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Events

First Sight Media expands team with key creative and commercial appointments

by jummy84 December 13, 2025
written by jummy84

(L to R) Tyrone Herbst and Noel Hoey

Event production and streaming specialist, First Sight Media, has announced the appointment of two key personnel: Tyrone Herbst joins as senior video editor, while Noel Hoey takes up the role of client engagement manager, signalling a strategic move to bolster both the company’s creative output and its dedicated client support,

Bringing a decade of experience to the post, Herbst joins the team as senior video editor. Originally from South Africa, where he successfully ran his own video production company, Herbst moved to the UK two years ago. With a background that merges technical editing precision with digital marketing strategy, he specialises in visual storytelling for promotional and corporate projects. His arrival is timely as the company continues to evolve and  innovate its content creation offering for events and for wider promotional films.

Herbst’s journey to First Sight Media is one of industry symmetry. While working as a digital content manager for an aviation company, he discovered First Sight Media’s work via YouTube while researching content from Event Tech Live (ETL). Impressed by the company’s scope—spanning live streaming, creative production, and graduation ceremonies—he applied. Fittingly, his first on-site project for First Sight Media was filming at Event Tech Live 2025.

Herbst said, “It’s a bit of a full-circle moment for me. I actually discovered First Sight Media via their YouTube content while scouting for promos we could use. The company’s reputation for going beyond standard video production to deliver complex live streaming and creative content appealed to me immediately. Having run my own business, I understand the importance of merging creativity with commercial goals, and I’m excited to bring my experience in visual storytelling to a team that is so passionate about capturing every moment.”

Strengthening the commercial side of the business, Noel Hoey joins as client engagement manager. Hoey will act as the driving force behind building long-lasting client relationships, ensuring customers remain at the heart of the production process. His role focuses on understanding client challenges and vision, translating them into meaningful solutions across live production and streaming.

Hoey said: “For me, business is about genuine partnerships, not just transactions. My goal is to be out in the world, listening to our clients and shaping their long-term content strategies with clarity and creativity. Since joining, the atmosphere here has been unreal: warm, collaborative, and endlessly supportive. It’s clear that kindness and integrity filter down from the top, and that energy allows us to do great work. I’m looking forward to turning initial conversations into trusted, long-term relationships where clients feel confident that we are the partner to bring their ideas to life.”

Rich Belcher, managing director of First Sight Media, commented, “These are two vital appointments for First Sight Media as we continue to grow. For us, recruitment isn’t just about skills on paper; it’s about finding people who instinctively get our values and our personality. Tyrone and Noel are fantastic additions who are not only highly skilled in their respective fields but are also completely in tune with our ethos. Whether it is Tyrone’s technical storytelling or Noel’s dedication to client collaboration, they both embody the energy and professionalism that our clients expect from us.”

December 13, 2025 0 comments
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Events

Verve Launches New Singapore Office As It Expands Its Global Experiential Footprint

by jummy84 November 6, 2025
written by jummy84

Verve The Live Agency, the award-winning experiential marketing agency and certified B Corp, has announced the opening of its new office in Singapore, marking a significant milestone in the agency’s global expansion.

The Singapore opening extends Verve’s presence into Asia, joining its existing network of thriving offices in Dublin, London, and Amsterdam.

It will be led by Michael Pring, Country Head, Singapore and Global Client & Development Director, with support from Verve’s global leadership team, including Founder Ronan Traynor, COO Barry Muldowney, and Group Creative Director Mike Kettles.

The move comes as global brands increasingly look to deliver connected live experiences across regions. Verve’s Singapore launch positions the agency to serve both existing international clients and regional brands, offering its full suite of services spanning Event Management, Sponsorship Activation, and Brand Experience.

Michael Pring, Country Head, Verve Singapore, said: “Singapore has become one of the world’s most dynamic hubs for global business and live experience, and it’s clear there’s a huge opportunity to bring Verve’s creative energy, sustainability focus, and collaborative approach to brands across the region.”

