IndustryMentoring scheme
The UNIC Women’s Cinema Leadership programme is a 12-month cross-sector, pan-European mentoring scheme for women in cinema exhibition. The programme is rooted in the belief that gender-balanced leadership in cinema exhibition is imperative for business success, better governance and more equity in the industry.
Our key long-term objective is to broaden and deepen the talent pool for leadership in our sector and promote a culture of change within the industry that values growth and equal opportunities.
The initial pilot was launched at CineEurope 2017 to provide ‘up and coming’ female cinema professionals with the unique opportunity to receive one-to-one career advice and guidance from a female senior industry executive recognised for her leadership and business success across the wider cinema landscape. The pilot was warmly welcomed by the industry and is now successfully rolling. Additional information on the programme is available here.
The UNIC Women's Cinema Leadership Programme was awarded the FECE 2023 Award in the category of SPECIAL MENTION TO INITIATIVE.
As joint sponsorship partners, Vista Group, IMAX Corporation and Barco are supporting UNIC’s mission to achieve a more diverse and inclusive cinema industry.
Please find below the full list of mentors and mentees that have taken part in the scheme
Edna Epelbaum
CEO of Cinevital, Cinepel, Cinemont, Quinnie; President of the Swiss Cinema Operators' Association; Vice-President of UNIC
Montse Gil
Vice-President General Manager of Paramount Pictures, Spain
Veronica Lindholm
Managing Director of Finnkino
Corinne Thibaut
International Director, Cinema & Leisure at Coca-Cola
Dee Vassili
Executive Director, Group HR at Vue International
Sarah Lewthwaite
Managing Director, Senior Vice President EMEA Region at Movio
Edna Epelbaum
CEO of Cinevital, Cinepel, Cinemont, Quinnie; President of the Swiss Cinema Operators' Association; Vice-President of UNIC
Susanna Hermida Barbato
Executive Board Member at NOS Audiovisuais
Elisabeth Halvorsen
Chief Executive Officer of Bergen Kino
Clare Binns
Joint Managing Director at Picturehouse Cinemas & Picturehouse Entertainment
Mariam El Bacha
Chief Executive Officer of Cinepax Cinemas
Sarah Lewthwaite
Managing Director, Senior Vice President EMEA Region at Movio
Daniella Koot
Director Theatre Programming at Pathé Netherlands
Sofie Braet
COO of Cinionic
Nathalie Cieutat
Director of Programming at Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont
Helena Eklund
CMO, Marketing at Filmstaden
Cathy Huis in 't veld-Esser
CTO/Co-Owner of Gofilex
Petra Rockenfeller
Manager at Lichtburg Filmpalast
Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen
Chief Executive Officer of Novo Cinemas
Olga Zinyakova
President, KARO Cinema Chain
Eva Maria Valles Novel
HR Director, Spain & Portugal at Cinesa
Nathalie Cieutat
Director of Programming, Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont
Anne Fitzgerald
Chief Legal Officer and EVP, Real Estate, Cineplex
Norma Garcia-Muro
Head of Industry and Cinema Marketing at THX
Kate Gerova
Marketing & Brand Director, Curzon
Jadranka Islamovic
CEO and Member of the Board, Blitz-CineStar
Grainne Peat
Managing Director, Event Cinema Association
Kaisa Rakemaa
Head of Sales, B2B at Finnkino
Géke Roelink
Managing Director of Filmhuis Den Haag
Bettina Schmidt
COO, KITAG CINEMAS
Greta Bisetto-Donelan
Global Director of Content Distribution, GENERATION MEDIA
Nuria Bronfman
Executive Director, Movie Theatre Association of Canada
Seneit Debese
Founder & CEO, Greta & Starks
Kassandra Dommisse-Reebergen
Country Manager Operations, Kinepolis The Netherlands
Daniela Elstner
Executive Director, UniFrance Film International
Yit-Ching Lee
Vice President EMEA, Paramount Pictures
Hannele Marjavaara
Cinema Manager, Kino Tapiola, Espoo, Finland
Norma Garcia-Muro
VP, Marketing, Kaleidescape
Zvjezdana Pavić
Director of Finance and Accounting, Blitz-CineStar
Bettina Schmidt
Head of Operations Cinema, blue Entertainment, Switzerland
