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