Founded in Dublin over 30 years ago, Verve has grown into Ireland’s largest experiential and brand activation agency, now operating across Europe and Asia. The agency works with a roster of global clients, including Diageo, Coca-Cola, Google, TikTok, LinkedIn, Intel, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Deloitte, AbbVie, Smurfit WestRock, and Universal Pictures.

Barry Muldowney, Verve’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “This move comes after a hugely successful period where we’ve grown our international client relationships and seen our work recognised with some of the industry’s top accolades.”

As part of The Opus Group, a network of over 600 people across Opus Agency, MAS, and Verve, the Singapore launch strengthens the group’s ability to deliver connected brand experiences worldwide.

Ronan Traynor, Founder of Verve, said: “Opening our dedicated office in Singapore is a natural next step for Verve and a sign of our continued momentum. Being in Singapore allows us to better collaborate across time zones and deliver for clients wherever and whenever they need us. It also gives our people new opportunities to work and create at a global scale.”

Verve’s commitment to creativity, sustainability, and culture runs through everything it does. The agency is a B Corp and holds ISO 20121 and ISO 14001 certifications, demonstrating its dedication to responsible event management. It has been named a Great Place to Work 2025, won Campaign’s Experience Awards 2025 for Best Event Team, and is nominated for seven categories in The Drum Festival Awards 2025.

The Singapore team brings Verve’s trademark culture to Asia, combining strategic thinking with bold creativity and flawless delivery. Recent highlights include Google’s marquee exhibition experience at World Summit AI 2025 in Amsterdam, activation of the Guinness Men’s and Women’s Six Nations Championship rugby across fan zones, media moments, VIP experiences and the ever-popular Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Experience, a festive favourite.

November 6, 2025 0 comments
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Events

Blackthorn Expands Onsite Event Suite with the Launch of Smart Capture, Event Navigator, and Badge Generator

by jummy84 November 5, 2025
written by jummy84

Blackthorn, the Salesforce-native event management company, today announced the launch of three new onsite event solutions: Blackthorn Smart Capture, Blackthorn Event Navigator, and Blackthorn Badge Generator, all designed to maximize the impact of in-person event experiences.

Together, these products extend the Blackthorn Events platform, empowering event teams to manage the attendee journey from the moment an attendee arrives.

“In an era dominated by automation and AI, face-to-face experiences are invaluable to build trust and drive business outcomes,” said Chris Federspiel, CEO of Blackthorn. “Events are where relationships begin and grow. Our customers are telling us they want technology that amplifies these human moments. With our new onsite suite, we’re giving teams the tools to turn every in-person interaction into measurable impact.”

Blackthorn Smart Capture: A universal lead capture app that lets teams scan any badge or business card — no QR codes or rented scanners needed — and sync leads directly into Salesforce. With AI-powered enrichment and full data ownership, Smart Capture helps teams capture, qualify, and follow up faster, all while reducing post-event delays.

Blackthorn Event Navigator: The mobile attendee app built for Blackthorn Events keeps participants informed, on track, and connected. Event Navigator brings together agendas, digital tickets, real-time updates, and an attendee directory in one convenient app. Organizers can launch mobile event experiences in just a few clicks, with event data synced automatically with Salesforce.

Blackthorn Badge Generator: A Salesforce-native badge generation tool that replaces manual prep with automation. Using prebuilt Word templates and Nintex flows, teams can design, merge, and print badges in bulk or on demand. Every badge reflects the latest Salesforce data, ensuring brand consistency and accurate attendee information across every event.

“These launches bring every onsite moment, including registration, check-in, navigation, and lead capture, directly into Salesforce — your single source of truth,” said Katie Campbell, Sr. Director of Product at Blackthorn. “Blackthorn empowers event professionals and admins to remove manual steps and simplify operations, so they can focus on delivering great experiences.”

The introduction of Smart Capture, Event Navigator, and Badge Generator represents a major expansion of Blackthorn’s onsite event management suite, which has been a strategic focus for 2025. Each product addresses a key part of the in-person event workflow:

  • Smart Capture accelerates lead collection, follow-up, and event-driven revenue.
  • Event Navigator ensures every attendee stays informed, on schedule, and in the know.
  • Badge Generator saves hours of setup and ensures consistent, branded attendee badges.

