European Arthouse Cinema Day

ended

The European Arthouse Cinema Day (EACD) is the only international joint initiative undertaken by cinema exhibitors to promote European films, boost the cinema experience and innovate on audience reach in collaboration with different stakeholders of the film industry including distributors, sales agents, festivals, producers, filmmakers, film institutions and platforms. The aim is to create effective reach attracting and engaging audiences to visit cinemas during the EACD and beyond to discover European films from across the continent. The day consists of previews, guests’ participation, Q&As, debates with audiences, children and young programmes, retrospectives and classics, exhibitions, culinary specialties, and other creative ideas that accompany the screenings of European films. Before the pandemic, the initiative has managed to reunite more than 80.000 spectators in over 700 cinemas across the world (each year over 40 countries involved) in one single day. The CICAE curates together with other partners a selection of films that are in focus and recommended for its programming on the EACD, but cinemas have complete freedom to participate at any level and to create their own programme on the condition that it includes European films, bringing a full pan-European dimension to the initiative. Through a common activity, the EACD has become a platform where to explore new strategies and digital promotional activities implementing them through concrete actions and enganging broader audiences. It is also a chance for cinemas to jointly cooperate with foreign peers, exchange knowledge and act to enhance their work but also to boost the international visibility of European works and their circulation. Up to date the initiative brings together more than thousand exhibitors and other professionals from all over the world. Launched in 2016, the initiative is organised by the CICAE in partnership with Europa Cinemas. It is open to all arthouse exhibitors globally.