SESSION GUide
Monday June 22, 2026
1:00PM - 5:00PM
Registration & Badge Pick-Up
Agile Registration Hub, Venue SIX10
Stop by to pick up your badge and swag bag. Questions about the conference? We can answer them here.
1:45 PM
Allies In Audience Building: The Power In Creative Partnerships (Programming)
How Programming and Community Partnerships Can Help
Strength in numbers and power through collaboration! Theatres and festivals can greatly benefit from working with local non-profit partner organizations to help diversify programme offerings and drive lasting audience growth. In this session, attendees will learn from programmers, festival organizers and community leaders about best practices for developing impactful partnership formats and structures, finding the right partners for your events or festival, and engaging these partners in a meaningful and intentional way that gives them a platform for their own work and incentivizes them to collaborate with you again.
1:45 PM
How to Open an Art House: A Case Study (Field Wide)
Everything you didn’t know you needed to know about opening a theatre.
Opening a cinema is equal parts dream and discipline. This case study follows the real-world journey of bringing a theater from concept to opening night, unpacking the critical decisions, unexpected challenges, and hard-earned lessons along the way. Drawing on lessons learned from past Art House Convergence conferences and the collective experience of AHC member organizations, join Ira Deutchman as he walks through site selection, capital planning, design and construction, staffing, programming strategy, and the operational ramp-up required to open their doors successfully.
1:45 PM
Intro Improv (Field Wide)
Put your film intro skills to the test and learn some improvisational skills during this interactive breakout.
Participants will learn a variety of improv games and exercises before putting them to the test with imaginary intros to imaginary events/screenings. Come practice some public speaking skills and have a fun break from the normal sessions!
2:00 PM
Professional Bio Writing Workshop (Field Wide)
Leave equipped to respond to those panelist & juror requests with a shiny new short form and long form bio!
Need to update your professional bio? Never written a professional bio before? Join us for a hands on workshop and leave the session with a professional bio you can use for your LinkedIn profile, website, panels, and webinars. Bring your laptop and current bio (or be prepared to write one). Catch a headshot session this week too and leave IND/EX ready to showcase your professional persona!
2:00 PM
Let’s Make More Movie Merch! (Marketing)
A deep dive with the mind behind Super Yaki.
Curious about making quality merchandise that authentically speaks to you and your community but not sure where to begin? Don't worry, Super Yaki (the internet's third favorite movie merch brand) has made every mistake possible in the last 10 years and somehow they're still here so there's hope for you yet. Through a decade of trial and error, Super Yaki has learned what works (and what doesn't) and they're here to share that insight with you in your quest for making meaningful merch with intention. The days of slapping a logo on a cheap shirt are over. Let's make movie quality merch together.
2:00 PM
Understanding Your Numbers: A Practical Finance 101 For Cinemas (Ops)
Show me the money! Join us for an overview of cinema financial management
Financial literacy is essential to running a successful cinema but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. This introductory session breaks down key financial concepts like profit & loss (Statement of Activity for the non-profits!), cash flow, margins, and projections in a clear, accessible way for film festival and cinema professionals. Demystify the numbers behind your operations and learn how to use them to make smarter, more sustainable decisions. Designed for beginners and non-finance staff, this session will help you build confidence, ask better questions, and better understand your organization’s financial health
3:30 PM
Decentering the Traditional Film Expert (Education)
How to think outside the box when it comes to guests/subject matter experts on film.
When it comes to eventizing screenings, enhancing the audience experience or providing educational context, a safe approach has been to invite a local subject matter expert - academic, film critic or writer - to introduce or contextualize a film for the audience. In this session, we invite attendees to think outside the box and explore other potential guests and approaches - from engaging cultural figures such as authors, musicians, and activists as part of post-screening conversations, to enhancing screenings with conversation circles or performances and displays by local artists. This approach challenges the traditional notion of who gets to program, present and speak about cinema, allows for an alternative perspective on film history and creates space for active community engagement.
3:30 PM
National Audience Survey Results Presentation (Marketing)
Presented by Woody Smith of Avenue ISR, see the latest in arthouse audience trends.
