Event agenda

Warm Up Brunch + Introduction for Newcomers

Is it your first time at Avant Première? Want to learn how to get the most from this industry gathering? Join us at this info session during the Warm-Up Brunch!

Avant Première Screenings – Block 1

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

Market Screening: Sol & Lise

A portrait of Lise Cristiani, the first woman cellist on stage, who broke taboos in 1845 and toured Europe and Siberia. Cellist Sol Gabetta retraces her life, music and legacy through a new concert.

Avant Première Screenings – Block 2

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

Market Screening: 30 Shades of Dance - Hungary Dances

30 Shades of Dance showcases Hungary’s vibrant dance scene through 30 professional ensembles across 7 cities and 8 styles. From classical traditions to contemporary innovation, it becomes an artistic journey celebrating movement, culture, and community.

Opening Ceremony

Join us for the official Avant Première Opening Ceremony – a celebratory evening to kick off our sector's most important trade fair and mingle with experts + industry representatives from all over the world!

Special Screening: The Faces of Carmen

This documentary explores the many faces of Carmen through five contrasting productions filmed in 2024 at leading opera houses, all starring mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina in the title role.

Avant Première Screening – Block 3

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

Avant Première Screenings – Block 4

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

Market Screening: The Tokyo Ballet – Maurice Béjart’s “M“

A ballet tribute to writer Yukio Mishima, created by Maurice Béjart. “M” explores transformation, sea and death through choreography for the Tokyo Ballet, performed in 2025 to mark Mishima’s 100th birthday.

IMZ Performing Arts Documentary Pitching Session

This format gives creators a platform to showcase their performing arts documentary projects to a jury of international decision-makers, for a chance to win a €5,000 cash prize.

Opera 2.0: Interactive, Immersive, International

Opera has long embodied the ideal of a total artwork, uniting music, drama, design and performance. This panel explores how opera can reclaim this potential by engaging with new technologies and cross-disciplinary, immersive practices.

Market Screening: Herbie

A portrait of jazz pioneer Herbie Hancock, built around rare, in-depth interviews. The film traces his musical journey from Miles Davis to genre-defining innovations, revealing his artistic and spiritual philosophy.

What Public Service Media Commissioners Look for in Music & Arts Programming Today

Public Service Media faces growing pressure in music and performing arts programming. This panel offers a practical look at commissioning priorities, platform choices, and how collaboration works in practice.

Distributor Spotlight: SESC

The Distributor Spotlight bridges the gap between the Avant Première Screenings and the Market Screenings, offering a one-hour program showcasing new productions from IMZ network distributors and producers.

Distributor Spotlight: C Major Entertainment

The Distributor Spotlight bridges the gap between the Avant Première Screenings and the Market Screenings, offering a one-hour program showcasing new productions from IMZ network distributors and producers.

Distributor Spotlight: Unitel

The Distributor Spotlight bridges the gap between the Avant Première Screenings and the Market Screenings, offering a one-hour program showcasing new productions from IMZ network distributors and producers.

Special Screening: Brigitte Fassbaender – Don't Stop Wondering

A portrait of Brigitte Fassbaender, celebrated singer and opera director. Through interviews and reflections, the film traces her artistic journey, family influences, and shows the artist at work, balancing tradition and reinvention.

Avant Première Screenings – Block 5

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

Avant Première Screenings – Block 6

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

Market Screening: Poland - A Musical Self Portrait

A journey through Poland’s turbulent history seen through music. The film explores what defines “Polish” music by meeting today’s classical, folk and jazz artists shaping its evolving tradition.

One-On-One Expert Session: Meet the Buyers

One-on-One Expert Session allow emerging + established talents to pitch their projects to senior executives from major broadcasting companies + leading figures in the music film industry.

A Seatbelt Moment for Arts and Culture: How Media can Build Bridges to New Audiences and Gain New Relevance through the Healing Power of the Arts

Arts & culture do more than entertain – they heal, connect, and transform. This presentation explores how arts engagement boosts mental health, resilience, and social cohesion, offering media new ways to reach and inspire audiences.

IMZ Academy: Cinematic Multi-Camera Capture

Large-sensor digital cine cameras are now common in drama, documentary, and lifestyle productions. This session explores the benefits, challenges, and methods of using them for multi-camera performance capture.

Market Screening: My Favourite Melodies - Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Elīna Garanča

The documentary series *My Favourite Melodies* returns with cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and opera star Elīna Garanča, exploring their personal playlists and musical influences—from classical masterpieces to folk and popular music.

IMZ Academy: Multiplatform Production

In today’s media landscape, reaching audiences across TV, web, social media, and apps requires a multi-platform production strategy. This session explores how to tell stories consistently while navigating creative, technical, and financial challenges.

Distributor Spotlight: Auditorium Films

Distributor Spotlight: EuroArts Music International

The Distributor Spotlight bridges the gap between the Avant Première Screenings and the Market Screenings, offering a one-hour program showcasing new productions from IMZ network distributors and producers.

Avant Première Screenings – Block 7

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

Avant Première Screenings – Block 8

The Avant Première Screenings are the centrepiece of Avant Première Music + Media Market, offering exclusive previews to the latest music + dance films from top-tier producers worldwide.

IMZ General Assembly

The IMZ General Assembly at Avant Première is dedicated entirely to IMZ Members. Hosted by the IMZ Directorate, the Session fosters a strong and well-informed network and aims at strengthening IMZ Members' relations + connectivity.

Closing Ceremony

Join us for the grand Closing Ceremony of Avant Première 2026!