The Locarno Industry Academy is a training program launched in 2014 at the Locarno Film Festival with strong European and international components, designed to help young professionals expand their network in the areas of international sales, marketing, traditional and online distribution, exhibition and programming (festivals, film clubs and film libraries).

In 2024, the Industry Academy’s Brazilian variant, the São Paulo Locarno Industry Academy, takes place within the schedule of the 14th BrLab.

The program offers a unique opportunity for new generations to understand the industry’s challenges and connect with established professionals. The selected professionals will received Ibermedia grants, thanks to the support of the Ibermedia Program.

In the last decade in Brazil, a new interest in the film industry has emerged, mainly as a means to reach the international market. With new technologies competing for space in movie theaters and today’s new content formats, the independent film industry needs to constantly reinvent itself.

The Industry Academy in Latin America has become an incredible opportunity for young professionals in Latin America and an essential hub for network connections in the region. After 6 years in partnership with BrLab, we are proud to support this place for much necessary dialogue among a great diversity of industry works, as well as its producers and creators.

The Industry Academy has also expanded significantly on the international scene, offering workshops in alliance with film festivals and renowned institutions such as the Thessaloniki IFF in Greece, Film at Lincoln Center in the US, MC Distribution and BCP in Beirut, and recently the Realness Institute in South Africa.

In Latin America, Industry Academy takes place in Mexico with FICUNAM, in Costa Rica with Pacifica Gray at MAUCC, in Colombia with BAM – Bogotá Audiovisual Market and in Brazil in association with BrLab. This year, for the 8th edition of the workshop in Brazil, we have the support of Spcine, Projeto Paradiso and Programa Ibermedia, in addition to a media alliance with LatAm Cinema.