11/07/2025 - The summit is integrating with Filmfest Hamburg Industry Days and will run alongside European Work in Progress, providing a forum for international film distribution professionals

The fourth edition of the International Film Distribution Summit (IFDS) is scheduled to take place from 30 September-2 October in Hamburg, marking the event’s relocation and integration into the Filmfest Hamburg Industry Days. The Industry Days are set to run from 29 September-3 October, with accreditations for IFDS now open.

Since its inception, IFDS has developed into a platform dedicated to professional exchange and reflection within the field of international film distribution. The summit focuses on sharing practical knowledge, presenting case studies, and fostering discussions on strategies for audience engagement amid significant changes in the media and cinema landscape. The 2025 edition aims to highlight sustainable approaches and innovative release models relevant to current industry challenges.

The event is supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA, and is organised in cooperation with Filmfest Hamburg, the MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and the German Federal Film Board (FFA). IFDS will run concurrently with European Work in Progress (EWIP), which is scheduled from 29 September-1 October. Both IFDS and EWIP have previously been held during the Film Festival Cologne and are overseen by film distributor Torsten Frehse (Neue Visionen), who continues to lead their strategic development.

EWIP focuses primarily on presenting European and German films nearing completion to sales agents, broadcasters, festival programmers and distributors, while IFDS concentrates on the distribution sector. Together, the events provide a complementary framework linking film production and distribution to support a more cohesive European industry.

The 2025 IFDS programme will feature keynotes, panels and workshops addressing current trends and challenges in film distribution. International industry representatives will share best practices and innovative concepts, with particular emphasis on independent cinema and audience-development strategies. The summit also aims to facilitate cross-border cooperation by fostering dialogue among professionals from various markets.

One of the summit’s main highlights remains the Best International Innovation Distribution Award, endowed with €10,000. The prize recognises innovative contributions to the field; last year’s recipient was Italian independent distributor Lucky Red.

The integration of IFDS into the Filmfest Hamburg Industry Days is part of a broader initiative to consolidate key professional events within a unified framework. Alongside established programmes such as the Explorer Konferenz, ATELIER#25 and the ENCOURAGE Film Talents initiative, IFDS contributes to a more comprehensive platform for exchange across production, distribution and talent development. This convergence seeks to enhance dialogue between sectors and provide a clearer perspective on evolving dynamics in the European film industry.

IFDS accreditation is reserved for film professionals actively involved in distribution and related fields. Joint accreditation for IFDS and EWIP is available, and accredited participants may also access Filmfest Hamburg screenings and selected industry events, subject to availability. More information can be found here.