Founded in 1992 with funding from the MEDIA programme (Creative Europe) and from the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), Europa Cinemas is the first film theatre network focusing on European films.
Its objective is to provide operational and financial support to cinemas that commit themselves to screen a significant number of European non-national films, to offer events and initiatives as well as promotional activities targeted at Young Audiences.
Thanks to the support of Eurimages and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the influence of Europa Cinemas extends to Eastern European countries, to the Balkans, to Russia and to Turkey. In addition, 42 screens (44 screens) in 42 cities in 31 countries in Europe and worldwide are also associated with the Europa Cinemas network under the partnership with the Institut Français.
Open to all types of cinemas, from the municipal ones to the multiplexes, the network has also expanded well beyond Europe according to the support programmes implemented: yesterday in Asia and Latin America through the Mundus programme, tomorrow in Canada via the Eurimages programme. Europa Cinemas thus contributes to making Europe and its cultural diversity a shared idea around the world.