Tatino Films is further expanding its activities with the launch of First Cut+ Munich, a new initiative set to take place during the Industry Days of the Munich International Film Festival in 2026, which will unspool from 26 June-5 July. Developed in partnership with the festival, the programme will focus on feature-length films in the final stages of post-production, aiming to strengthen their visibility and impact on the international market.

Building on the experience of First Cut Lab, First Cut+ is designed to provide tailored guidance in areas such as marketing, distribution, festival strategy, audience engagement and sales. The Munich edition will bring together six projects selected from among the alumni of Tatino’s flagship initiatives, including First Cut Lab, Full Circle Lab and the Pop Up Film Residency.

Each team will participate in a series of one-to-one meetings, work-in-progress screenings and curated networking events with international sales agents, distributors, festival programmers and marketing experts. The programme will unfold within the Industry Days, the festival’s professional platform, offering participants direct access to the German and international film industry.

Christoph Gröner and Julia Weigl, artistic directors of the Munich International Film Festival, commented: “The Munich International Film Festival has long been a key rendezvous for German film professionals. As the number-one platform for German filmmaking, we’re the go-to resource for anyone seeking access to the national film industry. Our CineCoPro initiatives make the festival a prime location for international co-productions; we’ve also partnered with the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF), the Kirch Foundation and Tatino to build a sustainable mentoring programme, Munich Film Up!, which serves as a launchpad for German and international talent. Now, we’re thrilled to be working with Tatino to bring a further initiative to Munich. First Cut+ will make our industry platform even more international by connecting outstanding global filmmakers with experts from Germany and abroad, as always amid the casual Munich ambience for which our festival is known.”

Natalia Libet, head of First Cut+, added: “We are truly excited to collaborate with the industry section of the Munich International Film Festival – a partnership that brings together creative producing and real industry momentum at exactly the right moment. First Cut+ will arrive in Munich with six carefully selected works in progress, at a stage where promotion, marketing and positioning become absolutely crucial, as these films are about to be picked up by festivals and by distributors, and discovered by audiences. Bringing together filmmakers, consultants and industry experts in this context will create a powerful space for exchange, visibility and strategic thinking, and we strongly believe our collaboration will give these projects the best possible conditions to move forward internationally.”

The programme will be managed by Libet and will feature a team of returning advisors, including editor Cătălin Cristuțiu, marketing and distribution consultant Christina Pelekani, marketing consultant Boris Pugnet, sales expert Katarzyna Siniarska, and film marketing strategist Joanna Solecka. Additional online sessions will be delivered by PR expert Michael Arnon and journalist and festival consultant Wendy Mitchell, while Solecka will lead an on-site master talk during the event.

The selected creative teams will arrive in Munich on 29 June, attending lectures and networking events before presenting their projects on 30 June through a dedicated showcase, followed by industry meetings.

Since its launch in 2020, First Cut+ has supported nearly 100 feature films, several of which have gone on to premiere and win awards at major festivals, including the Venice Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.

The initiative forms part of Tatino’s broader ecosystem, which supports more than 300 filmmakers annually through its labs and residencies across Europe, Asia and the Americas, further reinforcing its commitment to fostering international collaboration and circulation.