For the first time ever, Barcelona’s International Convention Centre (CCIB) will host the event that has been held in Amsterdam for the past 14 years.
Barcelona’s International Convention Centre (CCIB) will host the next edition of CineEurope 2012, the most important film industry event in Europe and among the top four in the world. More than 2,500 professionals from 50 countries are expected to attend the convention, scheduled to be held from 18-21 June.
CineEurope is the official convention of the Union Intérnationale des Cinémas / International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the largest and oldest European tradeshow dedicated to cinemas. UNIC represents cinema associations and exhibitors from 19 European countries, with 28,000 cinema screens and 800 million tickets sold each year.
The event is organised and managed by the Film Expo Group of Prometheus Global Media, owner of leading publications in the entertainment and events sector such as Billboard magazine, los Billboard Latin Music Awards, The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, Adweek, Film Journal International, the Clio Awards, CineAsia and ShowEast.
As in previous years, the convention will showcase exclusive screenings of films that have not yet been released, will present the most innovative projects in the industry, and will offer talks and presentations by professionals from large companies, including 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, and Universal Pictures.
At this 20th edition, various internationally-recognised awards will be presented, such as "International Distributors of the Year", which will be picked up by Paul Higginson, executive vice-president, Theatrical, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Todd Huntley, senior vice-president, Theatrical, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Catalans Jaime Tarrazon Rodon, chairman of ACEC Cines, and Camilo Tarrazon Rodon, chairman of the Union of Cinema Businesses of Catalonia, will collect the "International Exhibitors of the Year" award.
The CCIB takes the baton from the RAI in Amsterdam, where CineEurope has been held for the past 14 years, making it the official headquarters for the event from now until 2014. This change in venue, which was mainly down to the CCIB excellent facilities, came about through an agreement between the Catalan Government’s Department of Culture, Barcelona City Council, Prometheus Global Media (organiser of the tradeshow), and the International Union of Cinemas.
Barcelona’s International Convention Centre is considered one of the world’s best convention centres, and has won the bronze for Best International Convention Centre at the Meetings & Incentive Travel Industry Awards in 2011.
As well as converting the Catalan capital into a reference for the film industry and a growing meeting point for business tourism, CineEurope will also have a significant economic impact on the city: the event is expected to result in around 8,000 overnight stays in four- and five-star hotels in Barcelona.
