Interview with Ivan Hronec, CEO of Film Europe, Czech Republic/Slovakia

By Jesús Silva   We interviewed Ivan Hronec, head of media company Film Europe, who gave us some insight into their particular business model, which played a crucial role in their survival during the global health crisis.   How would you describe the setup and editorial policy of your company? Film Europe was launched 10…

Interview with Svend Jensen, CEO of Arthaus, Norway

By Frances Harvey   In Norway, cinemas were closed on the 12th March due to COVID-19, but it was one of the first markets to ease restrictions. We spoke to Arthaus CEO, Svend Jensen as the cinemas in Norway were beginning to reopen.   How would you describe Arthaus’s line-up, do you have a particular…

Interview with Albert Yao, Head of Acquisitions of Swallow Wings, Taiwan

By Frances Harvey   In Taiwan, cinemas have remained open throughout the COVID-19 crisis, but it has meant distributors have had to change their strategies and target different audiences. We spoke to Albert Yao, Head of Acquisitions at Swallow Wings.   What type of films do you acquire at Swallow Wings? Swallow Wings has been…

Interview with Aistė Račaitytė, Head of Sales and Acquisitions at Kino Pavasaris Distribution, Lithuania

By Frances Harvey   Vilnius International Film Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, but due to COVID-19, their extensive schedule of celebratory events had to be cancelled. At very short notice, they managed to move the Festival online, giving a boost to local VOD platforms. After the close of the festival, we talked to…

Interview with Luís Froes, General Manager of Outsider Films, Portugal

By Jesús Silva   Luís Froes, General Manager of Outsider Films, talks about the situation of the Portuguese distribution market after the pandemic and their strategy for upcoming releases.   Can you tell us about your line-up and editorial policy? We focus on commercial quality movies, feel-good titles and animation films for children and adults.…

Interview with Mika Siltala, CEO and founder of Cinema Mondo, Finland

By Jesús Silva   We caught up with Mika Siltala, CEO and founder of Finnish distributor Cinema Mondo, to discuss how they managed to survive throughout the lockdown thanks to a diversified business model.   How would you describe your line-up and editorial policy? Cinema Mondo was founded in 1990. Since then, we have released…

Interview with Miguel Ángel Pérez, Founder of Surtsey Films, Spain

By Jesús Silva   We interviewed Miguel Ángel Pérez, founder of Spanish outfit Surtsey Films, to discuss the main challenges of the distribution market in Spain and the future of the sector after the pandemic.   How did the company come about and what is your editorial policy? Surtsey Films was launched in 2012. Back…

Interview with Kim Foss, Managing Director of Camera Film, Denmark

By Jesús Silva   We talked to Kim Foss, Managing Director of Camera Film, about the situation of the Danish distribution market after the lockdown, including the restrictions for cinema reopenings.   What is your company’s setup and editorial policy? We have two main lines of work: On one hand, we have the distribution company,…

Interview with Ivo Andrle, CEO of Aerofilms, Czech Republic

By Jesús Silva   We chatted with Ivo Andrle, head of Czech outfit Aerofilms, about the situation of independent film distribution in the Czech Republic, one of the first European countries to reopen cinemas after the lockdown.   How did the company start and what is your editorial policy? Aerofilms has been around for almost…

Interview with Huub Roelvink, Managing Director of Cherry Pickers, The Netherlands

By Frances Harvey   Distributor Cherry Pickers had just released Yann Arthus Bertrand’s Woman, (following a series of successful previews as part of International Women’s Day) when the cinemas in the Netherlands were ordered to close due to COVID-19. We spoke to the company’s founder and managing director, Huub Roelvink.   How is the distribution…