Dear Colleagues, 

the submissions for the upcoming 9th edition of European Work in Progress (EWIP) have set a new record. Over 270 projects by international filmmakers have been submitted to be part of the highly anticipated EWIP. The interested projects (all with European (co-)producers) hail from over 87 countries spread over all continents. This year’s submissions featured a plethora of genres and narrative ideas with a focus on family and coming-of-age stories by many established as well as new and upcoming production companies. EWIP has also seen a very high number of directorial debuts. 

From the submissions 25 projects will soon be selected to participate in EWIP 2026. 

This year’s EWIP will take place from 28th to 30th of September 2026. For the second time it takes place in Hamburg in the framework of the FilmFest Hamburg Idustry Days. 

This year’s EWIP will be supported by many longstanding partners. EWIP will continue the successful partnership with The Post Republic and K13 Studios. The Post Republic pledged its continued support by providing a voucher for post production, color grading and DCP production and the K13 Studios will renew their longstanding contribution for EWIP with two vouchers for a Dolby Atmos Mix and professional dubbing. Furthermore EWIP will renew its partnership with „Northern Stars – Hamburg Film Partners“, consisting of the audio studio Loft Tonstudios, audio specialist Zeigermann_Audio, post production firm Optical Art and costume rental Zeitkostüm GmbH. 

EWIP is also happy to announce the support of MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig Holstein. Film marketing specialist Gruvi and the translation company WayFilm have also again pledged their support to EWIP. 

EWIP was able to secure five renowned and versatile film industry experts for its jury: Christian Bräuer, Managing Director of Yorck Kinogruppe, Germany's largest arthouse cinema group; Paolo Bertolin, member of Selection Committee Venice International Film Festival and Artistic Director of Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival; Rebecca De Pas, renowned and

experienced film curator for the International Film Festival Rotterdam; Valeska Neu, responsible for Management & Sales for world sales „Films Boutique“; Iñigo Trojaola, Editorial Manager for Spanish PayTV and VOD platform Movistar+. 

Supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, EWIP will present up to European feature-length projects. Participating films need to be close to completion or in post production and have at least one producer or co-producer from Europe. Projects are selected for exclusive presentations to international sales agents, distributors, festival curators, and other film professionals. 

Projects presented at EWIP have gone on to premiere at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, San Sebastián, Rotterdam, Toronto, and more – often securing key international sales and distribution deals. 

Two of last year’s winners of EWIP are now part of the official selection in Cannes this year: ELEPHANTS IN THE FOG by Abinash Bikram Shah, which won „The Post Republic Award“ – a post production support worth 30.000 Euros and I’LL BE GONE IN JUNE by Katharina Rivilis, winner of „Way Film Translation Award“ at EWIP 2025. Both have premiered at „Un Certain Regard“, where ELEPHANTS IN THE FOG won the Jury Prize. Further successful EWIP participants include I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE, directed by Alisa Kolosova, as well as ZEJTUNE by Alex Camilleri (EWIP 2024) both of which celebrated their World Premiere at the Tribeca Festival this June. Most recently, two films from the EWIP 2025 selection have also received awards at the Locarno Film Festival: DOWN BY THE RIVER by Enock Carvalho and Matheus Farias, which won the Special Jury Prize in the International Competition, and PARADEISA by Marleen Valien, winner of the Locarno Kids Award la Mobiliare. 

For further press information and enquiries please contact the press agency mm filmpresse, Sylvia Müller, Tel. 030 – 41 71 57 22, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tobias Reißmann, Tel. 030 – 41 71 57 23, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Claudia Hegner, Tel. 03741 – 55 03 414, hegner@mm filmpresse.de. 

Kind Regards 

Tobias Reißmann & Claudia Hegner

Dear colleagues, 

we’re happy to announce the official programme of the INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT (IFDS) for its upcoming 5th edition. 

The INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT (IFDS) will take place from September 29th to October 1st, 2026. This year’s IFDS will again be held in Hamburg. As last year it will be part of the FilmFest Hamburg Industry Days next to established programs like the innovative Explorer Konferenz, Futura Cinema and the international and national young talent initiatives #ATELIER as well as ENCOURAGE Film Talents and European Work in Progress (EWIP). 

This year’s 5th Best International Innovation Distribution Award will be supported by the Marché du Film as an official partner of the celebration of excellence in film distribution during the unique international gathering. 

The collaboration will also extend opportunities to a select group of emerging professionals from Cannes Makers, the Marché du Film’s talent development program dedicated to nurturing the next generation of industry professionals through hands-on experience, mentorship, and direct access to the market ecosystem. These alumni will be invited to attend IFDS and its partner event European Work in Progress, further expanding their networks and connecting with key players shaping the future of sales, distribution and financing. 

The highlight of the IFDS 2026 will again be the Best International Innovation Distribution Award. Last year, the award was given to French World Sales CHARADES, which has brought many renowned and Oscar-nominated films to cinemas since its founding in 2017. Former winners of the award include Italian independent distributor LUCKY RED (2024), Spanish distributor and film producer ELASTICA FILMS (2023) as well as US-distributor NEON (2022). 

 

This year’s agenda: 

IFDS x EWIP / Warm-Up / Tuesday, September 29th , 2026 

CinemaxX Dammtor, Dammtordamm 1, 20354 Hamburg 

11:15 am – 12:00 pm

KEYNOTE#1 Victor Chudal-Linden, Head of Project, GIZ, Germany 

Connecting Continents, Markets & Audiences: A New Programme for Africa-Europe Partnerships 

Moderation/Q&A: Torsten Frehse, CEO, Neue Visionen Filmverleih  

GmbH, Germany 

12:00 pm Lunch 

03:00 – 05:00 pm

EWIP x IFDS 
CinemaxX 3 

Innovative release strategies have become increasingly important in this accelerating digital world. Marketing activities for European arthouse productions differ in their approach to build and reach their audience. Distributors and sales agents will share their expertise on national and international distribution strategies. Illustrated by the examples of two Creative Europe MEDIA funded films: LITTLE AMELIE and NOUVELLE VAGUE. 

In Cooperation with Creative Europe Desks Germany. 

08:00 pm
EWIP Awards Ceremony / Dinner hosted by Northern Star 

IFDS / Wednesday, September 30th , 2026 

CinemaxX Dammtor, Dammtordamm 1, 20354 Hamburg 

9:00 am MOINmosa 

Industry reception hosted by Filmfest Hamburg Industry Days

10:00 – 11:00 am Accreditation and Coffee & Snacks 

11:00 – 11:15 am IFDS Official Opening 

11:15 – 12:00 am KEYNOTE #2 Thomas Legal, Head of Programming, The Jokers,  France 

Between classics and new feature films, innovative strategies to develop our singularity in a very competitive market and reach our existing and new communities 

Moderation/Q&A: Sabine Chemaly, CEO, Ginger & Fed, France 

12:00 – 12:45 pm KEYNOTE #3 Monica Felea, CEO, Bad Unicorn, Romania Breaking the Invisible Wall 

Moderation/Q&A: Bérénice Vincent, CEO, Totem Films, France 

12:45 – 01:45 pm Lunch Break 

01:45 – 02:30 pm KEYNOTE #4 Thomas Beranek, Chief Analyst, Gower Street  Analytics, UK 

Same Film, Smarter Date, Stronger Box Office: Forecasting as  Growth Strategy 

Moderation/Q&A: Rüdiger Suchsland, Journalist, Germany 

02:30 – 02:55 pm KEYNOTE #5 Julia Langhof, Distributor Relations Manager,  Cineamo, Germany 

The Last Mile: Where Film Marketing Wins or Loses the Ticket 

02:55 – 3:20 pm KEYNOTE #6 Ben Johnson, founder, Head of Strategy and Audience  Technology, GRUVI, UK 

What are the Audience Behaviors that matter during your film release? 

