Industry Days April 28–30

The professional program of the Alternativa Film Festival that brings together filmmakers, impact organizations, and social change leaders, serving as a meeting point for industry professionals across the globe.

About

Industry Days take place in parallel with the festival screenings and precedes the Awards Ceremony. Industry Days provides a space for inspiring conversations, innovative practices, new collaborations, and long-term partnerships between film professionals and impact field builders. Like the festival itself, each edition of Industry Days focuses on a new region. In 2026, the focus region is Latin America


In Medellín, the three-day program will include panel discussions organized jointly with LatAm partners — Proimágenes Colombia, Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM), Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara (FICG), DocsMX, Nodo Sur, and Cine Qua Non Lab — as well as a networking session and one-to-one meetings for filmmakers whose films have been selected for the Competition program.


Industry Days panels on April 28–29 are free to attend. Find more information about the registration process in the FAQ section. The events on April 30 are by invitation only

Key themes

  • Impact lies at the heart of Alternativa’s work — from the films we support to our training programs, distribution initiatives, community work, and partnerships. Alternativa focuses on stories that have the power to create change, influence society, and challenge conventional ways of understanding injustice. We believe in cinema as a subtle yet unstoppable force — one that fosters empathy, broadens perspectives, and inspires people to become part of positive change.
  • Distribution is one of Alternativa’s key strategic priorities today. Through its programs and partnerships, Alternativa explores diverse ways of expanding audiences for impactful films, highlighting both traditional and innovative distribution models. We aim to spotlight successful case studies of films addressing urgent global issues and support a new generation of distributors and changemakers working through cinema.
  • Connecting filmmakers and industry professionals across the Global South is a core part of Alternativa’s mission. Through Industry Days, we bring together voices from Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Central Asia — regions that may seem distant but share deep common ground in their histories, values, and future challenges. We encourage collaboration across these territories and create space for meaningful exchange and long-term partnerships.
All dates
3 Events

April 28

April 28 • 10.00

Industry DaysPanelBAM/Proimágenes Colombia x Alternativa

Non-conventional coproduction: what is coming next. South–South partnerships beyond the Rhetoric

The panel brings together filmmakers and producers working across Latin America, Africa, and Asia to explore what truly happens when Global South territories collaborate directly.

April 28 • 11.45

Industry DaysPanel

TRAINING WITH IMPACT: HOW CAN EDUCATION CHANGE THE BURNING WORLD

We will be joined by leading training initiatives from across Latin America, offering unique insights into the new generation of storytellers around the world.

April 28 • 14.45

Industry DaysPanelSANFIC Industria x Alternativa

You are the industry: 15 years of SANFIC. How the impactful institution can make a difference

This conversation will reflect on the evolution of SANFIC Industria and its role as a platform for the development, financing, and international circulation of audiovisual projects from Ibero-America.

3 Events

April 29

April 29 • 10.00

Industry DaysPanelBAM/Proimágenes Colombia x Alternativa

Distribution across Global Majority: breakthrough to the future. New markets, new tools, new vision – from SEA to Latin America and beyond

In this session, we will explore new strategies presented by leading experts, examining how innovative distribution tools can be implemented across the diverse landscapes of the Global South.

April 29 • 11.45

Industry DaysPanelWith MUBI LatAm, Pijama, and Retina Latina

What’s Coming Next: A Guide to Collaborating with Streaming Platforms Across the Global South

In this session, we will explore what platforms are looking for and what types of content are gaining traction, where they are looking for new audiences and fair innovative ways to cooperate with both talents and viewers.

April 29 • 14.45

Industry DaysPanelFICG x Alternativa

The path of an impactful film – from the lab through the festival premiere to global success

Case study of Kenya, a documentary that exemplifies how cinema can contribute to public dialogue and social transformation.


The Industry Days 2026 program is centered around three main topics that are currently among the most urgent and challenging in the world of cinema: distribution, coproduction, and impact. We plan to explore visionary and forward-looking practices in these areas, connecting films, filmmakers, and their rapidly evolving audiences in our ever-changing world. That is why I am confident that participation in our Industry Days will be valuable for professionals at all stages of their careers — from experienced filmmakers to those just beginning their journey.


But perhaps the most important aspect of Alternativa is the community we strive to build in every region we work. Human relationships are essential both to impact and to the film industry as a whole. Latin America is a continent where the depth of human connection, warmth, and strong personal ties are deeply rooted and profoundly inspiring. I am confident that our program will spark new partnerships and projects, and help create a unique toolkit — a shared body of knowledge that participants can apply in practice.

Industry Partners

Alternativa Impact Distribution Course

Our free Impact Distribution online course brings together international best practices, proven strategies, and hands-on tools for designing powerful, change-making impact campaigns.