News

The Prize was handed over to Kristof Jonckheere, Exhibitor of Budascoop, during the Europa Cinemas Exhibitors Meeting at the Cannes Film Festival. The Prize consists of an award of €10,000, and a commitment from the winner to use the money to invest further in the cinema’s innovation policy.

The winner was chosen by a Jury of four film experts: Christian Thomas (CEO, Distributor, Imagine Films, Belgium); Boglarka Nagy (Executive Director CICAE, Romania/Europe); Laura Houlgatte (CEO of UNIC, Belgium/Europe) and Jean-Marc Lalo (Architect, Atelier Architecture Lalo, France).

Declaration of the jury:

“The Jury unanimously decided to award the 2019 Innovation Prize to the Belgian cinema ‘Budascoop’ located in the city center of Kortrijk. Founded in 2006, this three screen art-house theatre part of BUDA Arts Centre is managed by Kristof Jonckheere. He set three core goals for this venue: the inclusion, diversification and participation of audiences and in particular young people. These are major commitments for the city of Kortrijk where some 20% of inhabitants live in precarious conditions.

By means of a general and inclusive approach which brings together these three focuses, Budascoop developed in 2018 a series of actions (CinéMOATn, Film Camp, ROOTS, Furniture for Kids et UITpass) for young newcomers and youngsters in socially vulnerable positions. This specific target group got the opportunity to attend creative workshops along with other young people from various backgrounds. Mentored by professionals, they get involved in the cinema life by choosing and promoting films and organizing events. Budascoop also managed to reinvent its environment to make it welcoming and comfortable for the young visitors and it offers a reduced fee system for all moviegoers. Thanks to these targeted actions, the cinema has increased by 50% over a year its Young Audience numbers.

In awarding this Prize, we want to highlight how network cinemas aspire to become inclusive venues offering accessibility solutions for everyone through local and inspiring initiatives easily and realistically applicable to other venues.”

Press Release

The Innovation Prize is awarded in the context of Europa Cinemas’ overarching objectives to:

- Support the circulation of European films, especially beyond their national borders

- Develop a network of cinemas that can set up joint activities at a national and European level

- Support initiatives aimed at attracting Young Audiences

- Encourage innovation in the promotion of films and communication with the audiences

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