By Francesca Marchesini

On April 10 in Brussels, Europa Distribution held the closing session of the sixth edition of its all-female mentorship programme, EDMentorShe.

The initiative was launched in 2019, in response to the gender imbalance within the independent distribution sector. A study conducted the year before showed that, while women were well represented among the acquisitions, sales & programming, press, marketing and legal affairs departments, the figures regarding female leadership were considerably lower, as only 30% of CEO roles among Europa Distribution’s members were held by women. The EDMentorShe programme was then conceived to encourage more women to step into management roles and, among the years, it evolved into a platform to support the professional growth of women in the sector through knowledge exchange, building of soft skills and networking. Europa Distribution’s programme is based on the pairing of a distributor in a junior position with a more experienced one: together, they discuss goals, experiences and work through one-to-one online meetings.

Nine pairs of mentors and mentees started this journey together in summer 2025 for this year’s edition of the programme. Katarzyna Orysiak-Marrison, from Polish Gutek Film, mentored Johana Minářová, from the marketing team of Aerofilms in the Czech Republic; Jelena Pogossyan, from The Searchers Belgium, was guided by Mirana Rakotozafy, from Tandem, France. Carla Sy, from Tandem as well, was paired up with Sabine Hofmann, from Polyfilm, Austria. Paulina Jaroszewicz, from New Horizons Association, Poland, guided Valentina Eid Clavel, from the French Tandem’s marketing team; Vi Nguyen, previously Managing Director of Imagine Filmdistributie and now Film Consultant of the Netherlands Film Fund, was the mentor of Eléna Garcia, from Haut et Court, France; Petra Anett Barna, from Mozinet, Hungary, was paired up with Deborah Aumard-Unger, from French Ad Vitam Distribution, while Oriane Braga, also from Ad Vitam, was mentored by Dutch Gabrielle Rozing, Managing Director of Imagine Filmdistributie. Anne Marte Nygaard, from Arthaus, Norway, formed a pair with Ivana Jadrić, from Croatian Kino Mediteran, and finally Mette Søgaard, from Danish Camera Film, was the mentor of Juliette Douhaire, from Jour2fete, France.

Given the diversity of everyone’s professional roles and backgrounds, the in-person meeting in Brussels provided a wonderful occasion for a cross-cultural exchange and stimulating conversations. In fact, the final session of the EDMentorShe program led to a vibrant discussion regarding several topics, mainly touching personal well-being, workplace dynamics, professional goals and sector challenges.

One recurring theme was how to improve communication within the workplace. Some mentors outlined the importance of a structure in the company that allows to receive feedbacks, but also to discuss openly about one’s career and goals. One participant shared that the programme helped her gain more confidence within her workplace, also thanks to her mentor who guided her through taking an important decision about her role in the company.

Another important topic that emerged was mental health and how to avoid burnouts. The main response from mentors was to learn how to set boundaries in order to create a work environment that makes everyone more at ease.
Relationships between colleagues and supervisors also came out as a key theme. Strong communication and collaboration skills emerged as one of the most common topics discussed by the pairs during the one-to-one meetings, showing the necessity for both employees and managers to cultivate assertiveness and improve professional exchanges. As one of the mentors said “communication is a tool that you can use to influence […]. You have more power than you think”. The Europa Distribution’s workshop Effective communication in professional interactions, team management, and negotiation organised within the scope of the Sofia Meetings, was cited by one of the mentors as an important event to develop and acquire fundamental soft skills for the daily work life. The mentors warmly suggested to the other women to attend the workshop, as well as other Europa Distribution’s activities, such as Distributors on the Move, the exchange programme for distributors.

Another main topic that came out of the discussion was the importance of networking and building strong connections within the sector to avoid what was referred to as a feeling of “loneliness”. Sometimes, working in a small company and having few colleagues or even being the only referent of a department can feel isolating. The EDMentorShe programme, thanks to the monthly meetings, exchanges of ideas and being familiar with the challenges of the sector, looks as the right solution to the problem and can make you feel as part of something bigger, as one mentor explained. “Let’s take it from here. Let’s write to each other and discuss as colleagues, not competitors, because it’s so important to share this experience”, stated another mentor. Many participants described the program as “therapeutic”, as it has made these young professionals feel truly seen and heard. The networking provided by this programme is not only a great opportunity for professional reasons, but can also turn into a heart-warming bonding experience: all the women involved stated that they now feel a link not only to their pair, but with every person that shared their experiences and feelings during the closing session, creating a sense of community much needed in the industry. As one mentor said: “It literally felt like opening a window from the office into the world”.

The most impressive aspect of the EDMentorShe programme is the impact that the one-to-one meetings had on both mentees and mentors, who often underlined how the guidance was mutual as the monthly talking turned into a safe space for honest conversation. The programme is more than supporting emerging distributors and giving insights from the industry: it’s about sharing a connection, reflecting on one’s personal story and creating a unique dynamic within the sector. As beautifully said by a mentor, “what we are doing here is important for the future. We created some special bond, now you are never alone”.

What started as a response to gender imbalance has evolved into a space for professional and personal growth, and as the sixth edition of EDMentorShe comes to an end, it leaves behind a renewed sense of solidarity. The main goal of the programme is not only to help providing practical tools and skills for the industry, but to open a discussion about the female experience within the workplace, defining a new way of approaching film distribution, while creating an empowered community.

The next edition has already been launched and we cannot wait to welcome once again the amazing women of the sector!