Inés Trementino
Operations Director, Cinépolis Argentina
Claire Beswick
Founder & Director, Living Room Cinema, UK
Yuki Fonteyne
Sales Manager Benelux & Nordics, Cinionic, Belgium
Lucy Jones
Executive Director, Comscore Movies, UK
Jannicke Haugen
CEO, Nordisk Film Kino, Norway
Suzanna Holmqvist
CMO, Svenska Bio, Sweden
Magdalena Lewicka
Management Board Member/Finance Director, Multikino, Poland
Maddy Probst
Managing Producer, Watershed, UK
Eva Rekettyei
Programming Director, Yelmo Cines, Spain
Mette Schram
CEO, Empire Bio,Manager, Reprise Teatret
CEO and Owner, Reel Pictures, Denmark
Donna Tsvetkova
SVP of Commercial and Ecommerce, Cineworld Group, UK
Kezia Williams
Managing Director, eOne Film, UK
Tanya Easterman
Founder, Daiku, UK
Patricia Edeline
Chief Operating Officer & Booking Manager, Sociedad Cinematográfica de Centros Comerciales, Spain
Christine Eloy
Managing Director, Europa Distribution, Belgium
Elisabetta Hoch
Regional Operations Manager, UCI Cinemas (Odeon Cinemas Group), Italy
Marilyn Iacovissi
Operational & Commercial Director, The Boxoffice Company, France
Marta Kowalska
Studio and Integrated Marketing, Director Spain and Portugal, The Walt Disney Studios, Spain
Helen Moss
SVP International Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, USA
Renate Scheliga
General Manager, Maccs & Numero, Vista Group, Germany & Austria
Jenny Sidorova
Head of Marketing, DX, Norway
Alina Sigaro
VP EMEA Distribution, Universal Pictures International, UK
Delfine Van Boxlaer
Director of Talent and People, Cinionic, Belgium
Kristina Warner
VP Global Content Acquisition, D-BOX Technologies, Canada
Marie-Laure Barrau
General Manager Northern Europe, Deluxe Cinema, France/Belgium
Claire Beswick
Founder & CEO, The Living Room Cinema, United Kingdom
Alexandra Body
Marketing & Communications Director, CinemaNext, France
Tania Cinquino
Senior Marketing Manager, Exhibition Brand and Experiences, Cineplex, Canada
Natasha Fernandes
Chief Financial Officer, IMAX Corporation, Canada
Sara Frain
Director of Marketing and Distribution, Picturehouse Cinemas, United Kingdom
Kate Gerova
Co-founder / Creative Director, Mustard Studio, United Kingdom
Shona Gold
Executive Director of Brand, Marketing & PR, Vue, United Kingdom
Finola McLoughlin
Executive Director, EMEA Theatrical Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures Group, United Kingdom
Anne-Cécile Mulin
Director, Commercial Strategy, Universal Pictures International, United Kingdom
Anny Schmit
Managing Director, Sony Pictures Releasing, Belgium
Michelle Stevens
Commercial Director, Powster, United Kingdom
Béatrice Tourvieille
Deputy CEO, Marketing & Digital, Pathé Cinémas Services, France
Miek Vanden Broeck
Head of Supply Chain & Business Health, Barco Cinema, Belgium
Clarissa Bergh
Managing Director, Lillehammer Kino, Norway
Grainne Clarke
Head of Corporate Sales & Partnerships, Cineworld Cinemas, UK
Mariam El Bacha
Independent Cinema Expert EMEA, Denmark
Beatrice Flammini
Senior Vice President Government and Regulatory Affairs, NBCUniversal, Belgium
Laura Fumagalli
Head of Marketing and Events, ARCADIA Cinema, Italy
Sabine Goldie-Auger
Retail Director, Pathé Cinémas, France
Ruth Hinton
Group Head of Customer Experience and Insights, Vue, UK
Mary Kouinoglou
Senior Vice President, Theatrical, EMEA Licensees, Sony Pictures, UK
Anna Marsh
CEO, StudioCanal, France
Finola McLoughlin
Executive Director, EMEA Theatrical Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures Group, UK
Katarina Nyman
Country Manager & Director of Film Distribution, Nordisk Film, Finland
Anna Paprocka
Head of Programming, Regent Street Cinema, UK
Mette Schramm
Cinema Manager / CEO / Owner, Reprise Teatret, Empire Bio & Reel Pictures, Denmark
Suzie Welch
Director UKI & Group Chief People Officer, Odeon Cinemas Group, UK
Georgina Broadhurst
Head of Corporate Sales & Advertising at Vue International
Maria Galvez
Head of HR at Yelmo Cines
Magdalena Lewicka
Finance and Reporting Director at Multikino S.A.
