CROSSING EUROPE INDUSTRY AFTERNOON 2026
30.4.2026 // 15:00 – 19:30 // Ursulinensaal // followed by Creative Europe Cocktail
Following last year’s successful premiere, we are thrilled to welcome a new addition to our annual program calendar: the Crossing Europe Industry Afternoon. First held in 2025, this industry event once again opens its doors this year to anyone seeking a comprehensive insight into the production processes and working realities of European filmmakers. Under the title Exploring European Film Production, the festival once again presents its guests with an engaging, multifaceted panel format that relies not only on the expertise of the invited speakers but, above all, on an open exchange between the film industry and an interested audience.
15:00 // Doors Open
15:15 // Welcome
Sabine Gebetsroither and Katharina Riedler (Crossing Europe Festival Directors)
15:30 // PART ONE // CASE STUDY - CO-PRODUCE! BUT HOW?
A Debut Film as a Co-Production and Its Creative Implications
In cooperation with and hosted by Talents & Training, Österreichisches Filminstitut
Case Study: KARAVAN / CARAVAN (CZ/SK/IT 2025)
Host: Dominik Tschütscher (Austrian Film Institute - Talents & Training / AT)
Guest: Zuzana Kirchnerová (director)
followed by a Q&A session
Young filmmakers face many new challenges when they set out to make their debut film. Many festivals and film markets attract talent with industry programs aimed at international emerging filmmakers, encouraging them to pursue co-productions. And unlike in Austria, where films can (still) be produced with exclusively national funding, co-production is a sheer necessity for many European productions: It requires additional financing partners, often from multiple countries.
Using the example of the award-winning feature film KARAVAN / CARAVAN (2025), a Czech-Slovak-Italian co-production, we speak with director Zuzana Kirchnerová about the risks and opportunities of realizing a film debut as a co-production and how this can also impact the creative process.
16:30 // BREAK
16:45 // PART TWO // FAIRNESS STRATEGIES
In cooperation with MIOB – Moving Images Open Borders
Presentation: Respect, Awareness & Social Sustainability for Films and Their Festivals
Speaker: Clar Gallistl (cultural policy advisor & creative industries consultant / AT)
followed by a Q&A session
Cultural policy advisor and creative industries consultant Clar Gallistl leads a working group that is heading towards international fairness standards for film and creative industries. In their presentation Clar will focus on already existing standards for fair filmmaking as well as discussing the merits and challenges. Members of MIOB will present the new MIOB Code of Conduct framework, that was established in a workshop with Clar, and will serve as a joint baseline to drive respect, awareness and social sustainability in film festivals.
Talk: MIOB Code of Conduct Release
Host: Clar Gallistl (cultural policy advisor & creative industries consultant / AT)
Speaker: Guoda Vaitiekutė (program coordinator European Film Festival Scanorama & MIOB Festival Network coordinator / LT)
followed by a Q&A session
18:00 // PART THREE // GET INFORMED!
In collaboration with numerous partner organisations from the domestic and international film industry.
Presentation: Opportunities Through Funding from the Creative Europe Program
Speakers: Elisabeth Pacher and Alicia Viertmann (Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media / AT)
Information Stands: Get informed!
Sit in with our partners and get quick and easy access to valuable information on film funding, networking, training, co-production and distribution.
19:30 – 21:00 // CREATIVE EUROPE COCKTAIL hosted by Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media
Drinks, snacks and casual networking
Welcome: Elisabeth Pacher and Alicia Viertmann (Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media / AT)
BM Wohnen, Kunst, Kultur, Medien & Sport - Filmabteilung // Film funding (national)
ÖFI Österreichisches Filminstitut - Talents & Training // Film funding & training (national)
Creative Europe Desk Austria – CULTURE & MEDIA // Film-/cultural funding & training (europe-wide)
FAMA - Fachverband der österr. Film- und Musikwirtschaft // Industry representation (national)
Land Oberösterreich Direktion Kultur und Gesellschaft - Abteilung Kultur // Film funding (regional)
Filmotor Filmsales // World Sales (international)
International Screen Institute // Training & networking (europe-wide)
WKOÖ - Film- und Musikwirtschaft // Industry representation (regional, Upper Austria)
Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria // Creative Industries Agency (regional, Upper Austria)
It is also possible to attend individual sessions only. Doors remain open. No registration required.
Host:
Wolfgang Gumpelmaier-Mach (Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria / AT)
Contact and inquiries:
Luzi Katamay ()
Following last year’s successful premiere, we are thrilled to welcome a new addition to our annual program calendar: the Crossing Europe Industry Afternoon. First held in 2025, this industry event once again opens its doors this year to anyone seeking a comprehensive insight into the production processes and working realities of European filmmakers. Under the title Exploring European Film Production, the festival once again presents its guests with an engaging, multifaceted panel format that relies not only on the expertise of the invited speakers but, above all, on an open exchange between the film industry and an interested audience.
