Europa Distribution is returning to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for the latest edition of the Film Distribution Innovation Hub. Twenty independent distributors from across Europe will converge at the Film Distribution Innovation Hub, actively participating in the festival and the industry events from July 2–5. This initiative provides an exclusive platform for distributors to collaborate and exchange innovative strategies crucial for advancing the promotion and distribution of films.

On Wednesday 3 July, Europa Distribution members will participate in an open showcase to explore and discuss the latest digital innovations presented by leading tech company representatives. Niels Alberg Nielsen (Denmark) will introduce Publikum, a service for audience research combining AI and anthropological insights from early-stage script development to distribution, to help filmmakers target specific audiences. Lucky Lab, a tool that enables distributors to analyse data, such as spectator traffic, and to find strategies to target audiences and measure the effectiveness of digital operations in film campaign success, will be showcased by Alexandre Cerri (France). Mehdi Mimouni (France) will present MovieChainer, a cloud-based app for managing film rights, titles, contracts, and contacts. And Seneit Debese (Germany) will highlight Greta & Starks, a tool that makes films accessible to the visually and hearing-impaired audiences. The showcase will be moderated by Michael Gubbins.

The following day, Thursday 4 July, participants will engage in a closed workshop with the tech representatives for in-depth insights into the functional and practical specifications of these tools. Distributors will be divided into working groups to facilitate discussions on how to implement these innovations in digital marketing, data analytics, rights management, and other aspects of distribution and publishing. This symbiotic environment will be a platform for participants to exchange their best practices and to provide direct feedback on tool refinement, to better meet distribution needs. Finally, participants and the moderator will close the workshop by identifying strengths and areas for improvement of the offered tools, and charting future steps for advancing the distribution industry.

Looking ahead in 2024, Europa Distribution is committed to hosting a series of workshops and events tailored for distributors and film industry professionals. The association’s upcoming engagements include a focus on Nordic films, featuring a panel during New Nordic Films in Haugesund from 20-23 August. Subsequently, members will gather at the Venice Production Bridge from 29 August to 3 September, where they will also attend a common session with producers, followed by participation at the San Sebastian International Film Festival from 22-26 September, that will include a working session with sales agents. Additionally, Europa Distribution recently launched the latest editions of their EDMentorShe and Distributors on the Move Programmes, furthering their dedication to supporting and enhancing the distribution landscape.