Europe, Now!
Film Industry Meetings
BFM - 44
BFM - 44
Europe Now! Film Industry Meetings, 6th edition
New forms of distribution: European models across classics, contemporary and immersive cinema
With the aim of involving Italian professionals in European-level professional networks, while creating concrete opportunities for networking, exchange and business, the 2026 edition of Europe, Now! Film Industry Meetings returns to a core focus on the distribution and circulation of European films – a central element of Bergamo Film Meeting’s editorial line and of the vast majority of Italian and European film festivals. Thanks to the renewed collaboration with Creative Europe Desk Italy – MEDIA | Turin Office, the programme will address the transformations of a constantly evolving ecosystem and an increasingly complex market, reflecting on the importance of targeted distribution strategies and on the crucial value of networking and experience-sharing. Alongside traditional theatrical distribution, the 2026 edition also opens a reflection on immersive cinema and its models of dissemination – an area still largely unexplored in the Italian context – where works are conceived for spaces, timeframes and modes of experience different from the cinema theatre and circulate through festivals, museums, cultural venues and temporary installations, redefining distribution as the construction of exhibition and relational pathways with specific sustainability models.
Similarly, contributions dedicated to immersive distribution models will explore the current European ecosystem together with some of the sector’s leading distributors, such as Diversion, Cassette and Unframed Collection. Drawing on their experiences, the programme will analyse the circulation of virtual reality cinema and immersive works across festivals, cinemas and cultural venues, highlighting the specificities of immersive distribution, which requires particular attention to accessibility, the relationship between audiences and the experience itself, and the role of exhibition space as an active element in the viewing process.
Admission is free and subject to availability for Accreditation holders, upon reservation by writing to [email protected] by 10 March, 2.00 pm.
Panels will be held in English.
For additional information, please write to [email protected].
Wednesday 11th March
BergamoScienceCenter (viale Papa Giovanni XXIII 57, Bergamo)
10am – 10.30am Welcoming coffee
10am – 10.45am Introduction
Alice Arecco (Italy | Head of Industry, Bergamo Film Meeting), Valeria Polidoro (Italy | Industry Coordinator, Bergamo Film Meeting)
10.45am – 11am Opening Speech
Cristina Loglio (Italy | European Policies for Culture Expert, Vice President, Europa Nostra)
11am – 12pm Panel
Silvia Sandrone (Italy | Project Officer, Creative Europe Desk Italy MEDIA – Turin Office)
From Creative Europe to the new Programme Agora EU 2028-2034. The circulation of European content in a changing landscape through the presentation of the recent study «MEDIA Industry Outlook» and the findings on trends, behaviours and preferences in media consumption across the European Union.
Marek Bień (Poland | CFO and Board Member, Gutek Film, Board Member, Europa Distribution), Alice Ormières (Belgium | Managing Director, Europa International), Katarzyna Siniarska (Poland | Head of Sales, New Europe Film Sales, Board Member, Europa International)
An up-to-date overview of the main challenges currently shaping the distribution and circulation of European films across different markets, discussed together with the professional associations Europa Distribution and Europa International. The panel will focus on the role of European policies and MEDIA support to maintain diversity, seed new talents and help keep a collaborative and sustainable marketplace. The discussion will also address current uncertainties surrounding the Agora EU programme, and how professional associations are responding by developing shared guidelines, fostering knowledge exchange, advocacy actions and sustainable distribution practices.
12pm – 12.15pm Q&A session
12pm – 1.15pm Keynote
Milja Mikkola (Finland | Program Manager, Midnight Sun Film Festival – Member of Europa Film Festivals and Archive Film Festival Network – AFFN)
Starting from the perspective of a festival that is part of the Europa Film Festival network, the session will reflect on the often complex and constantly evolving relationship between film festivals and sales agents. Nearly four years after the publication of the Guide of Good Practices Between Sales and Festivals, Milja Mikkola will offer an initial assessment of the effectiveness of these shared tools, examining conflicts, points of convergence, and new forms of collaboration within today’s festival and distribution ecosystem.
