News

In 2026, Europa Cinemas and Cineteca di Bologna are partnering for the twentieth consecutive year and invite you to be part of the Audience Development & Innovation Lab entitled "Reshaping The Cinema Experience: Curation, Communication and Community building", from Saturday 20th to Wednesday 24th of June 2026.

This edition will be led by Wiktoria Pelzer (Director and programmer of the Stadtkino, Vienna) and Fréderic Cornet (General and artistic director of the Cinema Galeries, Brussels), accompanied by Fabio Zenadocchio (Director of the Cinema Don Bosco, Rome).

Case studies, small-group discussions and panels will help professionals and exhibitors to develop concrete solutions to specific challenges, while offering plenty of opportunities to share and present their ideas. This lab is a place for exchange, where participants can discuss their obstacles and difficulties, and spend time with their peers to reflect on their own methods and share expertise. The content of the lab will be covering topics such as:

• Dedication to Young Audiences : a large spectrum of possibilities
• Classics, a gateway to Gen Z
• Politics in programming and how to curate "problematic films"
• Reaching audiences with specific needs
• Building community through a shared cinema experience
• From inbox to box office : developing newsletters to attract audiences
• Practical uses for AI and its ethical challenges for film exhibitors
• Inventive and efficient marketing
• Towards a better work culture : accessibility, inclusion and diversity

IMPORTANT: This lab is open to all exhibitors from Europe, both Europa Cinemas members and non-members. The number of participants is limited to 40. Applications will be considered in the order they are received. However, priority will be given to exhibitors who have not taken part in any previous editions.

Exhibitors from countries outside the MEDIA and Eurimages programmes, can attend at their own expenses.
 

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Please find the APPLICATION FORM here. It is to be completed online by Sunday 19th of April 2026 at the latest. Please note that completing this application form does not automatically mean you will take part in the lab. Europa Cinemas will confirm the final list of participants by the end of April.

LIVE STREAMING ON YOUTUBE

Follow the Bologna Lab live! In order to satisfy the great interest in the Lab and allow all the European exhibitors and professionals not present in Bologna to follow the main sessions and the case studies, we are proposing a live-stream of the lab from Sunday 21st to Tuesday 23rd of June on our Youtube channel.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

1. Hotel room booking: Europa Cinemas and Cineteca di Bologna will book your room in a hotel in the city centre and will cover the room costs (single room) for one person per exhibition company, for three out of four nights. The fourth night has to be covered by the participant.
If you would like to book further rooms or extra nights, we can take care of the reservation at our reduced rates (upon availability).
The single room rate will be between 110€ and 130€ per night (breakfast included, tourist tax excluded).
Double room rate will be 130€ per night (breakfast included, tourist tax excluded).
Participants will receive the hotel booking form with the confirmation email.

2. Travel expenses: travel expenses to Bologna are to be paid for by each participant. When booking, please try if possible, to arrive on Saturday 20th of June before 2.00pm (the lab starts at 3.00pm) and depart on Wednesday 24th of June after 2.00pm. However, please DO NOT PURCHASE your ticket before we have officially confirmed your participation.

3. Meals: Dinner on Saturday 20th of June as well as lunches on Sunday 21st, Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th of June are organized and paid by Europa Cinemas.

4. Please note that there will be no interpretation provided during the Lab.

If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact:

Fatima Djoumer, CEO 
Tel. +33 1 42 51 53 70, e-mail: fdjoumer@europa-cinemas.org   

Mathilde Narros, Project Coordinator – Italy & Malta 
Tel. +33 1 42 71 83 64, e-mail: mnarros@europa-cinemas.org

Noémie Levadoux, Project Coordinator – Germany, Austria & Liechtenstein
Tel. +33 (0)1 42 71 83 72, e-mail : nlevadoux@europa-cinemas.org

Salomé Monnet, Project Coordinator  – MEDIA
Tel. +33 (0)1 42 71 83 31, e-mail : smonnet@europa-cinemas.org

Isabela Didonna Valverde, Project Coordinator Events
Tel : +33 (0)1 42 71 83 63 e-mail : ididonna@europa-cinemas.org