One global day of action that unites arthouse cinemas, film professionals, and their audiences for screenings, events, and a joint mission— from Ukraine to Bangladesh, from Venezuela to South Korea.
The European Arthouse Cinema Day is the oldest, largest, and most impactful global initiative dedicated to independent cinema. Its 10th edition will return on 23 November 2025, bringing together audiences, cinemas, and film professionals from around the world to celebrate and defend the values of the arthouse movement.
It’s not only cinemas that come together on this day — it’s also filmmakers, cultural leaders, and audiences around the world. This year, the European Arthouse Cinema Day is joined by filmmakers Mascha Schilinski, Aki Kaurismäki, Sean Baker, Samantha Quan, Teona Strugar Mitevska, Carla Simón, Flóra Anna Buda, Karim Aïnouz, and Maryam Touzani as ambassadors. The Ministers for Culture of France, Germany, and Poland, Rachida Dati, Wolfram Weimer and Marta Cienkowska as well as Sabine Verheyen, First Vice President of the European Parliament, serve as the European Arthouse Cinema Day’s patrons.
Initiated by the global non-profit International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas (CICAE), in collaboration with national arthouse associations and partners across the audiovisual industry and with the kind support of Creative Europe MEDIA, Eurimages, FFA, CNC, and Europa Cinemas, this anniversary edition will take place in over 45 countries, introduce exciting new programs and collaborations, and feature the largest group of ambassadors ever supporting the event:
Expect bold international programming, newly participating regions, and innovative initiatives that mark a new chapter for European Arthouse Cinema.
As always, CICAE is proud to collaborate with longstanding partners from across the industry to provide participating cinemas with event and film recommendations, discounts, workshops, marketing and event assets and much more. Visit our website to find out more.
In a time marked by war, rising populism, and growing nationalist isolationism — all of which threaten the fabric of cross-cultural exchange — the 2025 European Arthouse Cinema Day will reaffirm the Arthouse Movement's political voice more powerfully than ever.
Registrations for cinemas are open and free.
European Arthouse Cinema Day 2025 – Official Trailer
The European Arthouse Cinema Day is open to everyone — cinemas, distributors, and programmers from all over the world are welcome to join. Whether they’re planning their own program or looking for support and curation advice, our team is here to help.
This year’s edition is an opportunity to send a powerful political message:
Arthouse cinemas are democratic spaces — vital to the cultural health of our societies. They foster dialogue, inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding in times of division and disinformation. On this day, we stand united for diversity, exchange, and international collaboration.
Patrons and Ambassadors’ Words of Support
First Vice-President of the European Parliament Sabine Verheyen, 2025 Patron:
Arthouse cinemas are living spaces of culture and community, where people meet, exchange, and engage in open discourse. They bring people together across borders and cultures, acting as vital hubs of European cinema. Their contribution is cultural, social, and economic — preserving heritage, encouraging artistic innovation, and sustaining creative industries across Europe and beyond. On this day, a strong signal will be sent for the values that bind us together. Join this extraordinary initiative as we celebrate the power of cinema to inspire and to bring us closer as a diverse, democratic society.
Wim Wenders, 2024 Ambassador:
We are politically in a precarious situation (…) If there is anything that can protect us from cheap and dangerous populism, it is education and culture” and calls on professionals across the sector to “understand ourselves as cinema activists to collectively advocate across all geographical, political, and social boundaries for the expansion of our horizons and viewpoints: with the intelligent, exciting, and moving stories, and the history that (arthouse) cinema has to offer.
The “European Cinema Day” rightly sees itself as the “Global Day of Action for the arthouse movement.” For me, it is the day when we must understand ourselves as cinema activists to collectively advocate across all geographical, political, and social boundaries for the expansion of our horizons and viewpoints.
European Arthouse Cinema Day 2024: Highlights & Impact
In its largest edition to date on 17 November 2024, 3000 screenings of European films took place in over 600 cinemas in 46 countries on all continents.
A celebration of European cinema in all its diversity, the day featured more than 300 different films from 70 countries of production, including 20 premieres in five countries. Nearly 40% of the films were brought back to cinemas especially for the occasion — proving the enduring power of classics and the appetite for discovery among audiences.
Notable premieres included GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE (Poland, France, Germany) and CROSSING (France, Poland), both accompanied by exclusive video messages from the filmmakers, screened as part of the program.
More than 250 special events took place worldwide — from local Q&As to international premieres, youth-led screenings, and inclusive cinema experiences.
Global Reach & Political Impact
In an era of increasing division and polarisation, the 2024 edition sent a strong cultural and political signal. In a joint statement, organisations representing over 5,000 cinemas and film professionals called for the protection of artistic freedom, peaceful dialogue, and pluralist democratic values.
An independent impact study by Comscore confirmed a measurable rise in both the number of European films screened and tickets sold in key territories like France and Germany on the day of the event — underlining EACD’s role in strengthening the visibility and sustainability of European cinema.
2024 in Numbers
- 3,000 screenings in 600+ cinemas across 46 countries
- 250+ events, including Q&As, premieres, and workshops
- 300+ films from 70 countries
- 20 premieres with filmmaker participation
- 500,000+ spectators engaged since the first edition in 2016
Selected Highlights from Around the World
- Blind screening of Elevator to the Gallows in Berlin for visually impaired audiences
- Environmental film screenings in Vienna as part of the EU Youth Cinema: Green Deal initiative
- European film showcases in Dhaka and South Korea
- Screenings of Dahomey, Emilia Perez, and Paradis Paradis in Kyiv
- Youth-curated screening of Bird in Barcelona
- Filmmaker interviews with Levan Akin and Magnus von Horn, shared via MUBI across Europe
Ambassadors & Support
Throughout the years, the initiative has been championed by celebrated filmmakers like Wim Wenders, Ruben Östlund, Céline Sciamma, Agnieszka Holland, and Levan Akin, as well as political figures including the French and German Ministers of Culture and Sabine Verheyen, First Vice President of the European Parliament.
For more insights into the 2024 edition, read the article “Turning Nine: Looking Back on the 2024 Edition of the European Arthouse Cinema Day” by Guillaume Branders for Arthouse Cinema HUB.
The free digital platform Arthouse Cinema HUB serves as a central resource for showcasing the outcomes of the European Arthouse Cinema Day. It features highlights, case studies, and best practices from the event itself, as well as from year-round activities and partner initiatives connected to the global arthouse cinema movement.