Benjamin Cölle (Germany | Managing Director and Audience Design Consultant, Pluto Film)
Can festival launches still be decisive? Drawing on experience as a sales agent and audience designer at Pluto Film, Benjamin Cölle will analyse how a festival launch – especially when supported by awards or recognitions – continues to shape distribution strategies, the positioning of films across different territories, and audience building. The contribution highlights how early choices made between festivals and sales influence the circulation of films and audience-engagement approaches in the medium and long term.
1.15pm – 1.30pm Q&A session
1.30pm – 3pm Lunch break
3pm – 3.40pm Talk
Agata Di Tommaso (France | Partner, Business Development & Festivals, Diversion), Sara Fatucci (France | Festival & Exhibition Project Manager, Unframed Collection)
How are immersive works distributed when they are conceived for spaces, timelines, and modes of engagement beyond the traditional cinema setting? Drawing on the experience of Unframed Collection and Diversion, the talk explores the current European ecosystem for the distribution of immersive and virtual reality content, analysing circulation models across festivals, museums, cinemas, and cultural venues. A dialogue with two of the leading players in the XR industry, addressing sustainability, processes, and strategies to face the challenges posed by the relentless pace of technological evolution.
3.40pm – 4pm Case study
Agata Di Tommaso (France | Partner, Business Development & Festivals, Diversion), Babette Wijntjes (Netherlands | Founder, Cassette, Nu:Reality)
The case study presents two pioneering initiatives aimed at expanding the circulation of immersive experiences within cultural and cinematic contexts. Nu:Reality, a VR distribution platform conceived by Cassette in partnership with Diversion, designed to facilitate public access to immersive content and developed with the support of Creative Europe – Europa Cinemas: Collaborate to Innovate, Dutch Film Fund and Cultuurloket DigitALL; Traverse, a project led by Diversion and supported by the France 2030 scheme, aimed at equipping cinemas and cultural venues with complete VR installations while fostering programming, training, and audience development
4pm – 4.15pm Q&A session
4.15pm – 4.30pm Short break
4.30pm – 5.30pm Keynote
Sara Fatucci (France | Festival & Exhibition Project Manager, Unframed Collection)
Through examples and practices developed in the day-to-day work of Unframed Collection, Sara Fatucci will lead a keynote focused on the programming and circulation possibilities of immersive experiences and virtual reality works. The keynote will highlight models and spatial solutions that enable cinemas, festivals, film series, and cultural venues (museums, libraries, media libraries) to diversify and enrich their offerings. It will also address organisational and technical aspects, accessibility, audience management, and staff training.
5.30pm – 6.30pm Meet the decision makers
One-on-one meetings with the panellists: to book a meeting, please write to [email protected]
Thursday 12th March
BergamoScienceCenter (viale Papa Giovanni XXIII 57, Bergamo)
11.30am – 11.50am Case study
Jan Jílek (Czech Republic | Program Director, Summer Film School – Coordinating Festival and member of Archive Film Festival Network – AFFN)
A first assessment of a network-based distribution: the cultural, operational, and economic strategies and challenges faced by the Archive Film Festival Network (AFFN) in the distribution of Les Parapluies de Cherbourg by Jacques Demy across the Czech Republic, Finland, France, and Italy.
11.50am – 12pm Q&A Session
12pm – 1pm Keynote
Valentina Neumann (Germany | Managing Director, Alphapanda)
How do you make a classic film feel urgent and discoverable for today’s audiences, especially for the youngest? In this keynote, Alphapanda (boutique film marketing agency based in Berlin) shares a practical and social media-focused approach to work with classic films, drawing from their experience with distributors and their work with organisations such as the European Film Academy and Creative Europe. We will explore how to identify target audiences and conceptualise creative assets that translate the film’s legacy into a compelling present-day watch.
1pm – 1.15pm Q&A Session
1.15pm – 2.30pm Lunch break
NXT (Piazzale degli Alpini, Bergamo)
2.30pm – 5.30pm Workshop
Valentina Neumann (Germany | Managing Director, Alphapanda)
This hands-on workshop invites participants to turn ideas into concrete campaign elements for classic films, working collaboratively and creatively. Starting from the viewing of a classic film, we will break down the film’s themes and tone to uncover marketing hooks that speak to specific audiences today. Guided by Alphapanda’s methodology, participants will work in small groups to: define positioning and target audiences, outline a content plan across platforms, and propose a set of key social media assets. Each group will present its campaign concepts, followed by a collective discussion on what makes classic-film promotion effective.