By keeping every touchpoint within Salesforce, Blackthorn helps organizations reduce complexity, eliminate data silos, and measure event performance with clarity and confidence.

For more information about Blackthorn, visit www.blackthorn.io.


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November 5, 2025 0 comments
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Events

PRG Expands into Qatar, Strengthening Middle East Presence

by jummy84 November 1, 2025
written by jummy84

PRG, a leading global event technology provider specialising in live events, proudly announces the expansion of its Middle East operations into the State of Qatar.

This strategic move builds on PRG’s successful delivery of world-class events in the region, including the FIFA Fan Festival, World Aquatics Championships, and the AFC Asian Cup Opening Ceremony. With Qatar continuing to establish itself as a hub for international events, PRG sees the nation as a vital market for its continued regional growth.

Since its expansion into Saudi Arabia in 2021, PRG Middle East has grown significantly and continues to invest in cutting-edge equipment, facilities, and talent. These investments have solidified PRG’s reputation as a trusted technical delivery partner for both local and international agencies, designers, and promoters.

Leading the new venture in Qatar is Harry Lister, who has been appointed General Manager of PRG Qatar. Lister brings a deep understanding of the Qatari market and has built strong, long-standing relationships with key clients over the years. His appointment reflects both his proven leadership and his ability to align PRG’s global capabilities with the local market’s needs. He will continue to serve concurrently as Director of Account Management for the Middle East, ensuring seamless collaboration across the region.

November 1, 2025 0 comments
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F1: THE MOVIE, (aka F1), Brad Pitt, on set, 2025. ph: Scott Garfield / © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection
TV & Streaming

Barco, the Cinema Projection Company, Expands HDR Format in Germany

by jummy84 October 29, 2025
written by jummy84

Barco, the cinema projection company, is expanding its premium HDR by Barco format in Germany.

Starting in November, the company will install the Barco HDR format at select Cineplex Germany locations and in Cinedom Cologne. This expansion marks a major footprint in European moviegoing, as Cineplex is a leading German exhibitor, and Cinedom Cologne is one of the country’s largest cinemas.

The initiative will bring premium large format cinema to Cineplex Goslar and Cineplex Paderborn for the first time. As part of the international expansion, HDR by Barco is launching at three Cineplex Germany venues — Cineplex Münster, Cineplex Paderborn Pollux and Cineplex Goslar — available as “Ultimate. in HDR by Barco” at these locations.

Cineplex Münster, celebrating 25 years of operation this month, will be the first theater in the world with two HDR by Barco enabled auditoriums, representing a technological expansion to their current PLF offering. At Cinedom Cologne, the new HDR theater will launch the circuit’s new “CinedomX” experience, a freshly conceived premium cinema concept from the brand. Installations are underway now so moviegoers in Germany will be able to enjoy major holiday tentpoles opening in HDR by Barco this holiday season.

“We’re proud to bring HDR by Barco to German audiences through our partnerships with
Cineplex and Cinedom—two of the country’s most respected cinema brands,” said Gerwin
Damberg, EVP of Barco Cinema. “As someone who grew up in Germany, this milestone is
personally meaningful. It’s exciting to see our vision and technology come full circle, enhancing
the cinematic experience in the very theaters that once inspired my love of film.”

The company’s CEO An Steegen, who is on Variety‘s Women’s Impact report for 2025, said: “The accelerated drive for innovation and elevating cinema experience is transforming and reinvigorating the industry. The 2026 slate looks strong, and audiences will have a lot to look forward to. Many of the technology initiatives announced this year will continue, or in some cases rapidly expand, into next year, bringing more options and more access to exceptional cinema.”