3:30 PM
Media Training (Marketing)
Everything you need to know to say “I’m ready for my closeup.”
Awkward on camera? Don't know what to do with your hands? This workshop will share tips and tricks for better media appearances from how to stand to what to say. Put those tips to test by recording a soundbite about your organization at the end of the workshop that you can use for your organization and IND/EX will use to create a campaign for supporting your local film orgs.
3:45 PM
From Presentation to Participation (Programming)
Social movements as Art House Theaters
Festivals and art house cinema have long played a vital role in presenting and amplifying social movements through their programming. But what would it look like to move beyond representation and into active participation? This discussion brings together exhibitors, organizers, and cultural leaders to explore how cinemas can engage more directly with the issues they highlight on screen.
3:45 PM
Rental Programs 101 (Ops)
Rentals That Work: Maximizing Revenue Without Compromising Mission
Private rentals can be a powerful revenue stream for cinemas, but they also come with operational challenges, staffing considerations, and potential mission drift. This panel brings together exhibitors and events professionals to unpack what makes a successful rentals program. From birthday parties and corporate buyouts to community partnerships and alternative content, panelists will share strategies for pricing, staffing, sales pipelines, and guest experience. Learn how to build a rentals program that supports your bottom line while staying aligned with your cinema’s identity and audience.
3:45 PM
Breaking Up with Your Ex Machina (Fighting the AI Machine): Current Status of AI use in Filmmaking (Field Wide)
What is the state of AI in the film industry, why is it an issue, and what can we do about it?
AI is rapidly entering the cinematic landscape and reshaping the relationship between technology and film production. With new opportunities come real questions about cost, accuracy, ethics, and the risk of losing the human voice that defines great film. Panelists will explore how AI is already being used in the independent film space, how festivals and theaters can respond to it, and what it means for audiences.
3:45 PM
Which Should Lead: The Numbers or the Vision? (Ops)
It’s not your average “chicken and egg” question when it comes to org budgets and fundraising.
This session explores the dynamic relationship between budgeting and fundraising, and how each can (and should) inform the other. Panelists will share approaches to building budgets that are both ambitious and grounded, leveraging fundraising as a strategic tool rather than a reactive necessity.
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Opening Night Party sponsored by Filmbot
Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center
Join us as we welcome everyone to another year of IND/EX! The evening will feature music, desserts, drinks, and more!
OPENING NIGHT PARTY SPONSORED BY
Tuesday June 23, 2026
Tuesday Sponsored By:
Complimentary coffee service by North Village Coffee begins at 8AM on the first and second floor.
8:00AM - 5:00 PM
Registration & Badge Pick-Up
Agile Registration Hub, Venue SIX10
Stop by to pick up your badge and swag bag. Questions about the conference? We can answer them here.
9:00AM
Art House Tales presented by Eventive
9:45 AM
Reducing the Climate Footprint of Your Exhibition (Ops)
Practical steps for greener events.
Every year, festivals produce tons of waste. How can we reduce the excess and manage the environmental impact of our events? Festivals and cinemas generate significant waste each year, from single-use concessions to printed materials and event build-outs. How can we reduce our environmental impact without compromising the audience experience? This session explores practical, scalable strategies for minimizing waste, improving operations, and building more sustainable events
10:15 AM
Align, Plan, Execute: Development & Marketing That Works Together (Development, Marketing)
Development and marketing professionals explore how the two departments can - and should! - work together effectively. The discussion will cover both big-picture strategy, such as nonprofit identity and alignment, and practical tactics, including meeting structures, annual planning, and day-to-day collaboration. Panelists will also share ideas for making development efforts more engaging and effective through marketing, from creating cohesive fundraising appeals to integrating campaigns into marketing calendars and maximizing available communication channels.
10:15 AM
Vibe Check: Harnessing the Power of Gen-Z (Marketing, Programming)
Meet the Powerhouse Generation that will shape the moviegoing experience for the next decade.
