E V E N T S With the Bosphorus as a backdrop and a truly global cast-list, ECM 2019 was a big success. Patrick von Sychowski reports on its second outing.
The ECM conference 2019
T
HE
SECOND
annual Emerging Cinema
Markets
(ECM) conference held in Istanbul in
late November saw a renewed focus on the territories that will be the growth engines of theatrical exhibition in the coming decade, stretching all the way from Kazakhstan over to Cote d’Ivoire. Produced by DCS Events together with the Big Picture, the event was held at a dramatic venue in Istanbul, a hotel that immediately overlooks the Bosphorus, with a significantly expanded focus, speakers, sponsors and attendees. Organising an event with such a broad focus was never going to be easy,
due. Between them the territories of
round table discussion by the Cinema
Africa, Turkey, New Europe (the Balkans
Technology Community (CTC). This
and former Soviet states), Central Asia
opened with a presentation of ‘The
and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Customer’s Journey’ from Movio’s Sarah
represent a market opportunity of 1.7
Lewthwaite, who argued for a transition
their stride. A large delegation turning
billion people served by only 6,850
from a “build it, they will come” attitude
up on the morning of the first day
cinema screens! With growth peaking
to a more customer-centric cinema
wanting to pay for their conference
in China and Latin America, there is a
approach. From a practical perspective,
passes in cash? No problem…
tremendous interest in these regions.
organising delegate seating in wide
but the team behind the conference had clearly learned from the inaugural event and took whatever organisational challenges were thrown at them in
When it comes to indicators of success, the arrival of IMAX points to a maturing cinema market
The focus of the conference was
In the first of many partnerships,
circles, instead of having everyone
broad. but with each market getting its
before the conference there was a
facing a podium, contributed to a lively
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