She added the company is focused on the expansion of HDR by Barco using Lightsteering technology. “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. We’re always working on our portfolio roadmap to fuel a pipeline of solutions that are capable of powering the world of entertainment today and tomorrow,” she said. “Whether that means more efficient technologies, a lower environmental impact, advanced image quality or cutting-edge experiences, we’re on a mission to leverage innovation to drive results for the industries we work in, and the people who benefit from them. In cinema, this means taking care of partners in exhibition for the long-term and delivering what they need to keep moviegoers coming back week after week.”

Past releases in the format have included “Superman,” “F1” and “28 Years Later.” The upcoming “Wicked: For Good” will also be released in HDR format this year.

Stateside, Barco is also expanding the reach of its HDR format through partnerships with exhibitors and will have more than 30 HDR locations by the end of the year. Regal Cinemas has committed to establishing 20 RPX screens in the U.S. by the end of this year, and Alamo Drafthouse is also scheduled to add several HDR screens. 

Based on the company’s patented Lightsteering technology, Barco’s approach to HDR works by strategically redistributing light on screen to produce highlights that are over six times brighter than traditional projection, while retaining rich details in the darks for greater depth, clarity and range. HDR by Barco delivers expansive creative possibilities for filmmakers, producing a wide color gamut with high-contrast images that captivate audiences.

October 29, 2025 0 comments
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Events

Vividink expands event social media team with the appointment of Jenna Crutchley as social media manager

by jummy84 October 27, 2025
written by jummy84

Event industry PR & social media agency, Vividink, has strengthened its social media team with the appointment of Jenna Crutchley to the role of social media manager.

The appointment follows an increase in demand from Vividink’s clients seeking to boost their social media presence and adopt a more strategic approach to how social media is used in marketing.

Bethany Smith, Vividink’s head of social media, explains, “Welcoming Jenna to the team reflects our growth and changes in the marketing world, which we’re excited to explore with her. So far, she’s shown an eagerness to learn and a natural instinct for creative thinking; both will take her far in her career.”

In her role, Crutchley will assist with planning and monitoring campaigns, interpreting data and creating actionable insights for clients.

Jenna Crutchley reflected on her new role, explaining, “I’m thrilled to be part of the team and learn all things social media, with help from Bethany and the in-depth course I’ll be taking. I’m sure I’ll pick things up quickly. I am very excited to attend my first event (Event Tech Live) this November and meet people in the industry.”

Vividink has been modelling its social media service development on the best practices of major accounts that utilise social media not only for outbound messaging but deeper engagement and moving into community management.

October 27, 2025 0 comments
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Events

Beatport expands into ticketing, bridging the gap between recorded and live music

by jummy84 October 17, 2025
written by jummy84

Beatport, the world’s largest music store for DJs, producers, and fans, today announced the launch of Beatport Tickets, a new ticketing platform designed exclusively for the dance music community. Powered by a strategic partnership with Weeztix, Europe’s fastest-growing self-service digital ticketing company, this marks the next phase of Beatport’s evolution evolution, extending its platform from music discovery and streaming into live event access.

Launching in October 2025, Beatport Tickets will enable labels, promoters, and venues in the UK and EU to sell tickets directly through Beatportal, Beatport’s dedicated platform for dance music news and nightlife culture. In the coming months, the platform will expand its self-service solution to event organizers in the US and integrate event listings into the Beatport store. In 2026, upcoming events will also appear on artist and label profiles, with tickets directly linked to their Beatport pages.

The ticketing landscape has traditionally kept music discovery and live events separate, with large-scale events thriving while the economics for recorded music remain challenging. At the same time, independent promoters and grassroots venues often lack the tools to compete, whereas artists and labels struggle to turn online engagement into real-world connections. Organizers will be able to enhance event listings with custom playlists, transforming ticket pages into immersive previews of the sounds and scenes behind the show.

“Beatport has always been the home for DJs and fans to connect with the music that drives dance culture,” said Helen Sartory, Chief Revenue Officer at Beatport. “This year, we expanded into the live space, creating a dedicated Live & Interactive team who executed ambitious initiatives like The Block, giving emerging artists opportunities to perform at major festivals. With Beatport Tickets, we’re taking the next big step, bridging the gap between digital and live experiences, supporting promoters, helping artists expand their reach, and giving fans a richer way to engage with dance music. Because without live music, there is no dance scene.”