In a recent report, Cinema United confirmed what many theatre owners and programmers already knew: Gen Z audiences love going to the movies, so much so that The Hollywood Reporter has anointed them “the primary customers at movie theaters!” Over the past year, Gen Z audiences have become the driving force behind many successful movies - from international arthouse hits like No Other Choice and Sirat to Academy Award contenders Marty Supreme and Sinners. Split into two parts, this session will provide insights from recent audience studies and research into the moviegoing habits of Gen Z audiences, followed by an interactive focus group with Gen Z members. What kind of incentives, programming and experiences can independent exhibitors offer this new powerhouse generation to engage them in a lasting way? We’ll go straight to the source!
10:15 AM
If You Build It (Programming, Education)
Community building through artist development programs.
This hands-on workshop will help attendees develop their grant proposals for funding artist development programming in the current social climate. In this workshop, you will engage with Program Officers of festivals, institutions and funders who work to support foundational programming for artists sustainability in an ever-shifting funding climate.
10:30 AM
Distributor Presentations
11:00 AM
The Ethics of Exhibition: What Do We Stand For? (Leadership, HR)
Join a collaborative effort to begin drafting a shared Code of Ethics for the field.
What do we stand for as exhibitors? From presentation integrity to labor, access, and community accountability, art house cinemas navigate complex ethical decisions without a shared framework. Inspired by the FIAPF Code of Ethics, this session begins a collaborative effort to articulate our field’s guiding principles and explore forming a working group to continue the work.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Lunch provided on the 9th floor.
11:45 AM
Grants 201 (Development, Ops)
You got the grant, what happens now?
The hard part is over–your application was successful and you got the grant! But the work is only just beginning. This session will help you learn about the various next steps, including tracking expenditures, making budget updates, collecting program feedback, and preparing reports. We’ll also cover ways to track your grant through its entire lifestyle, from application to final report so you never miss a deadline or double dip on funding.
1:00PM
Fireside Chat with Tabitha Jackson & Gina Duncan, sponsored by Watermelon Pictures
Two of independent film's most enduring forces come together for a candid conversation about the deeper “why” behind their work. Moving beyond programming strategy and operational how-tos, Tabitha Jackson and Gina Duncan explore what it means to transcend the role of presenters, and to view our work as connectors; what’s at stake when free expression and serendipitous human exchange are under threat; and how the field can build the trust and resilience needed to act collectively and collaboratively. This is a conversation about meaning, purpose, and the irreplaceable value of the physical space of cinema
1:00PM
Best Practices for Digital Print Traffic (Programming, Ops)
Goodbye film cans, hello file servers!
Goodbye film cans, hello file servers! In the digital age, staying organized in your print traffic workflow is more important than ever.
1:00PM
One Brand, Many Hands: Make the Most of Canva for Your Org’s Identity (Marketing)
A hands-on Canva workshop on brand identity hosted by Meghan Wolfe, the mind behind the IND/EX branding.
Your brand is one of your organization's most valuable assets, but when multiple people are creating content, it can quickly take on a life of its own. This session will break down what the elements of a strong visual identity look like in practice and why consistency is the difference between a brand that builds trust and one that creates confusion. You'll leave with practical strategies for setting up Canva as a brand management tool that empowers your whole team to create on-brand content without starting from scratch every time - or going rogue. Bring your laptop!
1:00PM
How Much Is Too Much? Rethinking SOPs for Front-Line Staff (Ops)
Guidelines that guide, not grind your team down.
This session explores how to create clear, consistent standards without overwhelming staff with excessive documentation. In fast-paced environments, overly complex manuals can hinder more than help. Participants will share practical approaches for identifying what truly needs to be standardized, where flexibility can empower teams, and how to communicate expectations in ways that are clear, usable, and effective in day-to-day operations.
2:00PM
Meet the Vendors
2:45PM
DIY Your DCP (Ops)
Learn tips on simplifying DCP creation.
DCP creation can be scary, but with open-source tools and a bit of know-how you can develop the skills to do it yourself. This session is hands-on, bring a laptop (PC or Mac) that you can install software on.
2:45PM
Film Critics + Independent Theaters/Festivals = Audience Growth (Marketing, Programming)
Why film critics + independent theatres and regional festivals are a match made in cinema heaven.
