sites in eight main territories: UK & Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland & Lithuania, Denmark and The Netherlands.
KMBO: Growing in French Distribution
Founded in 2007, KMBO has grown into a well-established independent distributor in the French theatrical market, with a strong focus on animation for young & family audiences. This session will share KMBO’s approach to building audiences, from long-term educational initiatives & school partnerships to ambitious marketing campaigns for family releases, illustrated through practical case studies & recent initiatives.
Vladimir Kokh, founder of KMBO in 2007, is a film distributor and producer specializing in films for the young audience.
KMBO , France
Wednesday 30 September, 6:45 pm
CinemaxX Dammtor
MASTERCLASS
From Audience Interest to Attendance: The Resilient Film Marketing Playbook
Alex Stolz is Head of Audience at usheru, where he works with distributors, venues and film organisations on audience strategy, data-driven marketing and film discovery. He is also the Founder & CEO of Future of Film, the global platform and incubator exploring the future of screen storytelling, technology and audience connection. His previous roles include senior positions at the BFI, Picturehouse and the UK Film Council. He hosts the Future of Film and Marketing & Distribution podcasts.
usheru helps film distributors, studios, venues and national film organisations convert marketing activity into attendance and viewership. Its technology combines data-driven campaign tools, audience journey insight, performance tracking and availability data across cinema and streaming, helping partners improve discovery, reduce friction and make smarter decisions across the release cycle
Bypassing the System: Smaller-Scale Releases in South Korea
Born in 2005. Established the Seoul-based independent film distribution company ‘Cinematograph’ at an early age in 2024.
Cinematograph is a South Korea-based, one-person film distribution company. The company launched its activities in 2024 by inviting Japanese documentarian Oda Kaori for a retrospective in Korea, and has since organized curated showcases featuring the works of Matías Piñeiro, James Benning, Béla Tarr, Wang Bing, and Marcel Hanoun.
Beginning in August 2025 with the world’s first full theatrical release of Matías Piñeiro’s You Burn Me in South Korea, the company went on to distribute director Jung Jae-hoon’s highly discussed Esper’s Light. It also continues to pioneer an alternative touring release model for Oda Kaori’s ‘Underground Trilogy’ (Aragane, Cenote, and Underground).
The upcoming distribution lineup features Carlos Reygadas’s Silent Light and Gabriel Azorín’s Last Night I Conquered the City of Tebes, alongside a slate of Korean films (Self-portrait 2020, Last Summer, Winter Days, The Glimmering) that present diverse and uniquely original perspectives.
Thursday 1 October, 10:50 am
CinemaxX Dammtor
Keynote #11