14/09/2026 - The French independent distributor's founder and CEO Vladimir Kokh will collect the award during the Hamburg-based event

KMBO founder and CEO Vladimir Kokh

French independent distributor KMBO and its founder and CEO Vladimir Kokh will receive the Best International Innovation Distribution Award of the fifth edition of the International Film Distribution Summit (IFDS), which will unfold in Hamburg from 29 September to 1 October, alongside its partner event European Work in Progress (from 28 to 30 September).

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The award ceremony is scheduled for 30 September, with this year's edition of the prize supported by the Marché du Film as an official partner. As part of the collaboration, the Cannes Film Market will provide KMBO with a visibility package showcasing the distributor's line-up at its next edition. It will also host the IFDS dinner in honour of Kokh and KMBO.

The partnership will additionally create opportunities for emerging professionals taking part in Cannes Makers, the Marché du Film's talent development programme. Selected alumni will be invited to attend the next edition of the IFDS and European Work in Progress, which will allow them to further expand their networks and connect with professionals working in sales, distribution and financing.

KMBO, founded by Kokh in 2007, has gradually come to occupy a distinctive position in the French theatrical distribution landscape. The editorial strategy of the company, which now releases around 15 films per year, combines support for debut features and emerging talent with new films by internationally acclaimed directors. The company has also developed a strong specialisation in animated feature films for children and families. Its Little KMBO label, launched in 2009, focuses on young audiences, families, schools and early film education. KMBO was named Best Distributor of the Year at Cartoon Movie in 2023.

Since its creation, the distributor has consistently grown. In 2025, it ranked 15th in the Top French Distributors list and 5th in the Top Independent Distributors chart. According to the company, KMBO recorded around three million admissions altogether in 2024 and 2025.

Kokh has also expanded his activities beyond distribution to venture into production, through its KMBO Production arm and the 2021 acquisition of animation company Les Films de l’Arlequin. In 2026, he took over Gebeka Films, one of France's historic distributors specialising in independent animation and films for young audiences.

The Best International Innovation Distribution Award is one of the highlights of the IFDS, which positions itself as a platform for international film-industry professionals to discuss the rapidly changing distribution landscape. The keynotes, panels, master classes and informal talks included in the programme are designed to encourage practical exchange and new approaches to the challenges the sector is facing.