As a result, a new cohort of fourteen talented female cinema professionals will benefit from a unique opportunity to learn, network and grow through one-to-one mentoring from outstanding women executives from across the cinema landscape, each recognised for their leadership, experience and business expertise.
The programme remains UNIC’s flagship initiative to address the gender imbalance at senior levels of the industry, while supporting and empowering female professionals to thrive. As the cinema industry continues to evolve, the initiative plays an important role in helping it realise its full potential by fostering a more diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline.
The 2026/27 edition welcomes the following leading female leaders and rising female professionals from the cinema exhibition landscape, representing 13 countries and 28 companies:
Mentors
Elise Brandt, Owner / Operator, Kuusan Kino Oy / Kino 123 Oy, Finland
Greta D'Este-Donelan, Director, AliLeo Media, United Kingdom
Nisha Dixon, Group Director of Content, VUE International, United Kingdom
Heidi Fjellvær Olsen, COO and Head of Programming, Trondheim Kino, Norway
Marynia Gierat, CEO, Kino Pod Baranami, Poland
Elise Jalladeau, General Director, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece
Varja Močnik, Head Film Programmer, International Film Festival Kino Otok / Isola Cinema, Slovenia
Amanda Mundin, Director, Manero Cinemas, United Kingdom
Faustine Nataf-Cantor, Deputy Managing Director, Mediavision, France
Marion Rosset, President, ADDE, France
Cristina Santagiuliana, Head of Operations, Deluxe, Italy
Silje Utkilen, General Manager, Hamar Kino, Norway
Maud Van de Velde, Marketing and Distribution Coordinator for EMEA, Barco, Belgium
Eleanor Whalley, Commercial Director, Picturehouse Cinemas, United Kingdom
Mentees
Orianne Bastar, Cinema Technical Coordinator, British Film Institute (BFI), United Kingdom
Hélène Beyls, Product Manager Cinema Services, Barco, Belgium
Nicola Browning, Senior Marketing Manager - International Theatrical, Sony Pictures, United Kingdom
Frankie Crane, Distribution & Exhibition Director, Europe, CJ 4DPLEX, United Kingdom
Isabelle France, Marketing Services Director, Vista Group, United Kingdom
Isabell Hennen, Manager Alternative Content (Event Cinema), UCI Multiplex | Odeon Cinemas Group, Germany
Nathalie Kaiser, Manager Statistics and Research, Rentrak, Germany
Gwenn Martines, General Manager, Cinewest, France
Clara Pradillo Martinez, Deputy Head of Architecture and Projects, Yelmo Cines | Cinépolis, Spain
Barbora Kucsa Prágerová, Cinema Director, Kino Metro 70, Czech Republic
Caro Raedts, Coordinator Cinema ZED Leuven, Belgium
Marija Samardžić, Film and literary program editor / Marketing manager, Pančevo Cultural Centre, Serbia
Aileen Thomas, Project Manager, Cineplex Bayreuth, Germany
Marianne Tronet, Marketing Manager, Everyman Group, United Kingdom
Welcoming this latest edition of the programme, UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte commented:
“Since its launch in 2017, the Women’s Cinema Leadership Programme has grown into a vibrant and supportive network of more than 200 female professionals from across the cinema industry. As we celebrate its tenth edition, the programme continues to expand its reach and impact, driven by the talent, ambition, and generosity of the remarkable women who make it possible.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the programme’s success over the years, and in particular to our valued ‘Champions of the Programme’ — IMAX Corporation, Vista Group, and Barco — whose continued support is instrumental in nurturing and strengthening this thriving community of talent.
We are delighted to welcome this year’s new mentors and mentees and look forward to supporting them throughout the year ahead. At the same time, we warmly congratulate the graduating cohort as they complete this important chapter of their leadership journey.
As Sheryl Sandberg famously said: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.” Through this programme, we continue to work towards making that vision a reality.”
Laure Galtier Buettner, UNIC Head of Projects & Events added:
“As we launch the tenth edition of the programme, every mentor and mentee adds a distinct voice to this collective journey, and it is a privilege to witness the conversations, connections, and progress that emerge along the way. As an African proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ Together, we are not only building relationships, but we are also contributing to a more open and inclusive industry.”
Notes for editors
The UNIC Women’s Cinema Leadership Programme is a 12-month cross-sector, international mentoring scheme for women in cinema exhibition.
Launched in 2017, the Programme is rooted in the belief that gender-balanced leadership in cinema exhibition is imperative for business success, better governance and equity in the industry.
More information here.
The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC)
The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) is the European cinema trade association, representing national cinema associations and cinema operators across 39 territories in Europe and neighbouring regions. More information at www.unic-cinemas.org
Champions of the UNIC Women’s Cinema Leadership Programme:
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) is a global leader in entertainment technology, delivering immersive cinematic experiences through proprietary software, architecture, and projection systems. Filmmakers, studios, and artists worldwide use IMAX to connect with audiences at scale, making its network one of the most powerful platforms for blockbuster events and entertainment.
Headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, IMAX operates 1,864 systems across 91 countries and territories as of December 31, 2025. IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code “1970.” IMAX and related marks are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. For more information, visit www.imax.com.
About Vista Group International
Vista Group International Ltd (Vista Group) is a public company, founded in New Zealand in 1996 and listed on both the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges in 2014 (NZX & ASX: VGL). Vista Group is a global leader in providing tech solutions to the international film industry. With brands including Vista, Veezi, Movio, Numero, Maccs, Flicks and Powster, Vista Group’s expertise covers cinema management software; loyalty, moviegoer engagement and marketing; film distribution software; box office reporting; creative studio solutions; and the Flicks movie, cinema and streaming website and app. www.vista.co.
About Barco
Barco, headquartered in Kortrijk (Belgium), is a global company leading in visualization, networking, and collaboration technology. Its innovative solutions drive advancements in the healthcare, enterprise, and entertainment markets. At the heart of Barco’s success are over 3,000 dedicated ‘visioneers’, each passionately contributing to driving change through technology.
Listed on Euronext (BAR), Reuters (BARBt.BR), and Bloomberg (BAR BB), Barco realized sales of 1,050 million euro in 2023. For further insights, please visit http://www.barco.com or connect on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
Further Enquiries
lgaltier@unic-cinemas.org | @UNIC_Cinemas