Sandrine Liscia
Manager of theaters in Neuchâtel, Cinepel
Lucie Morvan
Assistant to the CEO at Yorck-Kino
Gráinne Peat
Policy Executive at UK Cinema Association
Lucia Anglade
Regional Cinema Operations Director at Les Cinémas Gaumont Pathé
Marieke Jonker
Head of Content at Vue Netherlands
Delia Kyburz
Head of Marketing and Events at Youcinema
Anna Malaret
Real Estate Director, Southern Europe at Cinesa
Sharon Reid
Director of Marketing and Partnerships at Cinema First Limited
Valerie Thoen
International Human Capital Director at Kinepolis
Laura Weber
Chief Executive Officer at Cinecitta Multiplexkino
Angeliki Angelidou
Cinema Manager at Cineplexx Multiplexx Thessaloniki
Sévrine Breil
Regional Director at Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont
Susanne Fläxl
Managing Director at Cineplex Neufahrn
Anna Grunert
Market analyst at Helios
Louise McKenzie
UK Operations Director at Webedia Movies Pro
Alessandra Pavan Bernacchi
Senior Manager, Theatre Development, UK and Africa at IMAX
Rochelle Shanthakumar
CRM Campaign Manager at ODEON Cinemas Group
Hanna Szczepkowska
Management Assistant at Arsenal Cinema Tübingen
Clarissa Bergh
Cinema Director, Lillehammer Cinema
Rachel Bland
Screen Content Manager, VUE Entertainment
Monika Giełżecka
IT & Cinema Technology Manager, Multikino Group
Johanna Herfter
Manager Statistics and Research, Rentrak Germany/Comscore Inc.
Valeria Kurohtina
Group Programme Manager, CINAMON
Madelene Lorentzsson
Film Booker, Svenska Bio
Laura Mancilla
Brand Manager EMEA, Searchlight Pictures / Disney
Anna Paprocka
Group Content Manager, ODEON Cinemas Group
Olivia Taylor
Senior Marketing Manager, EMEA, IMAX
Nevena Brašanac
Booking & Exhibition Manager, CINEPLEXX INTERNATIONAL, Serbia
Nisha Denton
Head of Screen Content, CinemaxX, Germany
Patricia Edeline F. Antunes
COO and Booking Manager, Sociedad Cinematográfica de Centros Comerciales, SA, Spain
Elisabetta Hoch
General Manager, UCI Cinemas Bicocca Milan, Italy
Natalia Mackiewicz
Cinema Programmer, Kinokawiarnia Stacja Falenica, Poland
Chloe Monteiro
Account Manager, EMEA, Movio
Boglárka Nagy
General Delegate, International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas (CICAE)
Charlotte F. Neumann
Senior Film Booking Manager, ODEON Kino Norway
Ogbonna Nkemakolam Chizoma
Business & Operations Manager, Filmhouse Cinema, Nigeria
Julia Vinokurova
Operations Management Consultant EMEAR, RealD
Becky Tobin
Regional Manager, Curzon, UK
Viviane Bonga Segnou
Digital Operations Manager, The Boxoffice Company, France
Gemma Deane
Group Head of HR, Vue International, UK
Linn Fingalsson
Associate Manager, EMEA Marketing, IMAX, UK
Christina Flourentzou
Operations Manager, Curzon, UK
Gvantsa Garmelia
Marketing Director, Cavea, Georgia
Sarah Hofmann
Development & Real Estate Manager, UCI Multiplex, Germany
Blerina Pashollari
Cinema Manager & Digital Marketing Manager, Mastercine, Italy
Katharina Phebey
Head of Marketing & Content/ Member of the Management Board, Kinopolis, Germany
Mirona Radu
Film Programmer & Coordinator, Peasant Museum Cinema, Romania
