{"id":204443,"date":"2025-01-15T21:41:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T20:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/?page_id=204443"},"modified":"2026-01-28T15:09:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T14:09:59","slug":"pro-encounters-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/iffr-pro\/pro-hub\/pro-hub-2026\/pro-encounters-2026","title":{"rendered":"Pro Encounters 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-intro-font-size\">The Pro Encounters are casual networking round tables designed to help filmmakers in the IFFR selection connect with industry experts and key festival programmers. These constructive sessions offer a great chance to expand your network, share ideas, and discuss any questions or challenges with experienced professionals in a relaxed and supportive setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1296\" height=\"729\" src=\"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/365ed701-6155-42d1-bd2f-3ebd6c3acef9-1296x729-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-221901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/365ed701-6155-42d1-bd2f-3ebd6c3acef9-1296x729-1.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768474720 1296w, https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/365ed701-6155-42d1-bd2f-3ebd6c3acef9-1296x729-1-288x162.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768474720 288w, https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/365ed701-6155-42d1-bd2f-3ebd6c3acef9-1296x729-1-432x243.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768474720 432w, https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/365ed701-6155-42d1-bd2f-3ebd6c3acef9-1296x729-1-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768474720 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1296px) 100vw, 1296px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Film still: <strong>Between Arms<\/strong> by Rob Nevis, IFFR 2026 \u2013 Cinema Regained<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>All the Encounters take place in the Pro Hub, 4th floor, \u2018de Doelen\u2019. <\/strong>Please sign up via the form below.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pro Encounter with the Hubert Bals Fund<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These special sessions will be hosted by the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), the industry fund of IFFR dedicated to supporting groundbreaking filmmakers from regions where film infrastructure is lacking or restrictive. Come and meet the HBF representatives in person to ask and exchange on the current opportunities to be supported. Open to all industry guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/iffr\/2026\/events\/pro-encounter-with-the-hubert-bals-fund-session-1\">Saturday 31 Jan, 12.00 \u2013 13.00<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/iffr\/2026\/events\/pro-encounter-with-the-hubert-bals-fund-session-1\">Wednesday 4 Feb, 12.00 \u2013 13.00<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pro Encounter with Festival Programmers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During informal sessions, attending filmmakers will receive priceless insights from programmers from a broad range of film festivals, sharing their expertise on the selection process, the do\u2019s and don&#8217;ts of festival relations and more much sought-after information. It&#8217;s also a great chance to get to know the programmers in person, and gain invaluable connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/iffr\/2026\/events\/pro-encounter-with-short-film-programmers\"><strong>Short<\/strong> film programmers: Saturday 31 Jan, 10.00 \u2013 11.30<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moderated by<strong> Loes van Keulen<\/strong> (IFFR &#8211; shorts selection committee) and <strong>Hayet Benkara<\/strong><br><strong>Edith van der Heijde<\/strong>, <em>EYE Filmmuseum<\/em><br><strong>Carlos Ramos<\/strong>,<em> IndieLisboa<\/em><br><strong>Silvia Carobbio<\/strong>, <em>Pordenone Docs Fest\/Cinemazero,<\/em><br><strong>Nuno Rodrigues<\/strong>,<em> Curtas Vila do Conde &#8211; Festival Internacional de Cinema,<\/em><br><strong>Kay Wee Thong<\/strong>,<em> Singapore International Film Festival<\/em><br><strong>\u00c9milie Poirier<\/strong>, <em>Festival du Nouveau Cin\u00e9ma Montreal<\/em><br>J<strong>essica Macor,<\/strong> <em>Festival du Cin\u00e9ma de Brive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/iffr\/2026\/events\/pro-encounter-with-feature-film-programmers\"><strong>Feature<\/strong> film programmers: Sunday 1 Feb, 10.00 \u2013 11.30<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moderated by <strong>Hayet Benkara<\/strong> and <strong>Wouter Jansen<\/strong> (sales agent, Square Eyes)<br><strong>Daniela Persico<\/strong>,<em> Locarno Film Festival<\/em><br><strong>Paolo Bertolin<\/strong><em> Venice International Film Festival &#8211; La Biennale di Venezia<\/em><br><strong>Pony Ma<\/strong>, TaipeiFilm Festival<br><strong>Kate Taylor<\/strong>, independent film programmer, and programme advisor for Berlinale.<br><strong>Sarah Hoch<\/strong> Guanajuato Film Festival<br><strong>Zo\u00e9 Protat <\/strong>Festival du Nouveau Cin\u00e9ma Montr\u00e9al<br><strong>Renata Santoro<\/strong>, <em>Giornate degli Autori<\/em><br><strong>Sam Flancher<\/strong>, Chicago Film Festival<br><strong>Mark Adams<\/strong>, Mediterranean Film Festival<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pro Encounter with ACE Producers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>An informative session with a representative from ACE Producers<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Monday 2 February 2, 12.00 \u2013 13.00<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Strengthening independent producers, ACE Producers uses the power of the ACE Network\u2019s collective knowledge to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities in an ever-changing industry. ACE Producers enables profound collaborations through honest dialogue in the safe trusted space of the ACE Network and fosters valuable exchange of high-level knowledge about the independent audio-visual industry in Europe and beyond. It provides a top-quality executive education in European creative producing and entrepreneurialism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/block-buttons\" class=\"align\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:text-xl font-heading\">Sign-up form<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<ul class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 md:gap-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n<a\n\tclass=\"group btn btn-primary  \"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdRl6XC_C_hYWOH2Fzjit9to-c55xHchxPJ1B75hQg3dO4yxA\/viewform?usp=publish-editor\"\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\n\t\t\t<span data-button-text>\n\t\t\tBook your spot\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Opent in een nieuw venster<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"transition-transform duration-300 group-hover:rotate-45 group-focus-visible:rotate-45 flex items-center justify-center w-[1em] h-[1em] icon group-expanded:hidden\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14.667 2.386v9.122a1.053 1.053 0 0 1-2.105 0V4.93l-9.43 9.428a1.054 1.054 0 1 1-1.49-1.491l9.429-9.429H4.493a1.052 1.052 0 0 1 0-2.105h9.121a1.053 1.053 0 0 1 1.053 1.053Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pro Encounters are casual networking round tables designed to help filmmakers in the IFFR selection connect with industry experts and key festival programmers. These constructive sessions offer a great chance to expand your network, share ideas, and discuss any questions or challenges with experienced professionals in a relaxed and supportive setting. All the Encounters [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":204514,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-204443","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pro Encounters 2026 - IFFR EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Pro Encounters are casual networking round tables designed to help filmmakers connect with industry experts and key festival programmers.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/iffr-pro\/pro-hub\/pro-hub-2026\/pro-encounters-2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pro Encounters 2026 - 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