Powered by Weeztix: Beatport Tickets is built on Weeztix’s proven ticketing technology, which forms the foundation of this new offering. These include the following, with the first three available exclusively through the Beatport–Weeztix partnership:
● Integrated Music + Ticketing: Easily create event pages on Beatportal, linking tracks and playlists directly for promotion and ticket sales, driving deeper fan engagement.
● Upcoming Events on Artist + Label Profiles (coming soon): Tickets will be directly linked to Beatport artist and label pages.
● Expanded Reach: Events featured across Beatport’s store, mobile app, and Beatportal, reaching 40M+ annual users.
● Flexible Sales Tools: Standard tickets, accommodation, tokens, and merchandise.
● Advanced Analytics: Data-driven insights for promoters and labels.
● API Connectivity: Events can connect to third-party apps and services.
● 24/7 Customer Service: Provided by Weeztix to ensure smooth operations for promoters and fans alike.

With this launch, Beatport strengthens its role as a 360 platform for dance music culture, supporting the entire journey from discovery to live experience.

View current live events here.


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October 17, 2025 0 comments
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TIFF Expands TV Lineup Ahead Of TIFF: The Market
TV & Streaming

TIFF Expands TV Lineup Ahead Of TIFF: The Market

by jummy84 October 15, 2025
written by jummy84

EXCLUSIVE: The Toronto International Film Festival is going deeper into TV and making Primetime bigger. The Festival has a TV section called Primetime and TIFF execs told Deadline they plan to increase the selection by 40% for 2026.

Appropriately, the news came out of MIPCOM, the Cannes TV market that’s running this week. The setting was fitting, as TIFF was on the ground meeting the TV industry ahead of next year’s launch of TIFF: The Market.

TIFF and Deadline hosted a networking reception with buyers and distributors and we caught up with the TIFF execs in town, Judy Lung VP, Strategy, Communications & Stakeholder Relations and Geoff Macnaughton, VP of Industry and Theatrical Programming.

Macnaughton told us that the Primetime section he oversees will expand by 40%, featuring approximately 14 series next year.

This year’s Primetime lineup had six world premieres including The Lowdown, which opened the section, Netflix’s Mae Martin series Wayward, Black Rabbit starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman, and Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League, which was the only documentary series.

Macnaughton told guests at the TIFF-Deadline reception that several of this year’s Primetime shows racked up deals after their TIFF showing. That’s an important point for the MIPCOM crowd, notably as TIFF readies the launch of its own market in 2026.

TIFF: The Market will span TV, film and next-generation content and is a notable new addition to the calendar. “This year, our 50th has been a really exciting opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come, but also to look ahead and ignite our vision for the next 50 years and beyond,” Lung said. “This vision for the future is centered around a commitment to deepening TIFF’s support of the global entertainment business, including the launch of an official content market at the Festival next September.”

Macnaughton added: “We are always looking for series that are things we have never seen before, and that are going to surprise people, but also [projects] that are looking for distribution. And we’re leaning into this idea of designing a content market and building not only what we do in the film side of things, but also growing what we do on the series side, that’s really important to us.”

TIFF: The Market will run September 10 through 16. The venue is TBC, but as it comes together TIFF has assembled a committee of industry advisors including TV execs from BBC Studios and Blue Ant.

October 15, 2025 0 comments
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‘9-1-1’ Expands to Nashville, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Goes Boom, Marine ‘Boots’ Camp, All About Victoria Beckham and Saquon Barkley
TV & Streaming

‘9-1-1’ Expands to Nashville, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Goes Boom, Marine ‘Boots’ Camp, All About Victoria Beckham and Saquon Barkley

by jummy84 October 9, 2025
written by jummy84

ABC

9-1-1

The long-running first-responder drama opens its ninth season with a tribute to the 118’s fallen leader, Bobby Nash (Peter Krause), as the crew prepares to dedicate the firehouse in his memory. But duty never stops calling, and they snap back into action for an emergency involving a billionaire tech giant in critical peril.