Local film critics and writers can be powerful advocates for independent theaters and regional film festivals. This session will explore how critics, theatres and festivals can support and benefit each other by championing cinema and building resilient and curious communities of film lovers. While traditional platforms for film criticism have undergone dramatic changes and fast-growing portals like Letterboxd have democratized the proliferation of hot takes on everything from the latest Hollywood blockbuster to Criterion Collection picks, there is still an audience out there for in-depth film writing and its underlying expertise. Theaters and festivals alike can tap into their audiences’ desire to learn by giving film writers a platform to flex their own programming chops and share their passion for film. After sharing their own perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of the current independent cinema and film festival landscape, our guest speakers will move into roundtable discussions with the theater and festival representatives in attendance to answer their questions.
2:45PM
The Art of Facilitation: Turning Conversations into Connection (Ops, Programming)
Engaging your audience in conversation - from Q&A to community connection.
It is a myth that all you need to do to facilitate group conversation is get people in a room together. Facilitation is an active process. Join Rebecca Fons from Barbican Centre as we learn to facilitate and stimulate group conversation.
3:00PM
Showcasing Youth Creators
The future of exhibition is bright.
What does engaging in and crafting youth programming actually look like? In this session, programmers, educators and festival organizers will share information on events and initiatives that teach young creators (focus on 15-24 year-olds) about filmmaking, encourage artistic expression in a playful way, or provide young creators with a platform to share their films with a local audience. Representatives from the organizations will briefly introduce their initiatives before moving into roundtables and answering questions from fellow attendees.
3:00PM
You May Find Yourself Working in Film Exhibition (Field Wide)
And you may ask yourself, “well, how did I get here?”
Many cinephiles out there have no idea that there are viable film careers outside film production – how do we educate the public about the paths they can pursue? This workshop will explore different careers in film exhibition and brainstorm how we leverage certain networks (film schools and clubs, theatre memberships, local high schools and afterschool programs, etc.) to encourage people to think of them as serious career options. Perfect for anyone exploring their career options or exhibitors who want to cultivate a professional development workshop in their own backyard.
3:00 PM
What the F…undraiser! Thinking Beyond the Gala (Development, Ops)
Think outside the box for a fundraising event that is profitable, fun, and suits your community!
This interactive breakout session explores how to design exciting fundraising events - large or small - without relying on A-list honorees or traditional formats to drive revenue. Speakers will share creative examples of unconventional events they’ve produced, offering insights into what worked, what didn’t, and how those ideas can be adapted for different organizations and budgets. Participants will explore how shifting away from a single flagship gala toward a more diversified, community-centered events strategy can increase engagement, attract sponsors and members, and strengthen long-term sustainability. Through facilitated discussion and small-group breakouts, attendees will generate and share their own ideas, with opportunities to “steal this ideal” and remix concepts for their unique audiences.Whether you’re looking to reinvent your signature event or experiment with new formats, this session will equip you with practical strategies—and fresh inspiration—to think beyond the gala.
7PM
Screening of SORRY TO BOTHER YOU followed by Q&A with Writer-Director Boots Riley, followed by late night after party. Evening sponsored by Agile Ticketing.
Hosted at Music Box Theatre (3733 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613)Complimentary coffee service by North Village Coffee begins at 8AM on the first and second floor.
WEDNESday June 24,2026
wednesday Sponsored By:
Complimentary coffee service by North Village Coffee begins at 8AM on the first and second floor.
8:00AM - 5:00 PM
Conference Help Desk
Agile Registration Hub, Venue SIX10
Questions about the conference? We can answer them here.
9:00 AM
Art House Tales presented by Eventive
10:15 AM
Making Membership Mutually Beneficial (Development, Marketing)
Gain fresh ideas on membership and benefits.
This workshop is focused around compiling membership benefits that are exciting and feel "worth it" to audiences, without breaking the bank or putting too much work on staff. Workshop leaders will share some successes, and then participants will work on developing ideas that can work at their organization. We will cover the complexities of ticket discounts/free tickets, ideas for community-building events, how to market membership programs, and other creative perks.