15:00 // Doors Open
15:15 // Welcome
Sabine Gebetsroither and Katharina Riedler (Crossing Europe Festival Directors)
15:30 // PART ONE // CASE STUDY - CO-PRODUCE! BUT HOW?
A Debut Film as a Co-Production and Its Creative Implications
In cooperation with and hosted by Talents & Training, Österreichisches Filminstitut
Case Study: KARAVAN / CARAVAN (CZ/SK/IT 2025)
Host: Dominik Tschütscher (Austrian Film Institute - Talents & Training / AT)
Guest: Zuzana Kirchnerová (director)
followed by a Q&A session
Young filmmakers face many new challenges when they set out to make their debut film. Many festivals and film markets attract talent with industry programs aimed at international emerging filmmakers, encouraging them to pursue co-productions. And unlike in Austria, where films can (still) be produced with exclusively national funding, co-production is a sheer necessity for many European productions: It requires additional financing partners, often from multiple countries.
Using the example of the award-winning feature film KARAVAN / CARAVAN (2025), a Czech-Slovak-Italian co-production, we speak with director Zuzana Kirchnerová about the risks and opportunities of realizing a film debut as a co-production and how this can also impact the creative process.
16:30 // BREAK
16:45 // PART TWO // FAIRNESS STRATEGIES
In cooperation with MIOB – Moving Images Open Borders
Presentation: Respect, Awareness & Social Sustainability for Films and Their Festivals
Speaker: Clar Gallistl (cultural policy advisor & creative industries consultant / AT)
followed by a Q&A session
Cultural policy advisor and creative industries consultant Clar Gallistl leads a working group that is heading towards international fairness standards for film and creative industries. In their presentation Clar will focus on already existing standards for fair filmmaking as well as discussing the merits and challenges. Members of MIOB will present the new MIOB Code of Conduct framework, that was established in a workshop with Clar, and will serve as a joint baseline to drive respect, awareness and social sustainability in film festivals.
Talk: MIOB Code of Conduct Release
Host: Clar Gallistl (cultural policy advisor & creative industries consultant / AT)
Speaker: Guoda Vaitiekutė (program coordinator European Film Festival Scanorama & MIOB Festival Network coordinator / LT)
followed by a Q&A session
18:00 // PART THREE // GET INFORMED!
In collaboration with numerous partner organisations from the domestic and international film industry.
Presentation: Opportunities Through Funding from the Creative Europe Program
Speakers: Elisabeth Pacher and Alicia Viertmann (Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media / AT)
Information Stands: Get informed!
Sit in with our partners and get quick and easy access to valuable information on film funding, networking, training, co-production and distribution.
19:30 – 21:00 // CREATIVE EUROPE COCKTAIL hosted by Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media
Drinks, snacks and casual networking
Welcome: Elisabeth Pacher and Alicia Viertmann (Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media / AT)
BM Wohnen, Kunst, Kultur, Medien & Sport - Filmabteilung // Film funding (national)
ÖFI Österreichisches Filminstitut - Talents & Training // Film funding & training (national)
Creative Europe Desk Austria – CULTURE & MEDIA // Film-/cultural funding & training (europe-wide)
FAMA - Fachverband der österr. Film- und Musikwirtschaft // Industry representation (national)
Land Oberösterreich Direktion Kultur und Gesellschaft - Abteilung Kultur // Film funding (regional)
Filmotor Filmsales // World Sales (international)
International Screen Institute // Training & networking (europe-wide)
WKOÖ - Film- und Musikwirtschaft // Industry representation (regional, Upper Austria)
Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria // Creative Industries Agency (regional, Upper Austria)
It is also possible to attend individual sessions only. Doors remain open. No registration required.
Host:
Wolfgang Gumpelmaier-Mach (Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria / AT)
Contact and inquiries:
Luzi Katamay ()
with kind support of
Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media
Abteilung Talents & Training, Österreichisches Filminstitut
FAMA (Fachverband Film- und Musikwirtschaft)
WKOÖ – Abteilung Film- und Musikwirtschaft
and in cooperation with
Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria
MIOB – Moving Images Open Borders
Creative Europe Desk Austria – Culture & Media
Abteilung Talents & Training, Österreichisches Filminstitut
FAMA (Fachverband Film- und Musikwirtschaft)
WKOÖ – Abteilung Film- und Musikwirtschaft
and in cooperation with
Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria
MIOB – Moving Images Open Borders
Industry Afternoon 2025
KARAVAN / CARAVAN (CZ/SK/IT 2025)