Golden Bachelor

The Golden Bachelor

The second season of The Golden Bachelor is available Wednesdays on ABC and streaming next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. It’s the senior spin on the beloved dating reality show, with 66-year-old former NFL linebacker and lawyer Mel Owens searching for his later-in-life lover. This season is hosted by Jesse Palmer, a former Bachelor and NFL player himself. Fingers crossed he can help Owens find love.

Chris O'Donnell as Don — '9-1-1: Nashville' Series Premiere

Disney/Jake Giles Netter

9-1-1: Nashville

It’s a sign of the times, and the state of broadcast TV, that ABC’s only new scripted series this fall is that most reliable of standbys: a spinoff. Chris O’Donnell, who starred in one of TV’s most successful spinoffs (NCIS: LA), leads the ensemble as Captain Don Hart of Fire Station 113. In the premiere, he and his crew respond to a franchise favorite — a weather emergency — when a tornado rips through Music City, threatening a country-music festival. Jessica Capshaw (Grey’s Anatomy) co-stars as Don’s wife Blythe, whose well-heeled family brings a Dynasty vibe to Don’s working-class world when a scandalous family secret is revealed.

GREY’S ANATOMY - “Only the Strong Survive” - After the catastrophic hospital explosion, Grey Sloan’s staff scrambles to save not only their patients’ lives but also their own. Confronted with impossible surgical decisions and emotional turmoil, they fight to preserve life amid devastation. THURSDAY, OCT. 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Anne Marie Fox) ELLEN POMPEO, MICAH MCNEIL

Disney / Anne Marie Fox

Grey’s Anatomy

Another year, another cliffhanger to resolve. Which is how Grey’s Anatomy kicks off its 22nd season, TV’s longest-running prime-time medical drama. The opener is in full crisis mode, and it’s all hands on deck as Grey Sloan’s staff scrambles in the wake of an explosion on the surgical floor. Link (Chris Carmack) appeared to be the doctor most immediately in danger, but we’ll know soon enough who gets to operate another day.

Miles Heizer as Cameron Cope and Liam Oh as Ray McAffey in 'Boots' Season 1 Episode 4

Netflix

Boots

“This is not like summer camp,” laments Cameron Cope (Parenthood‘s Miles Heizer), a closeted gay man who follows his best friend Ray (Liam Oh) into the Marines in 1990, when homosexuality was strictly forbidden (even predating “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”). Cameron also soon realizes that the “buddy system” isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be in a system designed to break down recruits and shape them into soldiers. This eight-part dramedy, based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, has moments of whimsy — especially when Cameron’s anxiety-ridden inner self speaks out — but is also unexpectedly compelling in its coming-of-age story as Cameron makes unexpected alliances in his quest to discover what it is to be a man. “I’m such a Rose,” this Golden Girls fan sighs — which is probably something he should keep to himself for the time being.

Victoria Beckham in Netflix's 'Victoria Beckham' docuseries, 2025.

Netflix/YouTube

Victoria Beckham

The road from musical stardom as Posh Spice to celebrated footballer’s wife to being accepted as a fashion designer hasn’t always been easy, says Victoria Beckham in a three-part documentary profile. “I have never forgotten where I come from,” she says, revealing her insecurities and desires as she prepares for “the biggest fashion show I have ever done.”

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Sarah Stier / Getty Images

Saquon

With Martin Scorsese as executive producer, an intimate documentary spotlights Saquon Barkley, the Super Bowl champion running back for the Philadelphia Eagles. The film covers his career highs and lows (injuries) while also following him off the field as a devoted husband and dad. “It’s not who you are when you get knocked down,” says the resilient superstar athlete. “It’s who you are when you stand back up. That’s why I play the game.”

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October 9, 2025 0 comments
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 Lyon's Classic Film Market Expands With AI, Platforms, Global Reach 
TV & Streaming

 Lyon’s Classic Film Market Expands With AI, Platforms, Global Reach 

by jummy84 October 3, 2025
written by jummy84

The International Classic Film Market (MIFC), the world’s only market dedicated to restoring and promoting heritage films, returns to Lyon alongside the Lumière Film Festival for its 13th edition expected to draw a record number of participants.