10:15 AM
Small Gauge, Big Ideas: Programming and Projecting 16mm Film (Ops)
Art houses have learned that there's a sizable audience for 35mm and 70mm presentations, but what about 16mm?
Art houses have learned that there's a sizable audience for 35mm and 70mm presentations, but what about 16mm? Equally beloved by avant-garde filmmakers and social studies teachers, 16mm is the native exhibition format for countless outstanding works of animation, documentary, educational, amateur, and experimental cinema, many of which are not available any other way. Whether you're from a microcinema or a museum, a commercial house or a non-profit, 16mm is within reach and offers a great opportunity to connect your organization with local artists, archivists, and collectors. Members of Chicago Film Society will offer practical lessons about programming and projecting 16mm film, including sourcing prints, assuring the best possible presentation, and making the projector apparatus tangible to audiences.
10:15 AM
Daytime Done Right: Programming for Older Audiences (Education, Programming)
Learning Never Retires - Lifelong Learning at the Movies
Programming for older adults can be an effective and rewarding way for theaters to fill daytime slots, expand their audience and create space for communal learning experiences. But what should you consider before adding new initiatives for older adult audiences or expanding existing ones at your venue? In this session, programmers and educators will share tips and best practices to keep in mind before you jump into action. In collaboration with our guest speakers, attendees will review and discuss a list of key considerations, including best practices for accessibility, facilitation and event formats, as well as audience communication, promotion and marketing approaches. The goal is for attendees to take away the learnings from this session and apply them to daytime programming at their own organization, where possible!
10:15 AM
Lifting All Boats: Paths of Interfestival Collaboration (Development, Programming)
How can festivals rise the tide towards an improved festival landscape?
A panel focused on how regional film festival coalitions can improve audience development and advocate for increased festival funding that supports everyone instead of a few. Using the Colorado Film & TV Festival Coalition and the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals as case studies, attendees will have opportunities to learn ways to start regional festival alliances of their own and the benefits of doing so. The panel will include a presentation of Colorado’s new Tax Incentive for Film Festivals (the first of its kind in the nation) from the Colorado Film Commissioner, Lauren Sloan.
10:15 AM
More Than Movies: Building a Cinema Universe (Programming, Marketing)
From video stores, to zines, to themed cafes: how bold add-ons expand your brand, your audience, and your revenue without losing your core.
Some cinemas stop at exhibition. Others build worlds around it. This panel brings together organizations that have launched substantial add-ons - video rentals, zines, podcasts, expanded food and bar concepts, even film distribution. Panelists will share how they chose what to pursue, how they structured and staffed these ventures, and what surprised them in the process.
10:30 AM
Distributor Presentations
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Lunch provided on the 9th floor.
12:15 PM
For a Consciousness-Raising Cinema: The Ecology of Enrichment (Programming, Marketing)
Going Beyond Transactional Relationships
How do art house cinemas and film festivals move beyond the cold, transactional nature of commercial entertainment to create an enriching environment conducive to community building, education, and audience engagement? In this panel, we bring together marketing, programming, and operations to explore how to answer this question. Focusing on a holistic model of “enrichment,” rather top-down “education” models, the panel will discuss the difference between the two models, ways to enhance current programs and new initiatives, ideas to use audience feedback and participation to shape, and why creating enriching cinematic experiences is necessary to sustainability.
1:00PM
What’s in the Box?! A Problem-Solving Playground (Ops)
Unexpected tools. Real challenges. Fast, inventive solutions
What happens when real-world cinema challenges collide with a box of unexpected objects? In this interactive workshop, small groups will open a surprise kit containing a unique scenario drawn from art house life — operations, audience dynamics, concessions, staffing, and more — along with a mix of seemingly unrelated items. Using only what’s inside the box and their collective creativity, each group will develop a fast, workable response to their challenge. Playful in format but grounded in practice, this session invites imaginative thinking that can translate into fresh, real-world ideas.
1:15PM
Think Fast, Lead Smart: Real-Time Management Solutions (Leadership, Ops)
Leave equipped with the tools to be a better leader and foster an open, productive, and fun workplace.
