All eyes on arthouse cinemas at the Marché International du Film Classique (MIFC) - Festival Lumière
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CICAE network
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Film Industry
Every year, the MIFC brings together cinema exhibitors who screen classic films, with two days of round-table discussions, special screenings and exclusive previews of upcoming releases. In 2026, the programme introduced two new initiatives: a spotlight on European cinema exhibitors and another on film educators.
The first Exhibitors Spotlight brought together two outstanding and committed exhibitors: CICAE member Madeleine Probst, Director of Programming at Watershed Arts Trust in Bristol, UK, and Koen Van Daele, Deputy Director and Head of Programming at KINODVOR. MESTNI KINO. in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Two extradordinary and committed exhibitors who shared their innovative approaches to the opportunities and challenges of repertory and heritage programming, audience development, championing diverse films (and the people who love them) from all eras and places and strengthening the place of classic cinema in an evolving cultural landscape.
Their experiences highlighted a key question for today’s cinema sector: how can cinemas keep film heritage alive while engaging new audiences and responding to an evolving cultural landscape? Independent and arthouse cinemas play a vital role in connecting audiences with film history and ensuring that diverse cinematic voices continue to find their place on the big screen.
Organised in collaboration with CICAE, AFCAE - Association Française des Cinémas Art et Essai and Europa Cinemas, the event at the the MIFC/Festival Lumiére highlighted the importance of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing among cinema exhibitors and across the sector.
Many thanks to Madeleine and Koen for sharing their expertise, to Perrine Quennesson for the moderation and to the MIFC/Festival Lumière, Gérald Duchaussoy, Anaïs Desrieux for shining a light on the importance of independent and arthouse exhibition within the audiovisual ecosystem.
Keeping cinema heritage alive also means creating its future.
15.10.2026