Ahead of the screening, Laura Houlgatte Abbott, CEO of UNIC, and Adeline Chauveau, Secretary General of FIAD, introduced their respective organisations and highlighted the vital cultural, social and economic role of cinemas and film distribution in supporting a thriving, diverse and competitive European film ecosystem. They also addressed some of the key challenges facing the sector, including ongoing discussions around the proposed AgoraEU programme, stressing the importance of maintaining dedicated and adequately funded support for the European film industry, including film distribution and theatrical exhibition.
A particular highlight of the evening was the presence of Angelo Tijssens, co-writer of Coward, who introduced the film and joined guests for a fascinating and engaging Q&A following the screening. With warmth, humour and insight, he shared the creative journey behind the film, offering a unique glimpse into its inspiration, development and storytelling, and making the evening all the more memorable.
The event brought together nearly 100 policymakers and stakeholders from European institutions and the film industry for an evening centred on European cinema.
UNIC and FIAD warmly thank Cinéma Galeries for hosting the event, Angelo Tijssens for joining us, and Lumière, the film’s distributor, for its collaboration. We also extend our thanks to everyone who attended and helped make the evening a success.
See you at the cinema!