This session will focus on management and leadership at all levels so you can be confident in your abilities. Speakers from the worlds of both film exhibition and HR will answer your questions and address issues you’ve faced, giving advice on how to handle situations that may arise at your organization. We’ll explore immediate responses and follow-up actions, dealing with culture issues and systemic problems, how to handle complicated questions, following labor laws, and more. You’ll come away equipped with the tools to be a better leader and foster an open, productive, and, especially, fun workplace.
2:00PM
Meet the Distributors
2:45 PM
Frame by Frame - Envisioning Your Future Success (Leadership, Ops)
A vision board workshop.
Communicating your goals in a clear and concise way is an important skill in everyday life, even more so if you lead a team or organization. But how do you organize your thoughts and ideas into a coherent narrative that reflects your personal and your organization’s values? Join us for a facilitated, hands on workshop to create a visualization of future goals whether they are personal or professional, individual or organizational.
2:45 PM
Word-of-Mouth & Guerrilla Marketing in the Hyper-Digital Age (Marketing, Programming)
The Internet is officially dead.
The Internet is officially dead. Or maybe better put, a zombie, where an overwhelming number of bots, AI generated content, and other automated netizens now outnumber human content creation and activity online. The shifting environment of the most important telecommunications and marketing tech opens up new-old opportunities for independent and arthouse cinemas to reach audiences in a much more authentic, community-based way through word-of-mouth and on-the-ground guerrilla marketing tactics. This panel of marketing professionals, programmers, and artists will discuss the current state of the web and how to engage audiences in a meaningful way offline.
2:45 PM
Accessibility Flash Sessions
Practical tools for sustainable accessibility practices.
You’ve started your accessibility journey - now it’s time to make it a permanent part of your operations. This session features three 20-minute "flash presentations" designed to give you frameworks for long-term sustainability. Learn how to bridge the gap between intent and execution through three critical lenses: streamlining your workflow with access providers, transforming Alt-Text into a creative asset, and formalizing companion ticket policies. Leave with a toolkit of practical strategies you can "steal" and implement at your organization immediately.
3PM
Welcomed In: A Hospitality Conversation (Ops)
Hospitality isn’t an extra layer. It is the work.
Hospitality matters — but what does it actually look like in practice? Inspired in part by Unreasonable Hospitality and rooted in lived art house experience, this workshop explores how hospitality moves from philosophy to daily action. We’ll start with a brief framing of the big ideas, then turn to the moments we all recognize — a guest who’s confused, disappointed, or simply not having the experience they expected, and a staff member doing their best to respond in real time. These moments can be small and easy to move past, but they often shape how someone remembers your theater. Whether you’re in that interaction or supporting a team that is, the question becomes: what do we do with that moment? Through simple, thoughtfully structured activities and real examples, we’ll look at what helps, what gets in the way, and how to approach these interactions with more clarity and confidence. Hospitality isn’t an extra layer on top of the work — it is the work, and this session offers practical ways to carry it into daily practice.
3:15 PM
When the Internet Comes for You: Navigating Programming Backlash in a Hyper-Online World (Leadership, Programming, Marketing)
From social media storms to national attention, how cinemas respond when programming becomes controversy.
In a hyper-connected world, a single programming decision can spark backlash far beyond your local audience. This panel examines how cinemas and festivals can prepare for and navigate social media storms, national and international amplification, and the lasting local impact that can follow. Panelists will discuss best practices for preparation, decision-making under pressure, public and internal messaging, stakeholder communication, staff safety and well-being, comment moderation, and what they learned about holding firm, clarifying, or course-correcting when controversy goes viral.
3:30PM
Surpassing Spreadsheets (Ops)
Utilizing database software to streamline operations, increase communication, and work smarter, not harder.
“I thought you took care of that?” “When did we add a Q&A?” “Did we already get the marketing materials for that film?” These sorts of problems are the result of a lack of communication. In our collaborative industry, it’s important to have tools that enable working together. Come learn from members of small, medium, and large teams how they use database software to streamline operations and increase cross-department communication. Then, share out what has worked for your organization!
