– The industry strand of the German festival will home in on the five Nordic countries and serves as the venue for the launch of First Cut+ Munich
Sants by Mikel Gurrea
The Munich International Film Festival will once again transform into a key meeting point for film professionals from across Europe as its Industry Days unfold from 28 June-3 July. Bringing together producers, filmmakers, sales agents, distributors, policymakers and creatives, the six-day programme, which features more than 70 events, combines conferences, master classes, pitches and networking events designed to foster new collaborations and address the challenges shaping the audiovisual sector.
At the centre of the Industry Days is the fifth edition of the CineCoPro Conference, running from 30 June-2 July. Following previous spotlights on individual territories and regional partnerships, this year, the initiative turns its attention to the Nordic countries, welcoming 25 emerging producers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to Munich. Through a combination of one-on-one meetings, project pitches, master classes and informal networking opportunities, the conference seeks to strengthen ties between the Nordic and German production sectors.
The initiative is organised in collaboration with the Danish Film Institute, the Finnish Film Foundation, the Icelandic Film Centre, the Norwegian Film Institute and the Swedish Film Institute, with additional support from FFF Bayern, Film Commission Bayern, Creative Europe Desk München and German Films.
As in previous years, the conference combines business-focused activities with the relaxed atmosphere that has become a hallmark of Munich’s industry strand. Alongside meetings and presentations at the festival centre, participants will gather in the Industry Beergarden and take part in the traditional Isar raft trip, a networking format that has become one of the event’s defining features.
The Industry Days also mark the launch of First Cut+ Munich (see the news), a new initiative developed in partnership with TATINO. Designed to support filmmakers approaching the completion of their feature projects, the programme brings six films in post-production to Munich for tailored consultations on festival strategy, marketing, publicity, sales and audience development. The inaugural selection reflects the programme’s international ambitions, with half of the projects being debut features and one of them a hybrid documentary.
The participating teams will attend networking events, a dedicated marketing master class and a work-in-progress showcase before engaging in a series of individual meetings with international consultants and industry experts. One project will also receive the €2,000 Walker+Worm First Cut+ Award, presented on 1 July during the CineCoPro Pitch.
The Industry Days begin with the Creators Conference on 26 June, organised by the Produktionsallianz. Returning for another edition, the conference gathers producers, executives and creatives to discuss technological change, economic uncertainty and new business models within the audiovisual sector. This year’s programme explores topics ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and film policy to the future of television and streaming, creator-driven ecosystems, vertical storytelling formats and emerging production models built around AI technologies.
The broader Industry Talks programme extends these discussions throughout the week, bringing together partners from across the sector for panels, workshops and master classes dedicated to the most pressing questions facing the industry. According to the festival organisers, the programme has been conceived as a space for reflection on cinema’s role in democratic discourse, the sustainability of diverse creative voices, and the opportunities presented by new platforms and formats.
The 2026 edition also marks a new chapter for the festival’s industry activities with the appointment of Alina Götzlich as head of Industry. “In these uncertain times, we wish to join our partners in reflecting on how cinema can contribute to social discourse, strengthen democracy and raise awareness of different points of view,” stated Götzlich alongside artistic directors Julia Weigl and Christoph Gröner. “We aim to look ahead: to international collaborations, new talent and the future of a film industry that is actively helping to shape change.”
Here are the projects selected for the inaugural First Cut+ Munich:
My Letter to B – Helen Beltrame-Linné (Brazil)
Producer: Cinemascopio
Lightness and Weight – Erec Brehmer (Germany)
Producer: Maverick Film
Sants – Mikel Gurrea (Spain/Italy)
Producers: Nocturna Pictures, Kino Produzioni
Lost Years – Aron Horváth Botka (Slovenia/Serbia)
Producers: Temporama, Set Sail Films
Wild Horse in the Rotten West – Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova (Bulgaria/UK/France)
Producers: Activist38, MK38, Loco Films
I’m Coming for You – Cyrielle Raingou (Cameroon/France/Germany/Ivory Coast)
Producers: Je Capture Ma Réalité, Artisans du Film, Seera Films, On Est Ensemble
