Reaching New Heights!
The third edition of the three-day talent promotion program, ZFF Summit Climber, takes place from October 4 to October 6, 2024, in conjunction with the Zurich Summit, the Zurich Film Festival's prestigious boutique conference, at The Dolder Grand hotel.
The Zurich Film Festival enables eight junior sales and distribution executives to learn from Hollywood's finest. The aim of the new talent development programme is to use the framework of the conference and the festival to transfer knowledge about transatlantic economic and financing structures to selected participants. Additionally, the programme also offers participants a unique opportunity to expand their European and North American film network.
There are no participation or application fees for the program.
Programme
The ZFF Summit Climber is designed as a three day mentored talent development program, serving as a platform for knowledge and networking.
The programme places equal importance on knowledge transfer and the creation of practical networking opportunities. It specifically focuses on film financing and distribution. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of transatlantic financing structures and offers a unique opportunity to expand the North American and European networks through connections with Zurich Summit guests. Participants can deepen their knowledge of current challenges in film distribution, strengthen their collaboration with producers, and learn the rules and regulations for transatlantic cooperation.
Differentiate yourself from other junior executives and gain competitive advantage by joining the ZFF Summit Climber.
The programme will provide you with:
- A comprehensive understanding of transatlantic financing structures
- An appropriation of the rules of engagement for transatlantic collaboration
- A unique opportunity to expand your North American and European network, facilitated by introduction to Summit attendees
- Deepen your knowledge of current challenges in film sales and distribution
- Input on how to collaborate with producers
Participation in the ZFF Summit Climber is free but upon application. Eight industry talents will be selected and benefit of the ZFF Summit Climber package.
- The package for selected participants includes:
- Participation in the three-day programme
- Mentoring support from Julia Short and Beatrice Neumann during the programme
- ZFF Industry Business accreditation for the 20th Zurich Film Festival
- First-class accommodation during the programme (3 nights)
- Breakfast, selected lunches and dinners
- Invitation to numerous industry and networking events
- PLEASE NOTE: Travel expenses to and from the event must be covered by the participants themselves.
We bring the next generation of sales and distribution executives to the Zurich Summit.
Financing is one of the primary gaps in the knowledge of even very experienced executives, and it is a frequently requested topic in training programs. The collaboration with the Zurich Summit will enable the ZFF Summit Climber to close that gap, given the calibre of attendees and the collaboration with CAA. Obtaining this kind of knowledge will provide the selected participants with highly desired expertise and a competitive edge over their peers. The Zurich Film Festival aims to maximize the benefits of the excellent opportunities the Zurich Summit presents and use it as a stepping-off point for the learning they want to impart to the participants.
- Attendance of the Zurich Summit key sessions and programme at The Dolder Grand
- Breakout sessions about "How to package & finance films in North America & Europe" with high-profile Speaker
- Group sessions and briefing/debriefing
- Mentoring support during the programme from Julia Short and Beatrice Neumann
- Social & Networking Events
Day 1: Arrival by 2pm for the afternoon welcoming and networking programme
Day 2: Attendance of the Zurich Summit conference's key sessions and of the participants only break-out sessions
Day 3: Zurich Summit Tennis Tournament and Zurich Summit Dinner and other programme
Day 4: Departure
Application
Applications for the ZFF Academy 2024 are now closed. Applications were accepted until Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 23:59 CEST. The ZFF thanks all applicants for their submissions.
Applications are now being reviewed. Please note that only complete and correct application forms will be processed. Applicants will be informed about the selection by the end of August at the latest.
Application criteria
An application for the ZFF Summit Climber will be accepted if the following criteria are met:
- At least 2 years of professional experience in film sales, distribution or sales (such as Junior Sales Manager, Junior Buyer or Acquisitions Manager, or entry-level finance professional.
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- The online application form was submitted completely and correctly by Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 23:59 CEST at the latest.
If you have any questions about the application process or the talent program, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail at [email protected].
Participants
Find out more about our ZFF Summit Climbers and alumni of the past years!