“All our indicators are up, both in terms of newcomers and international participants,” co-head Anaïs Desrieux told Variety.

Three high-profile guests of honor underscore the festival’s global reach: Andrea Kalas, VP of Media and Archival Services at Iron Mountain, Justine Ryst, YouTube’s France chief, and Gaëtan Bruel, the new head of the France’s film board CNC.

Another sign of the market’s growing industry pull comes from U.K.-based Park Circus, which joins this year as an official partner. The company handles global distribution of heritage titles for major U.S. studios as well as British and European libraries. CEO Douglas Davis will join Studiocanal’s Pauline Saint-Hilaire and Mk2 Films’ Benoit Claro for a roundtable on building international distribution strategies for heritage film.

Technology remains a hot topic, notably the use of AI in classic film preservation and restoration, with a focus this year on subtitling and dubbing. The debate will bring together heritage film conservation outfit Vectracom, Phont, a start-up specialised in so-called “emotional subtitling,” and translators’ representatives.

“No one at the table is opposed to progress, but the real challenge is to ensure that this innovation truly qualifies as such for the whole ecosystem,” said Desrieux. Co-head Gérald Duchaussoy added “subtitles are not neutral – subtitling is a creative activity that shapes how films are understood.”

New tools will be on display at the Classics Innovation Corner, where startups such as Phont, AI-powered search and licensing platform Refractio, and distributor-oriented CN Films will present their tech.

Another key theme is the growing role of streaming services in the circulation of heritage cinema, which Ryst is sure to address as she spotlights YouTube’s 20th anniversary.

“There is a great heritage offer on YouTube, with access to films, archives and programs dedicated to classic films, and content creators engaging whole new audiences,” said Duchaussoy.

Case studies will feature Sooner – the new merger of French streamers Universciné and Filmo –, heritage film platform LaCinetek, and entertainment site Allociné, which is launching a dedicated service, Allociné Classique. “Thanks to these platforms, the films are not just being preserved, they are being reintroduced to audiences in the digital era,” Desrieux noted. 

From digital strategies to face-to-face deal-making, circulation remains a priority for organizers, with initiatives like the popular Re>Birth program, now in its third edition. The showcase pitches either recently restored titles carrying the Lumière Classics label or works seeking restoration partners for 10-minute sessions followed by one-to-one meetings aimed at sparking deals.

Hungary provides an inspiring example as country of honor thanks to its strong track-record in preservation and circulation through events such as the Budapest Classic Film Marathon. MIFC regular György Ráduly, head of the Hungarian National Film Archive, will be among the guests.  

Other highlights include debates on the new AgoraEU program, Europe’s audiovisual heritage policy, and the power of curated retrospectives, with this year’s tributes to Martin Ritt and Konrad Wolf illustrating how restorations drive a second life in theaters, festivals, on TV and platforms. France’s arthouse exhibitors’ association, AFCAE, which marks its 70th anniversary, will examine the future of classic film on the big screen.

As always, there will be the market’s staple sessions, from catalogue holders’ previews to distributors’ line-ups and dedicated events for exhibitors.

African cinema will also take the spotlight with a showcase of the new podcast series “Cineastes d’Afrique,” celebrating pioneers of African filmmaking.

Looking to the future, a new European student workshop will bring together some 40 students from six universities to work with professionals in the heritage field. “We want to help the next generation build connections that will shape the sector’s future,” said Desrieux.

For Duchaussoy, the workshop reflects the market’s broader mission: “Heritage cinema is not just about looking back,” he said. “It’s about imagining the future, with new professionals, new technologies and new audiences.”

As Desrieux summed up, “Our goal is to give the heritage sector a stronger international framework and profile. That means bringing players together, questioning our practices and creating real business opportunities around the circulation of classic films.”

The MIFC runs in Lyon over Oct. 14–Oct. 17.

October 3, 2025 0 comments
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