TATINO is proud to launch First Cut+ Munich, in partnership with the Munich International Film Festival, one of Europe’s leading summertime film festivals. The program will select 6 films in post-production – drawn from TATINO’s flagship initiatives First Cut Lab, Full Circle Lab, and Pop Up Film Residency.

Throughout June 2026, the creative teams of producers and directors will take part in a focused online workshop designed to strengthen the marketing, positioning, and international visibility of their films. They will also attend online talks, lectures, and case studies dedicated to film promotion, publicity, media, and marketing.

The online component of First Cut+ Munich includes:

• Two online consultation/brainstorming sessions (4 hours in total) with an international film-marketing expert
• Two online consultations (0.5 hour each) with an editor on the film’s video extract or marketing piece
• One consultation (1 hour) with an international sales agent focused on the film’s specific needs and strategy
• In addition, the program offers online lectures and masterclasses (1.5 hour each) on positioning, publicity, media, and film marketing

Following the online workshop, each selected project will leave with concrete promotional tools and materials, including:

• a structured marketing strategy
• a revised logline and synopsis aligned with that strategy
• main still(s)
• a video piece for the film’s marketing
• a ready-to-deliver pitch highlighting the film’s unique selling point (USP)

The online sessions will run from the week of May 25 through June 20, 2026, with an expected workload of 2 to 4 hours per week.

The participants will then join the Industry Days, the industry forum of the Munich International Film Festival, for an on-site showcase and networking program taking place from June 29 to July 2, 2026. There, filmmakers will benefit from one-to-one meetings, B2B networking, additional lectures and public talks, as well as a showcase of the 6 selected projects, guided by an international pool of seasoned film professionals and marketing experts. Each presentation will consist of an edited video piece of up to 7 minutes, prepared with the editor-consultant, and a pitch of up to 3 minutes, refined with the marketing expert.

In terms of participation, the online program is open to producer(s) and director, while the on-site participation in Munich is intended for one producer per selected project.

“We are truly excited to collaborate with the Industry section of the Munich International Film Festival — a partnership that brings together creative producing and real industry momentum at exactly the right moment. First Cut+ will arrive in Munich with six carefully selected works-in-progress, at a stage where promotion, marketing, and positioning become absolutely crucial, as these films are about to be picked up by festivals and by distributors and discovered by the audiences. Bringing together filmmakers, consultants, and industry experts in this context will create a powerful space for exchange, visibility, and strategic thinking, and we strongly believe our collaboration will give these projects the best possible conditions to move forward internationally.”
Natalia Libet
Head of First Cut+

“The Munich International Film Festival has long been a key address for German film professionals. As the number-one platform for German filmmaking, we’re the go-to resource for anyone seeking access to the German film industry. Our CineCoPro initiatives make the festival a prime location for international co-productions; we’ve also partnered with the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF), the Kirch Foundation, and TATINO to build a sustainable mentoring program, Munich Film Up!, which serves as a launchpad for German and international talent. Now we’re thrilled to be working with TATINO to bring a further initiative to Munich. First Cut+ will make our industry platform even more international by connecting outstanding global filmmakers with experts from Germany and abroad, as always amid the casual Munich ambience for which our festival is known.”
Christoph Gröner & Julia Weigl
Artistic Directors of Munich International Film Festival

The program is managed by producer Natalia Libet, who welcomes returning advisors: Cătălin Cristuțiu (editor), Christina Pelekani (Marketing & Distribution Consultant – Endorphin Agency), Boris Pugnet (Marketing Consultant), Katarzyna Siniarska (Head of Sales – New Europe Film Sales), and Joanna Solecka (Film Marketing Strategist & Awards Consultant – Alphapanda).

The online lectures are conducted by Michael Arnon (PR Expert – Wolf Consultants), Wendy Mitchell (Film Journalist & Festival Consultant), and Katarzyna Siniarska (Head of Sales – New Europe Film Sales).

The creative teams will arrive in Munich on Monday, June 29, 2026. They will attend the marketing master talk given by marketing strategist Joanna Solecka during the Industry Days, and take part in a curated networking event. The showcase of selected projects will take place on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, followed by one-to-one meetings.

Here are a few examples amongst the 96 feature films that have participated in First Cut+:

THE ARCTIC CIRCLE OF LUST by Markku Heikinnen
CPH:DOX 2026

OUR SECRET by Grace Passô
Berlinale Perspectives 2026

EXPLANATION TO EVERYTHING by Gábor Reisz
Orizzonti Best Film Award, Venice 2023

CHARCOAL by Carolina Markowicz
Toronto Platform 2022

THE MAIDEN by Graham Foy
Cinema of the Future Award, Venice 2022

A PIECE OF SKY by Michael Koch
Silver Bear Special Mention, Berlinale 2022

107 MOTHERS by Peter Kerekes
Grand Prix, Les Arcs 2021

IMMACULATE by Monica Stan & George Chiper-Lillemark
Lion of the Future, Venice 2021

ABOUT TATINO

First Cut+ is part of TATINO’s broader ecosystem, which annually delivers labs and residencies for over 300 filmmakers from 50 countries through the flagship programs First Cut Lab, Full Circle Lab, and Pop Up Film Residency, as well as through its global partnership with Netflix.

More information about TATINO here.

ABOUT MUNICH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Munich International Film Festival (FILMFEST MÜNCHEN) is the number-one platform for German filmmaking and a key venue for discovering what’s new in international cinema. At the festival’s Industry Days, German and international filmmakers, producers, and experts from the industry gather each year to share their ideas.

In a variety of panel discussions, talks, and workshops, the Industry Days address current developments in the film and television industry and explore what the future may hold. Additionally, the CineCoPro Conference brings together German producers and producers from a different region each time. The Industry Beer Garden offers a casual setting for networking, finding inspiration, and forging new collaborations. In 2026, the Industry Days will be held during the Munich International Film Festival from June 26 to July 5. For more information, see FILMFEST MÜNCHEN.