Saturday, March 23 2024 The final day of the Innovation Lab was dedicated to becoming an environmentally conscious organization. Bianca Popistas from Europa Cinemas opened Session 10, introducing the organization’s charter on Green & Sustainability Strategy, Gender Balance, Diversity, and Inclusion. We as cinemas have a responsibility, that’s why it’s crucial to draw inspiration from these labs, reflect on our practices, and contemplate how we can effect change. After her presentation it was time to meet up with European distributors in a joint session with Europa Distribution to explore p ..read more

Friday, March 22 2024 The day begins with session 4: Adapting Projects to Reach Out to New Audiences. Lab leader Ola Starmarch (Kino Pod Baranami) presentsKino Pod Baranami’s New Young Cinema Ambassadors program. This initiative is designed to attract high school students, who are carefully chosen and hopefully will become cinema enthusiasts. The aim is for these young individuals to independently promote the cinema-going process and expand the audience. Several strategies have been introduced to draw this audience to the project, including giving them their own social media platforms, event p ..read more

Wednesday, March 20 2024 This afternoon was the opening of yet another Europa Cinemas Sofia Lab at the charming G8 Cultural Center. The Lab opened its doors with a warm welcome from Mira Staleva, Deputy Director of the Sofia International Film Festival, and Peter Todorov, Executive Director of the National Film Center Bulgaria. Following the introductions, participants had the pleasure of meeting the Lab leaders: Tom de Bont and Ola Starmach, as well as the Europa Cinemas Team: Bianca Popistas, Alexandre Tchernookov, Nadia Wolf ..read more

On Day 4, the final day of our Seminci Lab, we focused on sustainability, access and inclusion. Mathias Holtz introduced the day by briefly explaining the Europa Cinemas Charters: Green and Sustainability Strategy Charter and Gender Balance, Diversity and Inclusion Charter. These Charters were developed through focus groups with different types of cinemas with the Network who work in various contexts and regions. These Charters aim to assist cinemas in addressing issues of sustainability and inclusion which are of concern to audiences who visit our cinemas. The first presentation of the ..read more

Starting the day with a pleasant walk through Valladolid, today’s session tackled branding, marketing and communications strategies – so maybe fresh air to begin was necessary! But Ioana Dragomirescu and Mathias Holtz reassured the group that although big topics, which can require a lot of time, attention and resources, today we will hear from exhibitors and experts to help us better understand marketing strategies. First up was Ioana (Cinema Victoria, Romania) who took the floor to present the challenges and approaches her team undertook when reopening five of Timisoara’s traditional cinemas ..read more

Europe Cinemas’ new partnership with the International Film Week of Valladolid SEMINCI brings together 36 cinema exhibitors during the festival’s 68th edition. Gathering at the historical and architecturally impressive National Sculpture Museum, the Lab aims to offer space for shared insights and discussions about reaching new audiences with collaborative efforts to bring to light ways of (re)thinking and diversifying the practices and resources to do so. To begin the four days of shared thinking the exhibitors were greeted by José Luis Cienfuegos, General Director of SEMINCI. José reminisced ..read more

The Méliès is located in the heart of downtown Montreuil, a suburb of Paris. Expanded in 2015, it now boasts 6 screens, a restaurant, and an integrated library. With its 1,105 seats and 3,230 square meters, Le Méliès is the largest public Art House cinema in Europe! Open to everyone, including those with reduced mobility, Le Méliès offers an exciting and accessible program for families. It showcases Art House films, children’s programs, and even classic film screenings, catering to all moviegoers, from the youngest cinephiles to the most avid enthusiasts! And all of this comes with the utmost ..read more

Cinema for me is… Agnes in 11 frames 1. What film made you fall in love with cinema? The first film that made me fall in love with cinema was probably The Imitation Game (Morten Tyldum, US, 2014). I remember how the whole experience of seeing it at the cinema with my parents really impacted me and the emotions stayed with me for a long time. 2. What are the 3 best European films you have seen in the last year? It’s hard to pick out only three but : Aftersun (Charlotte Wells, GB, 2022) Triangle of Sadness (Ruben Östlund, SE, 2022) The Emigrants (Erik Poppe, SE, 2021) 3. What does Europe mean ..read more

Cinema for me is… Adam in 11 frames 1. What film made you fall in love with cinema? It may have started with Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies. I love how you can see Raimi’s crazy personality and camera work being applied to such a mainstream story. 2. What are the 3 best European films you have seen in the last year? –Murinaby Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović (HR, 2021). I love the atmosphere of the movie and the beautiful Croatian environment, which gives the film a feeling of a modern fairy tale. –The Worst Person in the Worldby Joachim Trier (NO, 2021). I think a lot of people are afraid of maki ..read more

Cinema for me is… Manca in 11 frames 1. What film made you fall in love with cinema? Honestly, it was multiple films but the one that I keep returning to is definitely Call me by your name (Luca Guadagnino, IT, 2017). 2. What are the 3 best European films you have seen in the last year? Close (Lukas Dhont, BE, 2022) A bout de souffle (Jean-Luc Godard, FR, 1960) Jeanne Dielmann, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Chantal Akerman, FR, 1975) 3. What does Europe mean to you? For me, Europe means freedom of movement. 4. In 2024, I think it is important to vote in the European elections because ..read more