FILMFEST HAMBURG Industry Days is expanding its international network with a new partnership between the International Film Distribution Summit and the Marché du Film in Cannes. The cooperation strengthens Hamburg’s position as an increasingly important meeting point for film professionals from Germany, Europe and the wider international industry.
The cooperation makes the Marché du Film an official partner of the International Film Distribution Summit 2026, which will take place in Hamburg from September 29 to October 1. This year’s FILMFEST HAMBURG Industry Days will run from September 28 to October 1.
For Hamburg, the partnership is a meaningful step. It connects the city’s industry program with one of the world’s most important film market platforms and gives the local sector a stronger place within the wider international conversation around film distribution.
Distribution sits at the center of the collaboration. As part of the partnership, the Marché du Film will support the Best International Innovation Distribution Award, which honors outstanding achievements in international film distribution.
The cooperation will also open new doors for emerging professionals. Selected participants from Cannes Makers, the Marché du Film’s talent program for young industry professionals, will be invited to attend both IFDS and European Work in Progress in Hamburg.
Since joining FILMFEST HAMBURG Industry Days in 2025, IFDS has become a platform for discussing current developments, challenges and innovation in international film distribution. Its presence within the Hamburg program gives professionals a focused space to address how the sector is changing and where new opportunities may emerge.
The new partnership also builds on FILMFEST HAMBURG’s existing relationship with Cannes through the #ATELIER talent program. Together with formats such as European Work in Progress, Made in Germany and Explorer Konferenz, it adds another layer to an industry program designed for exchange, networking and new collaborations.
By bringing the Marché du Film into the IFDS framework, FILMFEST HAMBURG Industry Days reaffirms Hamburg’s international role. The city is positioning itself not only as a festival destination, but as a serious industry meeting point for distribution, talent development and cross-border collaboration.