The workshop takes place within Europe, Now! Film Industry Meetings, the industry section of Bergamo Film Meeting, on Thursday 12 March from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm at NXT in Piazzale degli Alpini, Bergamo. Participation in the workshop requires attendance at a screening of a classic film, which is preparatory to the workshop activities and organised by the Festival exclusively for workshop participants on Thursday 12 March at 9.30 am, at BergamoScienceCenter (viale Papa Giovanni XXIII 57, Bergamo). Participants are also warmly encouraged to attend the keynote scheduled for 12 March. Registration is open until 10 March at 2.00 pm. Access to the workshop is free of charge but places are limited and subject to registration. Participation requires a festival pass or accreditation. The workshop will be held in English. No specific skills are required. Participation is recommended for professionals in film marketing and communication, distributors and exhibitors, curators and programmers of festivals and film societies, producers and archive producers, industry professionals and students of cinema, marketing and communication.
Interested participants must apply by completing the following form in English by 11 March:
For additional information, please write to [email protected].
Alice Arecco
Head of Industry – Bergamo Film Meeting
Valeria Polidoro
Industry Coordinator – Bergamo Film Meeting
[email protected]
Cristina Loglio
European Policies for Culture Expert, Vice President, Europa Nostra
Active promoter of European policies for culture, she began her journey in the 1970s during the cultural decentralization era, working in the management of theater companies and within public administrations. In the 1980s, she held leadership positions in AGIS, taught at the Scuola Paolo Grassi, and took on important roles at the Ministry of Education, UNESCO, and various ministerial commissions for cinema and music. She contributed to several phases of the development of European cultural policies, collaborating for ten years in Brussels with European Parliament member Silvia Costa – chair of the Culture Committee and rapporteur for Creative Europe and the European Year of Cultural Heritage – and in Italy with Ministries, Regions, and public administrations. She has been a member of regional cultural observatories and an advisor to the Government Commissioner for the reuse, for advanced European training purposes, of the former prison of Santo Stefano-Ventotene. As advisor to Minister Franceschini for the European Year of Cultural Heritage, she chaired the Creative Europe Technical Committee and was appointed to the jury for the Italian Capital of Books 2022 and the Italian Capital of Culture in 2022, 2020/2021, 2018, 2017, and 2016. She collaborates with projects of banking foundations-ACRI for the European training of cultural and creative enterprises. She participates in elected positions and contributes to European networks such as Europa Nostra, where she is VicePresident, PEARLE-Performing arts, Culture Action Europe, the Art and Faith working group of the Holy See, and, in Italy, serves as an advisor to the Touring Club Italiano. She teaches at universities and institutes in Italy and Europe. She loves theater, culture, and education, with a civic spirit and managerial attitude. She lives between Rome, Bergamo, and Washington, always with her suitcase ready.
Silvia Sandrone
Project Officer, Creative Europe Desk Italy MEDIA – Ufficio di Torino
Graduated in Foreign Languages and Literatures, after a brief experience at the Paravia publishing house, she started working in the audiovisual industry which she has been dealing with exclusively for about twenty years, working for the EU MEDIA Program, first as head of Antenna MEDIA Torino then, since 2014 as Project Officer of Creative Europe Desk Italy MEDIA Office Turin, hosted by Cinecittà SPA. CED Media is the information and promotion Office assisting Italian companies and professionals.
Strand MEDIA and Creative Europe Media Desk Italy
Creative Europe is the European Commission’s programme to support the culture and audiovisual sectors. Creative Europe has a budget of € 2.44 billion and it is divided in three strands: Culture, MEDIA and a cross sectoral strand. MEDIA is supporting and promoting Europe’s film and audiovisual sector and its information office in Italy is the Creative Europe Desk Italy MEDIA, hosted by Cinecittà SPA and including three offices based in Rome, Turin and Bari. The CED offers companies and professionals working in the national audiovisual sector a complete information and consultancy service concerning financial and networking opportunities provided by the European Union.
