21st Edition of the CICAE Arthouse Cinema Training Closes its Largest Edition to Date: A Look Back • CICAE

48 participants from 27 countries and six continents - more than 20 Trainers from a dozen countries: From 19 to 25 August, the 21st edition of the CICAE’s Arthouse Cinema Training (ACT) took place once again in Berlin, Germany. Each year, the renowned initiative gathers arthouse professionals and industry experts from across the globe for a seven-day intensive programme of talks, panels and interactive workshops surrounding arthouse cinema exhibition.

The ACT is the arthouse world’s most important initiative for capacity building, knowledge transfer, fostering international connection and promoting intercultural exchange within the industry and beyond. In the past, many of the Training’s 1000 alumni have moved on to take leading roles across the international audiovisual ecosystem.

In times, where populism, misinformation, intolerance, and violence are on the rise in many parts of the world, the Arthouse Cinema Training takes a stand for global cooperation and understanding. It empowers participants and collaborators to fight for the freedom of expression and a vibrant exchange of ideas across boundaries and continents.

The Training offers numerous networking opportunities throughout the week and beyond. Moreover, it features talks on industry topics such as business planning, programming and audience development, A.I. and data, sustainability and green cinema, diversity equity and inclusion, team management, young audiences and eventization. During the Training, participants also got together in workshop groups to develop a concept for an independent cinema aided and accompanied by experienced experts.

1. Javier Pachón (CineCiutat/PROMIO) : "360° of Cinema"

Participants from all over the world were welcomed by the CICAE Team with a short walking tour in Berlin, in the middle of a beautiful sunny day.

The official kick-off took place at Holzmarkt 25, where all participants gathered and received their accreditations and tote bags. On this occasion, the CICAE welcomed all the participants and presented the complete program, the trainers, and the "Restart your cinema" Workshop led by tutors Maeke Cooke, Alicia Kozma, Lela Meadow-Conner, Javier Pachón, Petra Rockenfeller and Raymond Walravens

In the evening, an opening cocktail sponsored by MUBI took place, where the participants had the opportunity to share and exchange experiences and begin to establish professional networks to be strengthened throughout the week.

1. Nico van Mechelen (KINO Rotterdam) : "Hospitality, negotiation, staff in Cinema"
2. Raymond Walravens (Rialto Cinema, Amsterdam): “How to structure a business plan”
3. Bernd Zickert and Nathalie Kaiser (Comscore, Munich): "STATE OF THE ARThouse"
4. Felix Bruder (AG Kino - Gilde, Germany): "Kinodoktor"
5. Torsten Frehse (Neue Visionen Filmverleih, Germany): "Distribution in the theatrical landscape"

The day closed with drinks and a screening of KINDS OF KINDNESS (Lanthimos, 2024) at the independent Il Kino theatre.

1. Anne Mayer and Eva Buchmann (Wolf Kino, Berlin): “Chances and Challenges of Community-Oriented Programming” + Cinema Visit @ Wolf Kino, Berlin
2. Petra Rockenfeller (Lichtburg Filmpalast, Oldenburg) “Children and Youth Cinema”
3. Raymond Walravens (Rialto Cinema, Amsterdam) “Audience development”

In the evening, the group attended an exclusive preview of Coralie Fargeat’s THE SUBSTANCE at Passage Kino, organised by the training’s partner MUBI.

Our special thanks also go to Comscore for sponsoring the lunch and sharing their unique insights into the sector.

1. Lysann Windisch (MUBI, Berlin): "Staying Agile - Finding Your Audience in a Shifting Theatrical & VOD Landscape"
2. Sara Frain (Picturehouse, London): "Case Study: Picturehouse"
3. Jean-Marc Lalo (Atelier d’architecture Lalo, Paris): “Rethink your cinema”
4. Lela Meadow-Conner (mamafilm/Art House Convergence, USA): "Curating Through A Maternal Lens"
5. Camilla Baier and Rachel Pronger (Invisible Women, Edinburgh/Berlin): "Curating Archive: Building Audience for Film History"

1. Daniel Sibbers (Yorck Kinogruppe, Berlin): "Cinema as a Brand"
2. Marvin Wiechert (Yorck Kinogruppe, Berlin): "AI & Arthouse - An Introduction"
3. Quentin Bucher (CICAE, Berlin): "Insight: European Arthouse Cinema Day"
4. Talk with Sepideh Farsi (Film director and ambassador of the EACD 2024)

During the programme’s morning field trip, the participants got the chance to visit the award-winning Delphi Lux cinema in Berlin’s vibrant City West.
In the evening, the participants gathered to work on their "Restart your cinema" projects.

1. Fatih Abay (European Film Academy, Berlin): "Social Sustainibility in/of Arthouse Cinema Landscapes"
2. Alicia Kozma (Indiana University Cinema/Art House Convergence, USA): "Cultivating Belonging and Inclusion in Community Arts Organizations"
3. Daniel Wuschansky (AG Kino-Gilde, Germany): "Sustainability in Action"
4. Irene Silvera Frischknecht (Consultant, UK): "Making Your Arthouse Cinema More Accessible for Everyone"

The projects presented were: 

1. Zawya moves to Radio Cinema, Cairo, Egypt
   
2. Maona Cinema, Oxford, United Kingdom
3. CineTotem, the first Arthouse cinema in Bangladesh, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
4. Sunset Kino, Leipzig, Germany
5. KUBERAN’S DOME : The opening of a new arthouse cinema in Goa, India
6. Bangkino, Bangkok, Thailand
7. The Dreamland Cinema, Tulsa, USA
8. Relaunch of The Kigali Cinema Mayaka:The First Arthouse Cinema in Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda

After carefully reviewing all the presentations, the tutors and experts provided feedback to each group, bringing their input to the final session. The Training closed with the awarding of the certificates and a farewell barbecue.

Network Talk: CICAE President Dr. Christian Bräuer and Arthouse Convergence Vice-President Dr. Alicia Kozma gave a talk on the politics of arthouse and the importance on networking. Their takeaway: Be politically active, be politically aware, connect, collaborate, and communicate.

Seven Days in Berlin that brought the Arthouse world closer together! The Training wrapped with a BBQ above the rooftops of Berlin. The participants of the Training will join an active alumni network of over 1000 industry professionals across the world.

The next alumni meeting will take place in February 2025 during the Berlin international Filmfestival BERLINALE.

The CICAE wishes to thank its particpants, trainers, partners, funders and friends for making this week possible.