Cinemas Club: Who Pays for Arthouse? Public Money, Private Donors and the New IRIS Fund
Moderator:
Patrick von Sychowski, International Editor-in-Chief, Cine Group
Speakers:
Dr. Christian Bräuer, President, CICAE / Yorck Kinogruppe
Maggie Mackay, Executive Director, Vidiots Foundation
Lela Meadow-Conner, Executive Director, Art House Convergence
Speakers
-
Dr. Christian BräuerPresident, CICAE / Yorck KinogruppeChristian Bräuer is President of the International Confederation of Art Cinemas (CICAE), which represents more than 2,400 cinemas in 45 countries. He is Managing Director of Berlin-based Yorck Kinogruppe, one of Europe’s leading arthouse cinema groups, whose cinemas are regularly honored for their outstanding and innovative programming. Since 2009, he has also chaired AG Kino, the German association of arthouse cinemas. He sits on the Board of Directors of Europa Cinemas. At the FFA, Germany’s national film funding agency, he serves as Deputy Chair of the Administrative Board and as a member of the Executive Committee, and he chairs the Committee for European and International Affairs. In recognition of his work, the Federal President of Germany awarded him the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
-
Lela Meadow-ConnerExecutive Director, Art House ConvergenceLela is the Executive Director of Art House Convergence, a nonprofit organization supporting mission-driven, community-focused independent exhibitors across the U.S. and advocating for the vital role they play in sustaining the independent film ecosystem. AHC’s work in turn strengthens the theatrical pipeline; expands audience access to films of all kinds; builds professional capacity within the field for workers; helps theaters perform as effective partners to filmmakers and distributors; cultivates partnerships that center exhibition’s essential role in the value chain, and maintains long-term cultural relevance for cinemas and moviegoing. As a Producer, her films have screened at festivals around the world, including Sundance, Tribeca, Palm Springs and BFI London, and she’s a member of the Producers Guild of America.
-
Maggie MackayExecutive Director, Vidiots FoundationMaggie Mackay, Vidiots Executive Director, developed her interest in film as a child at her local NYC video store, Rare Bird Video, and independent movie theaters including Film Forum and The Quad. For thirteen years she served as Senior Programmer of the Los Angeles Film Festival and Director of Nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards. She has held positions at Sundance Institute, AFI Fest, and Aspen Film, among other arts organizations, advocating for filmmakers and connecting audiences to cinema. Mackay returned to her video store roots when she joined Vidiots in 2016 as its first Executive Director. Over the course of seven years and through the pandemic, Mackay envisioned and helmed the unlikely but miraculous relaunch of Vidiots, reviving not only the iconic video store, but also the Eagle Theatre, an almost 100-year-old, beloved community cinema in Northeast Los Angeles. Mackay holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware, and a Masters Degree in Literature and Film Studies from Claremont University. Mackay lives in Northeast Los Angeles with her husband Dan Wilcox, their two children, and two ill-behaved but adorable hounds.
-
Patrick von SychowskiInternational Editor-in-Chief, Cine GroupPatrick von Sychowski is International Editor-in-Chief of Cine Group, the Paris-based cinema trade publisher and events organiser behind the Cinemas Club at Cannes and AFM. He has covered the global cinema exhibition industry as a journalist and analyst for more than 25 years, and co-founded the B2B cinema industry platform Celluloid Junkie. He is Vice President of the European Digital Cinema Forum (EDCF) and co-founder of Cultpix, a Swedish streaming and physical media label specialising in cult and international cinema. A regular keynote speaker and moderator at industry events worldwide, he is based in London.
