03/06/2013 - After the move to Brussels, the International Union of Cinemas has also rejuvenated the association with a new Board of Directors

Europe’s trade association the International Union of Cinemas, which represents cinema exhibitors and their associations, has elected Phil Clapp, head of the UK Cinema Exhibitors’ Association, as their new President.

“I am delighted that fellow UNIC members have put their faith in me to continue the growth of the organisation initiated under the Presidency of Ad Weststrate," said Clapp. "There are tremendous opportunities for UNIC in promoting the value that cinemas bring not only to audiences, but to the wider film industry. Taking on this challenge at a time when the industry is experiencing such huge innovation and change only adds to my enthusiasm for the time ahead."

In 2011, UNIC moved with their head office from Paris to Brussels in order to strengthen its profile amongst EU decision-makers and the wider international motion picture industry. The members of the organization include key cinema operators from 24 countries in the European Union along with Norway, Russia, Turkey and Israel. Together, these territories account for around 33,000 screens, enjoying annual admissions of more than 1 billion and in 2012 more than €7.5 billion in box-office returns.

"After eight years of championing and defending European cinema exhibition  and after overseeing a much-needed organisational transformation, we now move on to the next stage in our growth," said Ad Weststrate, who stepped down as President of UNIC.

The organization also appointed a new Board of Directors that includes Senior Vice-President Jean-Pierre Decrette (Senior Vice-President of French exhibitors’ association FNCF), Vice Presidents Edna Epelbaum (UNIC-representative for Swiss association ACS), Mario Mazzetti (Managing Director of Italian association ANEC), Kim Pedersen (President of Denmark’s Danske Biografer), Jaime Tarrazon (Delegate of Spanish association FECE) as well as Treasurer Andreas Kramer (Managing Director of German HDF-Kino).