5/11 | TUE | 9:45 – 18:00 | F22

6/11 | WED | 9:30 – 18:45 | F22

7/11 | THU | 9:30 – 17:00 | F22

language: English

open to the public, with prior registration

In partnership with ZFF and the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, the Department for Culture and Communication of the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) is organizing the 15th Annual International Small Cinemas Conference: Changing Policies, Transforming Audiences and Work Practices In-flux. The conference is held as part of the EU project ‘Increasing the International Competitiveness of the Film Industry in Small European Markets’ (CresCine).

The conference is designed to address the most pressing issues in the global film industry, with a special focus on the film industry in small countries. Presentations as part of the conference will delve into the effects of streaming services on production, distribution, and consumption, changes in audience habits, and how public policies are adapting to the challenges faced by small film markets. Key topics of the conference include issues of cultural diversity, audience development, sustainability of business models, and the impact of global streaming services on local industries. Discussions will also cover the impact of technological innovations on film production, the operation of foreign film productions, the internationalisation of films from smaller countries, working conditions in smaller markets, problems in exhibition and distribution, and reception issues.

Program highlights:

5/11 | TUESDAY | 10:00 | F22

The prominent media industry and management expert Katharine Sarikakis from the University of Vienna will hold a lecture entitled ‘The Urgent Beauty of Small Spaces: Success and Competitiveness of the European Film Industry’.

5/11 | TUESDAY | 11:30 | F22

A round table on evidence-based policymaking in the context of small film industries with the following participants from research and policy-making sectors: Ivana Kostovska, from the Vrije University Brussel (VUB), Belgium, Christopher Peter Marcich, director of HAVC, and EFAD president, Jakob Isak Nielsen, from the University in Aarhus and Krešimir Partl, State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia. Jaka Primorac, IRMO, Zagreb will moderate the round table.

6/11 | WEDNESDAY | 9:30 | F22

A panel on approaches to competitiveness in small film industries with participation of experts and leaders of three key EU projects on boosting the competitiveness of the audiovisual industry in Europe: Katharine Sarikakis from the University of Vienna (coordinator of Reboot project), Anastasios Drosou from the Center for Research and Technology-CERTH (coordinator of the SCENE project) and Andre Rui Graca from the University of Lusófona (representing the CresCine project). Petr Szczepanik from Charles University in Prague will moderate the panel.

6/11 | WEDNESDAY | 17:45 | F22

A panel on the challenges faced by independent cinema network in Croatia. The panel will be attended by the following representatives of ‘Kino mreža’: Maja Holek, Open University Koprivnica/Cinema Velebit, Renata Kiršić Veselica, Open University Labin/Cinema Labin, Goran Plantak, Open University Varaždin/Cinema Gaj and Alen Munitić, MFFS. The panel will be moderated by Martina Petrović, Head of CED – MEDIA Office Croatia.

7/11 | THURSDAY | 9:30 | F22

An expert on the media markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Petr Szczepanik from Charles University in Prague, eill give the keynote lecture entitled ‘Geography of the Streaming Economy: East-Central Europe as a Digital Periphery’.

 The rich three-day program can be accessed on the conference website.

Participation is free for all interested, with prior registration at the following link.

Download the event schedule at the following link.

Find out more about the CresCine project here.