The INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT (IFDS) will be held in Hamburg from September 29th to October 1st, 2026.
This year’s 5 th Best International Innovation Distribution Award will be supported by the Marché du Film as an official partner. Marché du Film will provide the Award recipient with a visibility package at the following edition of the Marché du Film, showcasing the company's lineup. Also the IFDS dinner in honor of Vladimir Kokh and KMBO is hosted by Marché du Film.
The collaboration will also extend opportunities to a select group of emerging professionals from Cannes Makers, the Marché du Film’s talent development program dedicated to nurturing the next generation of industry professionals through hands-on experience, mentorship, and direct access to the market ecosystem. These alumni will be invited to attend IFDS and its partner event European Work in Progress, further expanding their networks and connecting with key players shaping the future of sales, distribution and financing.
As last year IFDS will be part of the FilmFest Hamburg Industry Days next to established programs like the innovative Explorer Konferenz, Futura Cinema and the international and national young talent initiatives #ATELIER as well as ENCOURAGE Film Talents and European Work in Progress (EWIP).
KMBO is a theatrical film distribution company based in France, founded in 2007 by Vladimir Kokh. The company releases around 15 films each year, driven by a diverse and distinctive editorial vision: supporting debut features to uncover new talent, and bringing the latest works from some internationally acclaimed directors to French audiences. KMBO is also a leading independent distributor in France for animated feature films for young and family audiences.
Through Little KMBO, the young-audience animation label launched by KMBO in 2009, Vladimir Kokh has developed a strong editorial line dedicated to children, families, schools, and early film education. KMBO won the Best Distributor of the Year award at Cartoon movie 2023. KMBO is a distributor in constant growth since its creation. KMBO is ranked 15th on the general Top distributors 2025, and 5th among independent distributors. KMBO reached around 3 millions admissions in 2024 and 2025. Alongside distribution, Vladimir Kokh has expanded his activity into production, notably through KMBO Production and the 2021 takeover of Les Films de l’Arlequin, a renowned French animation production. In 2026, he also took over Gebeka Films, one of France’s historic films distribution companies dedicated to independent animation and films for young audience.
The Best International Innovation Distribution Award is also sponsored by Gruvi, usheru and Comscore. The winners in recent years were Elissa Federoff from US distributor NEON in 2022 and Enrique Costa, founder and CEO of Spanish production company and distributor ELASTICA FILMS in 2023, Andrea Occhipinti, CEO of Italian distributor LUCKY RED in 2024 and Yohann Comte, co-founder and chairman of French World Sales CHARADES in 2025.
INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT (IFDS) focusses on film distribution and features a unique platform for international colleagues of the film industry. It offers dialogue and networking opportunities to analyze and keep in touch with the ever-changing global culture industry. Keynotes, panels, master classes and informal talks ensure the development of new visions about meaningful contribution to a vivid culture industry.
Representatives of many important European and international distributors, world sales and agencies develop trend-setting and practical solutions at the IFDS. With its practice-oriented approach and the direct exchange between colleagues involved in the day-to-day work of film distribution, the IFDS stands out among other industry events.
The IFDS is funded by Creative Europe MEDIA and supported by FilmFest Hamburg, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and the Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA).
The IFDS will be supported furthermore by the industry event European Work in Progress (EWIP), which will be held in Hamburg from September 28th to September 30th .
Registration for the INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTION SUMMIT is reserved for professionals actively working in the film industry.
Further information regarding IFDS can be found on its website: https://www.international-film-distribution-summit.com
