The Independent Cinema Office will host a symposium to highlight how successful film festivals can work with their host cities to drive economic growth, build cultural capital, increase their economic stability and boost their brand appeal.
Increasingly culture is recognised as the driving force for social inclusion and economic regeneration around the globe. Film Festivals are a particularly potent form of public cultural event, placing a city on the national and international map. If income raising is an essential preoccupation for every film festival on the planet, then it is time to look at exactly what your festival can offer the city in which you live and work. The world’s major festivals – Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Busan… are all synonymous with the city in which they take place. How can your festival leverage its brand with the corporate, cultural and local government partners which power your local economy? How can you make an effective case to show how your festival boosts income, cultural credibility and international visibility for your city?
ICO Director Catharine Des Forges will be in discussion with Timo Malmi (Midnight Sun film festival), Mirsad Purivatra (Sarajevo film festival) and Valentina Borsato (Head of Sponsorship, Promotion and Educational, Venice Biennale)
The event is open to senior executives from film festivals, exhibition, distribution and sales agencies, with a curiosity to engage with ideas and each otheras well as those with an interest in how film festivals reflect and shape the film industry and wider film culture.