Marek Bień
CFO and Board Member, Gutek Film, Board Member, Europa Distribution
CFO and Board Member at Gutek Film, Poland’s leading arthouse distributor (500+ films, 22M viewers) which also operates Warsaw’s iconic Muranów Cinema. A Board Member of Europa Distribution and Chairman of the Audit Committee for the New Horizons Association, organizer of major international film festivals. With Gutek Film since 1998, he leads financial strategy and operational growth. He is an expert in coordinating national and EU grants and managing cross-border projects, contributing to the development and sustainability of the European audiovisual market.
Europa Distribution
Europa Distribution is the international association of independent film publishers and distributors, created in 2006. With around 130 leading independent companies from 32 countries in Europe and beyond, it acts as a network and a think tank and serves as the voice of the sector. Through various activities, the network works to enhance the circulation of information and ideas, and to improve the curation, promotion and distribution of independent films.
Alice Ormières
Managing Director, Europa International
A graduate of Sciences-Po Paris, Alice Ormières is a multifaceted film professional with over 20 years of experience across the industry. Currently Managing Director at Europa International, the European films sales agents’ association and network, she was a feature film producer at Dulac Productions, where she oversaw domestic productions and international co-productions, and a buyer for Dulac Distribution. Her expertise spans acquisitions, distribution, and production.
Katarzyna Siniarska
Head of sales, New Europe Film Sales, Board Member of Europa International
Katarzyna Siniarska is a sales agent and producer. Graduate of the University of Warsaw (MISH) and Wajda Film School’s Creative Producers Programme (2011). Alumna of EAVE Puentes (2014/2015) and Screen Leaders (2014). Board member of Europa International since 2019, Co-President for two terms (2021–2024). Since January 2013, she has been part of New Europe Film Sales, Warsaw-based boutique world sales agency, first as sales executive, then Head of Sales and Partner. Their carefully-selected catalogue includes “Lamb” (Cannes UCR 2021, A24), “Corpus Christi” (Oscar nom. 2020), “Godland” (Cannes 2022), “Housekeeping for Beginners” (Venice 2023), and “Julie Keeps Quiet” (Belgian Oscar entry 2024).
Europa International
Created in 2011, Europa International is the European sales agents’ association and network, raising awareness on their key position within the ecosystem, and gathering 56 members in 12 countries. EI pools and shares information, experiences and best practices, and develops collaborations and partnerships with distributors, exhibitors, producers and markets. It also organizes workshops for its members on hot topics such as AI or green practices. The association is the sales agents’ voice towards film markets and festivals, other professional associations, and national and European institutions.
Milja Mikkola
Program Manager, Midnight Sun Film Festival – Member of Europa Film Festival and Archive Film Festival Network – AFFN
Since 2005 Milja Mikkola has been part of Midnight Sun Film Festival in Finnish Lapland. She is also part of the programming collective guiding Orion arthouse cinema in Helsinki as well as the co-director of Helsinki’s Viva Erotica Film Festival which celebrates the history sex on the big screen. Fully trained as an analogue projectionist decades ago, her celluloid roots are embedded in the film world.
Midnight Sun Film Festival
Founded in 1986 by film directors Aki Kaurismäki and Mika Kaurismäki, Midnight Sun FF is the longest running feature film festival in Finland. Located north of the Arctic Circle, the festival plays a vital part in shaping the cultural landscape of northern Finland (over 80% of the films shown are Lapland premieres). With continuing emphasis on presenting archive films along with new European titles, each year MSFF presents over 100 films. Archive titles are presented in the program under various strands such as retrospectives of attending filmmakers, silent cinema, children’s screenings, series of master classes and special screenings as well as in all year round events. The library of MSFF consists of over hundred recorded filmmaker discussions which are used for all year round education initiatives.
Europa Film Festivals
Europa Film Festivals – a European network born from shared mission. This collaborative network aims connect festivals to strengthen collective voice, shape common positions on key issues, and develop essential resources, models, and best practices for the future of film. The network provides an infrastructure for sharing knowledge and strategy within the evolving film ecosystem.