ZFF Summit Climbers 2024
Christina Demetriou
Oyster Films
Ethan Cross
Film Seekers
Fola Amuludun
WME Independent
Imogen Sutton
Autlook
Christina Demetriou, Founder / Oyster Films / Germany: After studying communications and cultural studies in London, Christina began her film career as the festival manager at Coproduction Office in Berlin. She has also worked as a press officer for m-appeal. In 2021, she founded the boutique sales agency Oyster Films, focused on the intersection of cinema and art. The Oyster catalogue includes Miryam Charles’ debut CETTE MAISON, named one of Sight & Sound’s 50 Best Films of 2022, and Ayoung Kim’s XR film DELIVERY DANCER’S SPHERE, which won a Prix Ars Electronica award and was acquired by the TATE Collection. www.oyster-films.info
Ethan Cross, Sales & Acquisitions Executive / Film Seekers / UK: Ethan graduated from Birkbeck, University of London, with an MA in Film and Screen Media with Film Programming and Curation, during which he also interned for a number of sales and distribution companies including Altitude, Alliance Media Partners and Film Seekers. Ethan then joined Film Seekers on a permanent basis as a Sales and Marketing Assistant and over the last 3 years has worked his way up to Sales & Acquisitions Executive, handling sales in several territories, acquisitions strategy and festival campaigns.
Fola Amuludun, Coordinator / WME Independent / UK: Fola Amuludun is based in the London office of WME Independent, a division of William Morris Endeavor that handles domestic and international film packaging, film financing consulting services and sales across multiple platforms. In her current role, Fola has worked with the team on titles including Aneil Karia’s Hamlet, starring Riz Ahmed, Dev Patel’s Monkey Man, John Carney’s Flora and Son, and Ruben Ostlund’s Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness. Fola started her career in theatre working for Cheek by Jowl, an international touring company. Fola is a graduate from the University of Cambridge where she received a BA Hons in English Literature
Imogen Sutton, International Sales Coordinator / Autlook / Austria: Imogen runs the Festival Department at Autlook, one of the leading sales agents for feature documentaries, hybrids and doc series. As well as managing international premiere strategy, she oversees educational sales and acquisitions. Imogen holds a BA Hons in American Studies (History, Politics & Film), having studied at the University of Leicester and California State University, Long Beach.
Josephine Weyreuther
TOBIS Film
Margot Hervée
Totem Films
Natalia Dąbrowska
New Europe Film Sales
Sofia Kurdoglu
Intramovies
Josephine Weyreuther, International Acquisitions & Co-Production / TOBIS Film / Germany: After studying Film and Television Production at the Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Josephine has worked in the German production landscape for companies such as AMA Film, Schiwago Film, Real Film, Dark Ways, or Turbine Studios Germany. In 2022, she joined the International Acquisitions and Co-Productions department at TOBIS, focusing on acquiring international titles for German-language theatrical distribution and co-production. She is an alumnus of the master class Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris.
Margot Hervée, Head of Sales & Acquisitions / Totem Films / France: Margot Hervée graduated from Sciences Po Bordeaux with a Masters Degree in IP Law and holds an MA in Film Studies from University College London. After working on the successful launch of the SVOD platform Tënk, she joined arthouse streamer MUBI where she grew to lead licensing operations for premiums/exclusives. In 2023, she joined Totem Films as Head of Sales and Acquisitions where she acquires feature-length films and oversees sales globally. [email protected] / https://www.totem-films.com/
Natalia Dąbrowska, Festivals | Sales LATAM & Baltics / New Europe Film Sales / Poland: In 2018 Natalia joined New Europe Film Sales, a boutique sales company based in Warsaw, where she manages festival strategies. She’s worked on films like Lamb, Corpus Christi, and recently Julie Keeps Quiet and Frewaka. In addition to her festival role, Natalia oversees sales in Latin America and the Baltic countries. She holds a BA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Warsaw and has completed the EAVE Puentes workshop.
