By Francesca Marchesini

Distributors on the Move is the cross-border exchange programme created in 2019 by Europa Distribution, the international association representing independent film publishers and distributors. The initiative is specifically conceived for marketing and sales professionals, who pair with a colleague from another European distribution company to spend five days visiting one another’s country and office, taking part in the daily workflow, while sharing good practices. The programme may also take place completely online or in hybrid format.

Past attendees of the programme described Distributors on the Move as an insightful experience that allowed them to discover the similarities and differences among the European distribution sector. In fact, participants had the chance to dive into how companies in other countries work, comparing the marketing and release strategies adopted and discussing the distribution of common European titles in different territories.

For the 2025–2026 edition, four professionals from distribution companies in Greece, Lithuania, Hungary and Czech Republic took part in the programme.

Akvile Valuntaite, from Kino Pavasaris, Lithuania, met last winter with Hanna Csata, from Mozinet, Hungary. Although covering different roles, Digital Marketing Manager and Operating Officer respectively, Valuntaite and Csata found many similarities in their work, such as the fact that both their companies are involved in the organisation of a cinematic event. As a matter of fact, Valuntaite visited Budapest during the 15th Mozinet Filmnapok, a special three-day-long screening event organised by Csata’s company. “I learned how impactful it is to make special events for film releases and how creative and authentic it can be. I was really inspired by Mozinet’s partnerships and I brought some ideas from the trip back to Lithuania”. Csata was mostly interested in discovering Kino Pavasaris’ structure, including its activity as an exhibitor and organiser of a film festival. She stated that she “felt like home” during her stay in Vilnius, freely sharing her perspective and discussing upcoming common releases with the company’s team.

Jan Slanina, Marketing Manager at Aerofilms, Czech Republic, and Harris Sourapas, responsible for acquisitions and marketing at Filmtrade in Greece, visited each other earlier this year. The pair focused on the differences between the companies’ operating scales. Slanina was particularly interested in discovering a different approach toward the sector when he visited Athens, as Filmtrade counts on a small team of just two people. “Harris and I spent a lot of time together in his office, discussing about cinema and the differences between our countries. We worked side by side and I was assigned some tasks” he said, joking about being given homework during his stay. When it was time for Sourapas to visit Prague, his colleague proved to be an exceptional host, involving him in company’s meetings and small activities, having the opportunity to learn about Aerofilms’ approach to social media and positioning. Sourapas also attended meetings with exhibitors, fulfilling his desire to know more about special screenings and the concept of Event Cinema, that is the cinema showing of opera and ballet as promoted by Slanina’s company.

When asked to choose one word to describe the Distributors on the Move programme, all four participants were caught a bit off-guard… how to summarise such a versatile experience? Valuntaite and Csata focused on the relationship-forging side of the project, choosing CONNECTION and FRIENDSHIP, while the pair formed by Slanina and Sourapas highlighted the skills-sharing leitmotif of the programme, describing it as INSPIRING and REFRESHING.

The participants also highlighted the cultural relevance of the exchange, having the chance to visit a new city and experience the local cinephile scene. “It’s so interesting to see how the differences between countries translate to the cinema culture and industry” Slanina said. Csata affirmed that she “would totally recommend the experience to keep one self’s mind open”.

As the seventh edition of Distributors on the Moves comes to an end, it leaves behind a renewed sense of collaboration: participants not only shared useful know-hows and suggestions, but built both professional and personal bonds, bridging different cultures and practises. Attendees of the programme took home good practices, ideas, and, most importantly, the sense of being part of an international community.

Europa Distribution is set to launch the next edition of the programme in June.