Benjamin Cölle
Managing Director and Audience Design Consultant, Pluto Film
Benjamin Cölle (*1980) studied Visual Culture at Humboldt University Berlin, and Goldsmiths, University of London (2004-2010). He began his film industry career as production assistant at Flying Moon (2010), then worked as creative producer at INDI FILM (2011–2018). Trained as Audience Designer at TorinoFilmLab (2014), he has since consulted on 50+ projects. He lectured in film production and distribution at Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (2015–2023) and is currently completing a practice-based PhD on Audience Design. In 2022, he and his wife Daniela acquired Pluto Film Distribution Network, which they operate as managing partners. He continues practicing Audience Design independently and within Pluto Film.
Pluto Film
Pluto Film is an international sales, festival distribution, production and consultancy based in Berlin. We are committed to engaging global cinema and devoted to distribute, produce and consult quality feature films, so they reach and engage audiences globally. Our focus is on arthouse and cross-over films, especially those by emerging talents. The highlights of our 2026 line-up include charming family films, elevated genre films, and an exciting documentary. Across all our activities, we work closely with the filmmakers to package and position their films effectively. In a collaborative practice, we develop fitting Audience Design strategies that maintain the soul of the film while maximizing its distribution potential. This creates a distribution network that spans from filmmakers and producers to distributors across all territories and platforms, facilitating collaboration throughout the film value chain.
Agata Di Tommaso
Partner, Business Development & Festivals, Diversion
Born and raised in Turin (Italy), Agata got her first Bachelor’s degree in Cinema from her hometown university. She then moved to Bologna and got a Master’s degree in Semiotics, writing a master’s thesis on the impact of new technologies on exhibitions, from its creation to the visitors’ experience. After a double Master in Management of Cultural Goods that took her from Venice to Paris, she met with Diversion and became International Sales & Festival executive within its distribution department, and also partner in 2024. Cinema, new technologies, immersive realities are in the DNA of this company, which, in the last 10 years, has become a leader in distribution & diffusion of immersive productions
Diversion
Standing at the crossroads of art and technology, Diversion is an agency specializing in immersive installations and events. Since our creation ten years ago, we have worked with festivals, businesses, and cultural institutions, guiding them from concept to execution. Whether it’s curating VR content, managing events, or handling complex installations, we specialize in technical support, immersive scenography, and visitor flow management.
Sara Fatucci
Festival & Exhibition Project Manager, Unframed Collection
A graduate of La Sapienza University in Rome and Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris, Sara specializes in distribution, with a particular interest in bringing immersive experiences into cultural spaces. Based in Paris since 2020, she joined the Unframed Collection team in January 2023 as an Exhibition Project Manager, primarily overseeing VR exhibitions in major French and international museums, as well as events, festivals, and professional markets. Between October 2023 and February 2024, she coordinated the presentation of the VR experience Van Gogh’s Palette at the Musée d’Orsay, which was a major public success with over 40,000 visitors in just four months.
Unframed Collection
Unframed Collection is the first turnkey platform dedicated to the B2B distribution of immersive experiences for cultural and educational institutions. The platform offers an editorialised catalogue of works – mainly virtual reality – covering a wide variety of themes (fine arts, history, animation, documentary, cinema, science, society, dance, music, etc.), services, and tools designed to help distribution venues deploy immersive setups.
Babette Wijntjes
Founder, Cassette, Nu:Reality
From film programmer for a cinema to managing director of distributor Cinemien, Babette has seen a wealth of films come and go with her twenty years of experience. She is responsible for the acquisition, campaigns, and launch of arthouse hits like Lazzaro Felice, Carol, 45 Years, and Mommy. As co-founder of distribution company Vedette (launched in 2022), she is committed to introducing new talent and high-profile films to the widest possible audience. With releases including films like Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, The Mother of All Lies, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, and Familiar Touch. Besides her film work, Babette is also the brains behind the VR distribution platform Nu:Reality, through her other company, Cassette.