Festival Director & Founder, Film O'Clock International Festival, Romania
Michelle Stevens
Commercial Director, Powster, UK
Imke van Schaaijk
PR & Communication Manager, Pathé NL, Netherlands
Pia Ardovino
Media & Partnership Manager, The Space Cinema (Vue International), Italy
Sandra Bakula
International Marketing Manager, Cineplexx, Austria
Charline Baudry-Biancarelli
VP Global Marketing and Partnerships Strategy ICE Theaters, France
Melissa Delft
Senior Manager Business Intelligence, Cinionic, Belgium
Isabel García
Commercial Director, ACEC Cines, Spain
Lauren Greene
Business Development Director, EMEA, Movio, UK
Elena Martinez Peláez
Senior Film Booker, Odeon Cinemas Group, UK
María Moro
Legal Head, Cine Yelmo, Spain
Hana Peoples
Film Industry Researcher, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
Pilar Sierra Artieda
General Secretary, Gremi de Cinemes de Catalunya, Spain
Maria Sweeney
Group Chief Communications Officer, Showtime Group Solutions, Ireland
Zsófia Varga
Film Programmer, Everyman Group, UK
Züleyha Azman
Marketing Director, KINO Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Carla Boyd
Senior Social Media & Content Marketing Manager, Cineworld Cinemas, United Kingdom
Anne Marte Espeseth
Cinema Manager, Bølgen Kulturhus, Norway
Nanna Isholm
Assistant Event Coordinator, Closing Supervisor and Projectionist, Empire Bio, Denmark
Ariana Italia
Film programmer, Pathé, Switzerland
Karolina Kus
Deputy Head of Cinema Programme, Curzon Cinemas, United Kingdom
Elpitha Lyssary
Marketing Manager NI, Omniplex Cinema Group, Ireland
Angela Malvone
International Distribution Specialist, Rai Cinema, Italy
Kinga Merkl
Inside Sales Consultant, Christie Digital Systems, Hungary
Hannah Murray
Account Manager, Vista Group, United Kingdom
Laureen Philippe
International Account Manager, ICE Theaters, France
Héloïse Robert-Besson
Ticketing Manager / Customer Service Manager, The Boxoffice Company, France
Benedikte Schuitema
Head of Sales & Marketing, Head of Kiosk Operation, Staff Manager, Fram Kino, Norway
Cheima Selmi
Senior Theatrical Trade Marketing & Business Analysis Manager, Warner Bros. Discovery, France
Ann Karin Atterås
Cinema Manager, Voss Kino, Norway
Koyin Awomolo
Account Manager, Harkness Screens, UK
Patricia Cüppers
Senior Digital Marketing Manager, Yorck-Kino GmbH, Germany
Nena Loncar
Client Insights Manager, Comscore, UK
Katrin Mathe-Cotillon
Senior Manager Theatrical Marketing EMEA, Crunchyroll, France
Oanh Nguyenova
Commercial and Business Development Manager, Gruvi, Portugal
Paola Parini
Junior Manager, Multisala King, Italy
Beatriz Romero Fernández-Paniagua
Head of Treasury, Budgeting, and Financial Reporting, Yelmo Cines, Spain
Magda Rotko
Content Curator Lead, Vista Group, Germany
Elin Svärdendahl
Senior Film Booker, Filmstaden, Odeon Cinemas Group, Sweden
Daniela Tamburrino
Cinema Manager, Lucisano Media Group, Italy
Lesley van der Woude
Head of Film Programming UK/US, Rooftop Cinema Club, US
Claire Wyckaert
Marketing Manager - Programs, Barco, Belgium
Samira Zaïbat
Director, The Mouv’, Jolifanto ASBL / European Parliament, Belgium