IDA Hub to bring Estonian film innovation to Cannes Next with support from Tehnopol

The Film and Multimedia Innovation Center, IDA Hub, in cooperation with Tehnopol’s Film and Multimedia Accelerator, will host a discussion “When Startups Meet Studios: Rethinking Film Production” as part of the Cannes Next programme at the Cannes Film Festival. The event will bring together film industry professionals and startup founders to explore how technology and new production models are reshaping film production.

Cannes Next is part of Marché du Film, the business hub of the Festival de Cannes and the world’s largest international gathering of film professionals, bringing together more than 15,000 participants from 140 countries each year.

Cannes Next 2026 will once again welcome producers, distributors, festival representatives and film institutions to discuss the future of the industry. This year, the focus will be on AI workflows, virtual production, financing models, new production processes and technologies.

Olga Kurdovskaja, Head of Tehnopol’s Film and Multimedia Accelerator, said that Cannes Next is a meeting point where film production connects with startup thinking, technology development and innovation. “Last year, we attended as observers, but this year we are taking a much more active role in showcasing the opportunities being created in Estonia to the people solving real challenges in the film industry. It is also significant that, for the first time, teams from the Film and Multimedia Accelerator will have a unique opportunity to discuss the trends shaping the sector and present themselves to leading industry players,” said Kurdovskaja.

Meeting point: Cannes Next 2026!

• On 15 May from 9:00 to 10:00 we invite you to join the panel discussion “When Startups Meet Studios: Rethinking Film Production” at Village International Pantiero.

The discussion will be opened by Kristi Jõeäär, Head of Marketing and Communications at Tehnopol, who will speak about why Estonia is emerging as a hub for film, multimedia and sector-specific innovation, and how new solutions are being developed in Estonia to address real challenges in the industry.

The panel will feature Maris Toomel, who is helping to develop the IDA Hub ecosystem and strengthen its international visibility; Olga Kurdovskaja, Head of Tehnopol’s Film and Multimedia Accelerator; as well as representatives of startups that have participated in the Film and Multimedia Accelerator, including Sander Lebreht from Filmlink and Ronja Kissa from IRIS Casting Ecosystem. The discussion will be moderated by Anssi Komulainen.

The discussion “When Startups Meet Studios: Rethinking Film Production” is supported by Tehnopol and the Ida-Viru Investment Agency, IVIA.

• On 15 May from 10:00 to 12:00, PÖFF and IDA Hub will host a brunch at the Estonian pavilion at International Village Riviera, pavilion no. 121.

The brunch will offer a chance to continue the conversations in a more informal setting, bringing together Estonian film and multimedia professionals, enthusiasts and friends of Estonia.

The Film and Multimedia Accelerator is part of the IDA Hub Film and Multimedia Innovation Center, founded by IVEK, IVIA, and Tehnopol. The goal of this unique innovation center is to support the development of film talents and future smart creators, as well as to help revitalize and diversify the economy of Ida-Virumaa. The solutions created by the accelerated companies will bring innovation to both the region and the wider film industry.

The development of the IDA Hub Film Innovation Center is funded by the European Union through the Just Transition Fund measure.