Sofia Kurdoglu, Sales Executive / Intramovies / Italy: Sofia Kurdoglu started her career in the Film Industry at Fandango Sales, one of the most important independent producers in Italy, after graduating from the LUISS Business School Film Production Programme. She spent two years in Rome as a Festival and Sales Coordinator before making the jump to the big Studio Business, moving to London and working with ITV Global Distribution (now ITV Global Partnerships) as a Contract Coordinator for Italy and Iberia, which lead to a promotion as Sales Executive for the CEE region. But missing the hussel and bussel of the indie sector, she moved back to Italy in late 2023 to start working with Intramovies, one of the oldest and most established sales agency in Italy. Now she is the sales executive for English and Spanish speaking territories, as well as CEE.
Summit Climber Speaker
Our ZFF Summit Climbers benefit from intimate breakout sessions from high-profile speakers. Roeg Sutherland, Tom Quinn and Kristen Figeroid, among others, have already passed on their expert knowledge to our participants.
Speaker 2023
Niels Alberg
Co-Founder & CEO
PUBLIKUM
Robert Walak
Headd of Film & TV
Iconoclast
Roeg Sutherland
Head of Media Finance
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Tom Quinn
CEO & Founder
NEON
Speaker 2022
David M. Taghioff
CEO
Library Pictures
Kristen Figeroid
Managing Director & EVP
Sierra/Affinity
Roeg Sutherland
Head of Media Finance
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Tom Quinn
CEO & Founder
NEON
FAQs
The ZFF Summit Climber is a talent development programme of the Zurich Film Festival. The three-day programme is aimed at emerging sales and acquisition executives. During the ZFF Summit Climber, the selected participants will, among other things, have the unique opportunity to meet with well-known personalities of the film industry and gain insights into their creative process.
The ZFF Summit Climber will take place from October 4 - October 6, 2024 as part of the Zurich Film Festival (October 03 - October 13, 2023).
- Participation in the three-day programme
- Mentoring support from Julia Short and Beatrice Neumann during the programme
- ZFF Industry Business accreditation for the 20th Zurich Film Festival
- First-class accommodation during the programme (3 nights)
- Breakfast, selected lunches and dinners
- Invitation to numerous industry and networking events
- PLEASE NOTE: Travel expenses to and from the event must be covered by the participants themselves.
The effective program varies from year to year in order to adapt to the selected participants. However, in 2022 it consisted of the following parts: Zurich Summit Conference, Breakout Sessions, Group sessions, mentoring support, Zurich Summit Charity Tennis Tournament, Zurich Summit Dinner and numerous other networking events.
Anyone - regardless of age, gender, race or origin, place of residence, religion or belief - can apply, provided the following criteria are met: The person applying works in acquisitions, distribution or film sales and has at least 2 years of professional experience in that role. Furthermore, the person applying must be fluent in English and have met the formal criteria of the application process.
No, the ZFF Summit Climber is reserved for junior executives from Distribution, Acquisitions and Film Sales. Producers can apply for the ZFF Academy.
No. There is no age limit.
Yes, you can re-submit an application, but please note that participation in the ZFF Summit Climber is limited to one time only.
The application process consists of two steps:
- Prepare the necessary documents to fill out the online form.
- Fill out the online form
You must indicate your motivation directly in the online application form. It is a good idea to plan ahead and type your answers in advance in a separate document. You can then copy them directly into the application form. Please be careful not to exceed the maximum number of characters. We will strictly read only the allowed number.
A good advice is: we don't expect you to write a novel, just try to be personal.
8 participants will be selected from all complete applications received.
Shortly after we have received your application, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by e-mail. It is expected that by the end of August, all those who have submitted a valid application will receive feedback on the selection.
Official ZFF Summit Climber Hotel Partner: Locke am Platz
Zurich Summit
The Zurich Summit is the largest industry event at the Zurich Film Festival. The boutique conference takes place on the first weekend of the festival at The Dolder Grand. A top-class line-up of international and national film producers, sales executives and creators in film, TV and entertainment, as well as technology entrepreneurs and financiers meet to debate the latest and most groundbreaking trends in the industry.
