IMZ to partner in EU-Project Cinnovate

IMZ helps cinemas across Europe embrace digital audience engagement opportunities and explores new VOD market potential for its members.

IMZ is part of a European consortium of media organisations and trade bodies that will work with three leading arthouse cinema networks to develop a brand-new digital platform, entitled Cinnovate, which will help enable local cinemas to complement the theatrical experience with a palette of new digital audience engagement and content features. The platform will include an Event Cinema (Alternative Content) offer online, a cinema-powered VOD service, gaming and VR features as well as a digital film literacy offer.

The high-profile partnership gathers leading arthouse cinema networks Folkets Hus och Parker, Folkets Bio (both from Sweden), Access Cinema (Ireland) and Art kino mreža Slovenije (Slovenia) and will be coordinated by Cologne-based VOD and digital distribution experts Rushlake Media. Rushlake Media’s German VOD service Kino on Demand forms the heart of the new platform.

IMZ will provide input regarding a potential digital content offer from IMZ members and explore the emerging Event Cinema market (opera, ballet, theatre, expositions screened in cinemas and on their VOD offers) for its members. A networking event with cinemas and IMZ members will be organised during Avant Premiere in 2022