The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the European cinema trade association, has launched the tenth anniversary edition of its Women’s Cinema Leadership Programme, a 12-month mentoring scheme for women in cinema.
As a result, a new cohort of fourteen talented female cinema professionals will benefit from a unique opportunity to learn, network and grow through one-to-one mentoring from outstanding women executives from across the cinema landscape, each recognised for their leadership, experience and business expertise.
The programme remains UNIC’s flagship initiative to address the gender imbalance at senior levels of the industry, while supporting and empowering female professionals to thrive. As the cinema industry continues to evolve, the initiative plays an important role in helping it realise its full potential by fostering a more diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline.
The 2026/27 edition welcomes the following leading female leaders and rising female professionals from the cinema exhibition landscape, representing 13 countries and 28 companies:
Mentors
- Elise Brandt, Owner / Operator, Kuusan Kino Oy / Kino 123 Oy, Finland
- Greta D’Este-Donelan, Director, AliLeo Media, United Kingdom
- Nisha Dixon, Group Director of Content, VUE International, United Kingdom
- Heidi Fjellvær Olsen, COO and Head of Programming, Trondheim Kino, Norway
- Marynia Gierat, CEO, Kino Pod Baranami, Poland
- Elise Jalladeau, General Director, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece
- Varja Močnik, Head Film Programmer, International Film Festival Kino Otok / Isola Cinema, Slovenia
- Amanda Mundin, Director, Manero Cinemas, United Kingdom
- Faustine Nataf-Cantor, Deputy Managing Director, Mediavision, France
- Marion Rosset, President, ADDE, France
- Cristina Santagiuliana, Head of Operations, Deluxe, Italy
- Silje Utkilen, General Manager, Hamar Kino, Norway
- Maud Van de Velde, Marketing and Distribution Coordinator for EMEA, Barco, Belgium
- Eleanor Whalley, Commercial Director, Picturehouse Cinemas, United Kingdom
Mentees
- Orianne Bastar, Cinema Technical Coordinator, British Film Institute (BFI), United Kingdom
- Hélène Beyls, Product Manager Cinema Services, Barco, Belgium
- Nicola Browning, Senior Marketing Manager – International Theatrical, Sony Pictures, United Kingdom
- Frankie Crane, Distribution & Exhibition Director, Europe, CJ 4DPLEX, United Kingdom
- Isabelle France, Marketing Services Director, Vista Group, United Kingdom
- Isabell Hennen, Manager Alternative Content (Event Cinema), UCI Multiplex | Odeon Cinemas Group, Germany
- Nathalie Kaiser, Manager Statistics and Research, Rentrak, Germany
- Gwenn Martines, General Manager, Cinewest, France
- Clara Pradillo Martinez, Deputy Head of Architecture and Projects, Yelmo Cines | Cinépolis, Spain
- Barbora Kucsa Prágerová, Cinema Director, Kino Metro 70, Czech Republic
- Caro Raedts, Coordinator Cinema ZED Leuven, Belgium
- Marija Samardžić, Film and literary program editor / Marketing manager, Pančevo Cultural Centre, Serbia
- Aileen Thomas, Project Manager, Cineplex Bayreuth, Germany
- Marianne Tronet, Marketing Manager, Everyman Group, United Kingdom
Welcoming this latest edition of the programme, UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte commented:
“Since its launch in 2017, the Women’s Cinema Leadership Programme has grown into a vibrant and supportive network of more than 200 female professionals from across the cinema industry. As we celebrate its tenth edition, the programme continues to expand its reach and impact, driven by the talent, ambition, and generosity of the remarkable women who make it possible.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the programme’s success over the years, and in particular to our valued ‘Champions of the Programme’ — IMAX Corporation, Vista Group, and Barco — whose continued support is instrumental in nurturing and strengthening this thriving community of talent.
We are delighted to welcome this year’s new mentors and mentees and look forward to supporting them throughout the year ahead. At the same time, we warmly congratulate the graduating cohort as they complete this important chapter of their leadership journey.
As Sheryl Sandberg famously said: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.” Through this programme, we continue to work towards making that vision a reality.”
Laure Galtier Buettner, UNIC Head of Projects & Events added:
“As we launch the tenth edition of the programme, every mentor and mentee adds a distinct voice to this collective journey, and it is a privilege to witness the conversations, connections, and progress that emerge along the way. As an African proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ Together, we are not only building relationships, but we are also contributing to a more open and inclusive industry.”
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