As a result, another cohort of talented female cinema professionals - fourteen this year - will get an exclusive opportunity to learn, enjoy networking opportunities and receive career advice from outstanding women executives from across the cinema landscape, each recognised for their leadership and business successes.
The programme remains UNIC’s flagship initiative to help address the gender imbalance at senior levels of the industry and works to encourage and empower female professionals as the industry looks to realise its full potential. The 2025/26 edition welcomes the following key female leaders and rising female professionals from the cinema exhibition landscape, representing 12 countries and 27 companies:
Mentors
Clarissa Bergh, Managing Director, Lillehammer Kino, Norway
Grainne Clarke, Head of Corporate Sales & Partnerships, Cineworld Cinemas, UK
Mariam El Bacha, Independent Cinema Expert EMEA, Denmark
Beatrice Flammini, Senior Vice President Government and Regulatory Affairs, NBCUniversal, Belgium
Laura Fumagalli, Head of Marketing and Events, ARCADIA Cinema
Sabine Goldie-Auger, Retail Director, Pathé Cinémas, France
Ruth Hinton, Group Head of Customer Experience and Insights, Vue, UK
Mary Kouinoglou, Senior Vice President, Theatrical, EMEA Licensees, Sony Pictures, UK
Anna Marsh, CEO, StudioCanal, France
Finola McLoughlin, Executive Director, EMEA Theatrical Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures Group, UK
Katarina Nyman, Country Manager & Director of Film Distribution, Nordisk Film, Finland
Anna Paprocka, Head of Programming, Regent Street Cinema, UK
Mette Schramm, Cinema Manager / CEO / Owner, Reprise Teatret, Empire Bio & Reel Pictures, Denmark
Suzie Welch, Managing Director UKI & Group Chief People Officer, Odeon Cinemas Group, UK
Mentees
Ann Karin Atterås, Cinema Manager, Voss Kino, Norway
Koyin Awomolo, Account Manager, Harkness Screens, UK
Patricia Cüppers, Senior Digital Marketing Manager, Yorck-Kino GmbH, Germany
Nena Loncar, Client Insights Manager, Comscore, UK
Katrin Mathe-Cotillon, Senior Manager Theatrical Marketing EMEA, Crunchyroll, France
Oanh Nguyenova, Commercial and Business Development Manager, Gruvi, Portugal
Paola Parini, Junior Manager, Multisala King, Italy
Beatriz Romero Fernández-Paniagua, Head of Treasury, Budgeting, and Financial Reporting, Yelmo Cines, Spain
Magda Rotko, Content Curator Lead, Vista Group, Germany
Elin Svärdendahl, Senior Film Booker, Filmstaden, Odeon Cinemas Group, Sweden
Daniela Tamburrino, Cinema Manager, Lucisano Media Group, Italy
Lesley van der Woude, Head of Film Programming UK/US, Rooftop Cinema Club, US
Claire Wyckaert, Marketing Manager - Programs, Barco, Belgium
Samira Zaïbat, Director, The Mouv’, Jolifanto ASBL / European Parliament, Belgium
Welcoming this latest edition of the programme, UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte commented:
“Since its launch in 2017, the programme has evolved into a vibrant and supportive network of over 180 exceptional female professionals. We are continually inspired by their passion, growth, and commitment to shaping a more inclusive future for our industry. A heartfelt thank you to each of these incredible women — and to our dedicated ‘Champions of the Programme’ — IMAX Corporation, Vista Group, and Barco — for their ongoing support in helping us build a strong and diverse community of talents. We warmly welcome our new mentees and mentors, and send our sincere congratulations to this year’s graduating cohort!
To quote Michelle Obama: “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
Laure Galtier Buettner, UNIC’s Events & Project Manager added:
“As we enter the ninth edition of the programme, it’s inspiring to see how far this community has come — and how much potential lies ahead. Each mentor and mentee brings something unique, and it’s a privilege to support their journey. Together, we are fostering lasting connections and real change across the 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/Union Internationale des Cinémas (UNIC) represents the interests of cinema trade associations and cinema operators covering 39 countries 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, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture, and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX systems to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, making IMAX's network among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of December 31, 2024, there were 1,807 IMAX systems (1,735 commercial multiplexes, 11 commercial destinations, 61 institutional) operating in 90 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “1970”.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, Experience It In IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®, DMR®, Filmed For IMAX®, IMAX LIVE™, and IMAX Enhanced® are trademarks and trade names of IMAX Corporation or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected under laws of various jurisdictions. For more information, visit www.imax.com. You may also connect
with IMAX on Instagram (www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/imax), X (www.twitter.com/imax), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
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.
For more information, visit www.vistagroup.co.nz.
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 ‘visioners’, 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 www.barco.com or connect on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
Barco. Visioneering a bright tomorrow. © 2024
Further Enquiries
lgaltier@unic-cinemas.org | @UNIC_Cinemas