Nu:Reality
Nu:Reality’s mission is to make VR a permanent part of the Dutch cultural scene. After two successful editions in seven major cinemas, the third edition launched last fall in eight cinemas, focusing on works by Dutch filmmakers. The start of 2026 saw the birth of a new initiative; Nu:Reality on Tour. In which we make our different programs available for all cultural venues across The Netherlands.
Jan Jílek
Program Director, Summer Film School – Coordinating Festival and member of Archive Film Festival Network – AFFN
Jan Jílek has worked as a senior programmer at Summer Film School film festival from 2008 till 2019 and since 2020 he is a programme co-director together with Iva Hejlíčková. On SFS, he is in charge of contemporary part of the programme, international guests, MEDIA applications etc. He is also an acquisition manager of distribution of the Association of Czech Film Clubs. He studied film history and theory at Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic) and wrote his doctoral thesis about cinema and painting there. He cooperates with various Czech film festivals, cinemas and film clubs and works as an expert in the film industry field of Czech Cinema Fund and Czech Ministry of Culture. He is the main coordinator of the AFFN network.
Summer Film School
Since 1974 the Summer Film School has aimed at widening the horizons of film clubs and other interested people (film club lecturers, high school and university students) in the field of art cinema and different contexts of cinema. During the 1990s the SFS experienced remarkable progress – from a seminar for film clubs it has become the biggest Czech non-competition film festival with a carefully curated program of more than 150 archive and contemporary films, rich expert programme and accompanying programme. It is visited by thousands of primarily young filmgoers every year (about 5000 visitors annually). The films are screened all around the town in six movie theaters and two open-air cinemas. The festival is organised by the Association of Czech Film Clubs.
Archive Film Festival Network – AFFN
The Archive Film Festival Network (AFFN) is a network of European film festivals focused on archive films and cinematic heritage. These festivals recognize the importance of film history and are united by the desire to promote heritage films through screenings. The member festivals of the AFFN network are the Bergamo Film Meeting (Bergamo, Italy), Festival La Rochelle Cinema – International Film Festival (La Rochelle, France), Midnight Sun Film Festival (Sodankylä, Finland), and Summer Film School (Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic). All of these festivals have extensive experience in presenting archive films to their target audience, as well as to new audiences, and all attract thousands of film enthusiasts every year. Before creating the network, the four festivals had collaborated organically for many years. The network offers them a unique opportunity to deepen cooperation on multiple levels. AFFN will present a complex system of shared activities covering all central aspects related to the presentation of archive films. Shared activities will include a common program section (AFFN Presents), restored films presented at the festivals and also as part of activities throughout the year (AFFN Film), educational programs (AFFN Education), and industry programs (AFFN Industry). AFFN has a transparent network management system, including a detailed agreement and guidelines, as well as a common strategy for gender balance and environmental sustainability. AFFN also has a detailed PR and marketing strategy, which includes its own website and a future online database dedicated to archive films and their presentation.
Valentina Neumann
Managing Director, Alphapanda
Valentina Neumann is Managing Director of Alphapanda, a film marketing agency with headquarter in Berlin, where she leads the team and oversees the company’s operations and projects. Valentina has worked with producers, distributors, sales agents, platforms, film funds and other organisations, adapting her expertise to the any stage of the lifecycle of a film. Some recent campaigns of Alphapanda include Yellow Letters (Berlinale ‘26), Rose (Berlinale ‘26), Father Mother Sister Brother (Venice ’25), The Last Viking (Venice ’25), The Girl With The Needle (Cannes ’24).
Alphapanda
Alphapanda is a film marketing agency based in Berlin, Warsaw and Lausanne. Since 2011, we have worked on over 200 films, identifying the needs of filmmakers as well as understanding the specificities of the international film market and of audiences across borders. Our team represents eight nationalities and covers a wide range of skills. Alphapanda’s clients include The Match Factory, Bankside Films, Be For Films, Nordisk Film, IDM Film & Music Commission Südtirol, Creative Europe Media Desk Germany and several independent production, distribution, and sales companies.
The sixth edition of Europe, Now! Film Industry Meetings is organised
in collaboration with:
support by:
thanks to:
