UNIC, the International Union of Cinemas, has launched the Cinema: Digital Innovation Award to encourage radical new thinking that helps film theatres reach out to new audiences using the internet, social media and smart phone applications. Organisations and individuals are invited to submit short summary proposals until 31 May 2012. Shortlisted candidates will be given the chance to present their ideas at Europe’s biggest film and cinema conference CineEurope in Barcelona, at the expense of UNIC. The winner will receive a small cash prize of € 5000. More importantly, each of the selected candidates gets the chance to meet with key decision makers from the cinema exhibition industry – an ideal chance to find potential clients and secure further seed capital. The contest is open to digital agencies, communications experts, interface designers, software and app developers, researchers, students and everybody else who has the vision and skills to help cinemas reach out to new audiences in a digitally networked world. Applicants are invited to submit a short synopsis of their project proposal to a high profile selection committee chaired by film industry and audience expert Peter Buckingham. “Social media, location based services and smart phone apps that often mash diverse data sources in innovative ways change how we make lifestyle and entertainment choices. A smart social app on your phone can, for example, be as influential in determining what you will do on a Wednesday evening as a good review in the newspaper. We wish to examine whether there is untapped potential for cinemas in this context”, says Jan Runge, CEO of UNIC, Europe’s trade body for cinema exhibitors. More information and the application guidelines for participation in the competition can be downloaded from UNIC’s website on www.unic-cinemas.org. Any questions that you may have should be directed to award@unic-cinemas.org. Phone: +32 2 8809939. About UNIC The Union Internationale des Cinémas/ Interantional Union of Cinemas (UNIC) is an international association representing the interests of cinema exhibitors in the EU, Russia, Turkey and Israel. We are passionate about seeing films on the big screen and promote the social, cultural and economic value of cinemas in Europe and internationally. Find out more about us on www.unic-cinemas.org. About CineEurope 2012 CineEurope is the only European convention and trade show dedicated to the needs of the movie theatre industry. Each year, over 1,500 cinema exhibition and distribution professionals from Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) come to CineEurope to view the latest major cinema releases and extensive product reels, gain valuable industry information at educational seminars, find new products, services and technologies and network with peers at fun-filled special events.