03:20 – 04:00 pm Coffee Break 

04:00 – 04.45 pm KEYNOTE #7 Eduardo Calla, Chief Strategy Officer, BF Distribution,  Chile 

How World Cinema reshaped our thinking about strategy, uncertainty and market development 

Moderation/Q&A: Dorothee Pfistner, Head of Acquisitions, Neue  

Visionen Filmverleih GMBH, Germany 

04:45 – 05:30 pm KEYNOTE #8 Mohamed Frini, CEO, Hakka Distribution, Tunesia,  Hakka Distribution: building an alternative distribution network in Tunisia 

Moderation/Q&A: Benjamin Cölle, CEO, Pluto Films, Germany

05:30 – 06:00 pm Coffee Break 

06:00 – 06:45 pm KEYNOTE #9 Eve Gabereau, Director of Distribution, VUE, UK Films on the Big Screen and Beyond - from Release to Relationship 

Moderation/Q&A: Sylvia Müller, CEO, Neue Visionen Filmverleih  

GmbH, Germany 

06:45 – 07:45 pm Masterclass KMBO 

Vladimir Kokh, CEO, KMBO, France 

KMBO: Growing in French Distribution 

Moderation/Q&A Marie Regehr, Head of Acquisitions, Filmladen,  

Austria 

08:00 – 10.00 pm IFDS Dinner & Award Ceremony 

Hosted by Marché du Film 

 IFDS / Thursday, October 1st , 2026 

CinemaxX Dammtor, Dammtordamm 1, 20354 Hamburg 

10:30 – 10:50 am KEYNOTE #10 Alex Stolz, Head of Audience, USHERU, UK From Audience Interest to Attendance: The Resilient Film Marketing Playbook 

10:50 – 11:30 am KEYNOTE #11 Lee Yun-Yeong, CEO, CINEMATOGRAPH, South  Korea 

Bypassing the System: Smaller-Scale Releases in South Korea 

Moderation/Q&A: Sophie Stejskal, Head of Acquisitions, Filmladen,  Austria 

 

In previous years IFDS has hosted numerous panels, keynotes and master-classes addressing important subjects such as the acquisition of new audiences, the challenges of film marketing in the age of social media or ways of successful film funding. Among the speakers were renowned industry experts including Yohann Comte (co-founder CHARADES), Elissa Federoff (President of Theatrical Distribution NEON), Ben Johnson (CEO Gruvi), Sara Frain (Managing director Picturehouse) or Andrea Romeo (CEO I Wonder Pictures). 

INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT (IFDS) focusses on film distribution and features a unique platform for international colleagues of the film industry. It offers dialogue and networking opportunities to analyze and keep in touch with the ever-changing global culture industry. Keynotes, panels, master classes and informal talks ensure the development of new visions about meaningful contribution to a vivid culture industry.

Representatives of many important European and international distributors, world sales and agencies develop trend-setting and practical solutions at the IFDS. With its practice-oriented approach and the direct exchange between colleagues involved in the day-to-day work of film distribution, the IFDS stands out among other industry events. 

The IFDS is funded by Creative Europe MEDIA and supported by FilmFest Hamburg, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and the Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA). 

The IFDS will be supported furthermore by the industry event European Work in Progress (EWIP), which will be held in Hamburg from September 28th to September 30th. 

Registration for the INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT is reserved for professionals actively working in the film industry. 

Further information regarding IFDS can be found on its website: 

https://www.international-film-distribution-summit.com 

For further press information and enquiries please contact the press agency mm filmpresse, Sylvia Müller, Tel. 030 – 41 71 57 22, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tobias Reißmann, Tel. 030 – 41 71 57 23, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Claudia Hegner, Tel. 03741 – 55 03 414, hegner@mm filmpresse.de. 

Kind Regards 

Claudia Hegner & Tobias Reißmann

The European Arthouse Cinema Day (EACD) is a unique international initiative bringing hundreds of independent cinemas together on one day to celebrate European cinema in its diversity, strengthen the arthouse network and the role of cinemas as spaces for dialogue and democracy, and advocate for open exchange across borders.