Alternativa Distribution debuts at MIPCOM

Alternativa Distribution team has just returned from MIPCOM Cannes 2026, one of the world's leading markets for television and entertainment content. It was the label's first appearance at MIPCOM and a great opportunity to introduce Alternativa Distribution to the international content industry and meet potential partners.

Introducing Alternativa Distribution to the Industry

On October 12, Alternativa Distribution hosted a networking cocktail in Cannes, bringing together buyers, distributors, press, and partners. The team was represented by Avital Lavi, Head of Alternativa Distribution; Maria Shilova, Licensing Manager; Andjelka Jankovic, Head of Marketing and Communications; and Julia Boykova, Partnerships and Communications Manager. They were joined by Alternativa Advisory Board member Dennis Ruh and Ruslan Zhemkov, Head of PR & Partnerships at inVision.

The evening was an opportunity to present our expanded slate, including new acquisitions such as Elephants in the Fog and No Good Men, and discuss our mission, growing catalogue, and future plans. It was also a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, including journalists from Señal News and Prensario whom we had the pleasure of meeting at the Alternativa Film Festival 2026 in Colombia.

Building Connections Across the Global Content Market

Throughout MIPCOM, the Alternativa Distribution team met with both long-standing partners and new industry contacts, including representatives of public broadcasters, pay-TV operators, streaming platforms, and international distributors. The team also caught up with representatives from its communications agency, DDA, and journalists from Deadline, which recently featured our expanded slate.

Avital Lavi also attended the LatAm Partnership Summit and the ASIA x Global Executive Summit, exploring opportunities for cross-regional collaboration.

Unlike film festival markets, MIPCOM focuses primarily on television, streaming, and commercially oriented entertainment. For Alternativa Distribution, this was a chance to step beyond the festival ecosystem and connect with TV industry players who can help bring impactful films from the Global South to audiences in the Global North and beyond.

Industry Trends: New Formats, New Opportunities

Microdramas, vertical storytelling, and mobile-first entertainment were everywhere at MIPCOM 2026, alongside discussions about AI-generated content. These fast-growing formats are opening up new ways to create, distribute, and experience stories.

Could impact-driven storytelling find its place in vertical entertainment too? For filmmakers passionate about telling socially meaningful stories, these emerging formats present both challenges and opportunities to reach entirely new audiences.

What’s Next

Our MIPCOM debut was an important step in growing Alternativa Distribution, expanding its international network and opening new distribution opportunities.

Next stop: MIP Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, October 28–30. There, the Alternativa Distribution team will be joined by our Festival team, who will introduce the Open Call for AFF 2027 in Africa, connect with local filmmakers and industry professionals, and build relationships with film communities across the continent.