THURSday June 25,2025
Thursday Sponsored By:
Complimentary coffee service by North Village Coffee begins at 8AM on the first and second floor.
8:00AM - 5:00 PM
Conference Help Desk
Agile Registration Hub, Venue SIX10
Stop by to pick up your badge and swag bag. Questions about the conference? We can answer them here.
9:00 AM
Art House Convergence Town Hall
Reframing the Moviegoing Experience Through a Trauma-Informed Lens (Programming, Ops)
Trauma Informed Programming & Presentation
As conversations around accessibility and audience care continue to evolve, what can the film industry learn from the health and human services fields about becoming more trauma-informed? This session explores how principles rooted in empathy, safety, and awareness can be applied to cinema programming and the overall moviegoing experience.
9:00 AM
Curtains Up! Building a Tech-Friendly Pre-Show (Marketing, Ops)
How to build a tech-friendly pre-show all the way from idea to delivery.
You work so hard on your pre-show ads, slides, and trailers, and yet they still come out blurry and distorted! Come learn from a theater tech how to build a tech-friendly pre-show all the way from idea to delivery.
9:00 AM
Accessibility Flash Sessions (Ops)
Practical tools for sustainable accessibility practices.
You’ve started your accessibility journey - now it’s time to make it a permanent part of your operations. This session features three 20-minute "flash presentations" designed to give you frameworks for long-term sustainability. Learn how to bridge the gap between intent and execution through three critical lenses: streamlining your workflow with access providers, transforming Alt-Text into a creative asset, and formalizing companion ticket policies. Leave with a toolkit of practical strategies you can "steal" and implement at your organization immediately.
9:15 AM
Beyond the Theater: Pop-Up Cinema and Non-Traditional Spaces (Ops)
Where movies meet new spaces.
Cinema doesn’t have to live within four walls. From rooftop screenings and park series to storefront pop-ups and mobile projection, non-traditional exhibitions are expanding how and where audiences experience film. This panel brings together innovators working outside (and alongside) traditional venues to explore the creative, logistical, and financial realities of pop-up cinema. Panelists will share insights on site selection, permitting, technical setups, audience development, and partnerships, as well as how these models can serve as testing grounds for new markets or extensions of existing theaters. Whether you’re looking to activate underutilized spaces or take your programming on the road, this conversation will offer practical strategies and fresh inspiration.
10:45 AM
Film Festival Alliance Townhall
10:45 AM
Back to the Heart of Cinema (Ops)
Why film still matters to us.
After days of conversations about strategy, logistics, sustainability, and the many moving parts of exhibition, this session offers a chance to pause and remember what brought us here in the first place. Why does film still matter to you? Attendees are invited to bring a brief written reflection (maximum 75 words) responding to the prompt “Why film matters to me…” and those who wish can share their words aloud in a relaxed, communal setting. Together, we’ll revisit the films that moved us and the shared love of cinema that continues to inspire the work — a collective exhale before we head back out into it.
10:45 AM
UX? U What?! (Marketing)
Better websites. Full theatres.
UX impacts you and your cinema everyday. Learn what it is, why it matters, and how it can work for you. UX (short for user experience) is how people experience your website and how well (or not) it works for them. What is a person’s visit to your website like? Can they find the information they need? How easy is it to locate showtimes and purchase a ticket? Join or renew membership? Find a phone number, address, or hours of operations? And critically, is your website blocking people from coming to your cinema? This workshop will show you how to approximate the customer experience on your website, what works, what doesn’t, and how to maximize the conversion between website visits and butts in seats. Bring your laptop and a smart phone and prepare to bare your web-soul in a peer review.
11:00AM
Where FOMO Meets Film (Programming, Marketing)
Memorable audience engagement in the Letterboxd era.
Attention is hard to earn, and easier to lose. This panel explores how cinemas and festivals can cut through the noise, energize their audiences, and become the hottest spots in town. In this session, hear many small or large ways you can build and retain your viewers through memorable branding, activated screenings, and audience engagement. Expect fresh ideas, candid insights, and actionable strategies to help you create experiences people can’t wait to be a part of.