UNIC joins the Boxoffice All Ireland Summit in Dublin

Held at Dublin’s iconic Stella Cinema, the well-attended event brought together perspectives from the Irish, European and global cinema markets, alongside sessions exploring some of the key trends and opportunities shaping the industry.

The morning opened with a global overview from Daniel Loria, Boxoffice Pro, followed by a European perspective from UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte, who presented the latest trends and developments across UNIC territories and considered how Ireland compares with other European cinema markets.

Cassandra Joyce of Pearl & Dean then provided a closer look at the Irish market, before the programme turned to a range of issues affecting the sector, including the growing role of AI and GEO, explored by Jenny McCafferty of Boost by Boxoffice and a focus on piracy, addressed by Martin O’Grady of The Walt Disney Company. 

The morning concluded with the panel “Building on Momentum: What’s Next for Irish Cinema?”, bringing together Mark Anderson (Omniplex), Laura Houlgatte (UNIC), Martin O’Grady (The Walt Disney Company), Daniel Barrett (Eclipse Cinemas) and Lucy Jones (Rentrak), moderated by Richie Power of Showtime Analytics.

The discussion explored how the Irish sector can build on its current momentum and continue strengthening cinema-going in the years ahead. The conversation touched on the importance of a strong and diverse film slate, local content, audience development and continued investment in the cinema experience, as well as the opportunities created by close collaboration across the industry.

Following lunch, delegates returned to the auditorium for an extensive trailer showcase, hosted by Laureen Philippe of Boxoffice, offering a look ahead at some of the titles set to reach Irish cinema screens over the coming months. The Summit concluded with networking drinks, providing a further opportunity for colleagues from across the sector to exchange views and continue the day’s discussions.