One day before the Berlin Film Festival kicked off, AG Kino – Gilde e.V., Germany’s arthouse cinema association, invited ICTA to produce and chair a session on cinema technology trends as part of its CinemaVision 2030 conference.

The session was organized by Jan Runge and co-chaired by Patrick von Sychowskifrom the European Digital Cinema Forum (EDCF), bringing together an audience of250 arthouse cinema operators, independent distributors, and film industry professionals.

Instead of a traditional panel featuring cinema technology manufacturers, ICTA put the spotlight on cinema operators themselves, inviting them to share their first-hand experiences and insights on topics such as showmanship, theatre design, IT, projection, and sound. The result was a lively, insightful exchange on how independent cinemas are using technology to enhance the audience experience while maintaining the artistic and cultural value of the big screen.

Highlights from the Session

🎭 Martin Ruiter presented Visum Mundi in Wageningen, an innovative high-end boutique cinema that seamlessly blends film and performance art. His presentation underscored how architectural design and premium cinema experiences can redefine the independent cinema space. (For breathtaking images of Visum Mundi, check out the article below!)

🛠️ Leo Brend (Curzon Cinemas, UK) emphasized the concept of “invisible technology”, advocating for technology that enhances, rather than distracts from, thecore cinematic experience. He also addressed challenges in the cinema software ecosystem, the role of AI in operational efficiency, and why curated cinema remains critical in an era dominated by personalized digital content.

🔧 David Hancock (OMDIA) & Matthew Jones (CinemaNext Netherlands) (via video) provided valuable insights into projector replacement cycles, warranties, and the investment landscape for arthouse cinemas. Additionally, ICTA shared key findings from Sonia Ragone & Laura Houlgatte Abbott (UNIC – The International Union of Cinemas), focusing on laser projection funding across European territories. (If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out: jr@janrunge.com.)

🌟 Natália Centková (Kino Usmev, Košice) explored how the growing trend of immersion could be applied to the arthouse cinema sector. She introduced “Impulz Screen,” an innovative approach to enhancing immersion on a budget, demonstrating that high-impact cinema experiences don’t always require high-end budgets. (More on this—and stunning images—in the article below!)

🏛️ Renaud Derbin, a leading cultural entrepreneur, shared lessons from managing Phoenix des Lumières, a massive immersive cultural venue in Dortmund that attracts over 500,000 visitors annually. He explored potential synergies between immersive cultural spaces and traditional cinemas, sparking new ideas on how cinemas can evolve and expand their audience engagement strategies.

A Big Thank You!

ICTA would like to thank AG Kino – Gilde e.V., its Managing Director Felix Bruder, and the entire CinemaVision 2030 team for inviting us to contribute to this fantastic event. The session demonstrated that technology is not just about equipment—it’s about crafting unforgettable cinema experiences for audiences worldwide.

📸 Check out the articles and images here:

🔗 Visum Mundi – Boutique Cinema
🔗 Impulz Screen – Affordable Immersion
🔗 Phoenix des Lumières – The Future of Immersive Cinema?