Turning Nine: Looking Back on the 2024 Edition of the European Arthouse Cinema Day • Arthouse Cinema Hub

On November 17, 2024, hundreds of arthouse cinemas around the globe once again came together for a single day to celebrate European cinema, culture, and community.

With more than 90,000 cinemagoers attending screenings in 630 cinemas across 45 countries, this was a record-breaking edition. Over the past nine years, the European Arthouse Cinema Day (EACD) has now attracted over half a million people, cementing its position as the leading global event for arthouse cinemas and their growing audiences.

While major arthouse nations like France and Germany remained key players, last year’s reach extended even further, welcoming 10 new countries, including Bangladesh, El Salvador, and Venezuela. These expanding borders demonstrate the unwavering enthusiasm of exhibitors eager to bring European cinema to their communities.

This year's timely theme for EACD was 'Democracy and Diversity'. To quote Sabine Verheyen, a key patron of the event and First Vice-President of the European Parliament, this choice “reflects the important role that cinema plays in promoting tolerance, supporting open dialogue, and fostering intercultural exchange. Film and cinema are not just entertainment but reflect our society and culture, shaping and influencing how we see others and ourselves. They help us preserve our cultural heritage while promoting innovation and social progress.”

Beyond the nearly 3,000 screenings of European films, countless creative initiatives were brought to life for a single, unforgettable day, demonstrating cinema operators’ ability to deliver unique experiences to their audiences.

Berlin-based cinemagoers enjoyed a unique screening of the classic French film noir Elevator to the Gallows using only audio description, offering an immersive experience for the hearing and visually impaired. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a country with a virtually non-existent arthouse sector, a full day of screenings introduced local audiences to European films they might never have encountered otherwise. In Ukraine, screenings of Dahomey, Emilia Perez, and Paradis Paradis provided a much-needed cultural reprieve. In Vienna, free screenings of environmental films were organized as part of the EU Youth Cinema: Green Deal initiative. In Seoul and Daegu, South Korea, a four-day European cinema showcase featured 16 different European titles, attracting over 2,100 cinemagoers. In Barcelona, a special screening of Bird was moderated by the Young Programmers of Moving Cinema, a group of 17- to 23-year-olds who meet regularly to curate and discuss films. Across Europe, an exclusive partnership with MUBI enabled the distribution of video interviews with major filmmakers like Levan Akin and Magnus von Horn, played alongside their films.

Workshops were also a major highlight, with participants coming from over 40 countries, from Venezuela to Albania, and Armenia to Madagascar. Based on the feedback received, CICAE plans to launch a regular monthly online meeting, Arthouse Meets, which will tackle a range of important topics.

These examples offer just a glimpse of what was on offer during the 2024 edition of EACD, underscoring the essential role of cinemas as cultural hubs.

A study conducted by Comscore, the leading provider of film performance data, confirmed EACD’s impact beyond the screenings themselves. Participating cinemas saw a notable increase in ticket sales for European films compared to the previous weekend, with some venues doubling or even tripling admissions.

In total, over 370 different European films were screened, representing 71 nationalities. Many were co-productions involving both MEDIA and non-MEDIA countries, and several films had their first-ever screenings in new territories thanks to EACD.

These figures highlight the event’s role in strengthening European cinema’s visibility and reinforcing the importance of collective action in an increasingly fragmented market. They also demonstrate how a global event like EACD can help arthouse cinemas gain more bargaining power and secure screening rights they might otherwise struggle to obtain.

As in previous editions, the 2024 EACD was championed by filmmakers and cultural leaders who share a commitment to European cinema. Legendary director Wim Wenders took center stage, calling on audiences to become “cinema activists” and reminding them of cinema’s ability to foster dialogue across borders. Alongside him, directors Levan Akin, Sepideh Farsi, Emanuel Pârvu, and Renate Reinsve lent their voices to the initiative, engaging in screenings, discussions, and special events.

CICAE also took the opportunity to publish a Joint Call for Democracy, Diversity, and Cross-Cultural Communication, inspired by Wim Wenders’ message. Cinemas were encouraged to sign the declaration and share it with their audiences. To date, it has received over 400 signatures from cinemas, arthouse professionals, and audiovisual trade associations, representing more than 5,000 audiovisual stakeholders worldwide.

EACD’s success is built on a network of exhibitors, distributors, and industry professionals dedicated to keeping European film accessible and relevant. To support them, CICAE provided an extensive set of marketing materials, a curated list of recommended films, and even exclusive screenings at a reduced fee. A coordinated digital campaign amplified the event’s reach, engaging more than 4.9 million people across various social media platforms. Custom advertising, targeted posts, and strategic partnerships ensured that EACD’s presence was felt both online and in cinemas.

The 2024 edition of the European Arthouse Cinema Day would not have been possible without the invaluable support of a wide range of industry stakeholders. Beyond the hundreds of cinemas that went above and beyond to offer another incredible day for European and global audiences, we are grateful for the continued support of the Creative Europe MEDIA programme and other long-term institutional and industry partners.

To everyone who participated - cinemas, filmmakers, industry partners, and audiences - thank YOU for making the EACD 2024 a resounding success. Until next year, let’s keep celebrating, discussing, and advocating for the power of cinema.

As we prepare for the tenth edition in 2025, discussions on best practices, new partnerships, and ways to expand audience engagement are already underway. Stay tuned!