Introducing the HBF x PUBLIKUM Audience Outreach Award

We are proud to announce a new collaboration between the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) and PUBLIKUM: the HBF x PUBLIKUM Audience Outreach Award. This award provides a tailored audience consultancy—valued at €9,000—for an HBF-backed film project presented at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Pro’s CineMart co-production market.

Embedded within the inaugural CineMart x HBF lineup, this initiative supports filmmakers from territories where film infrastructure may be limited or restrictive. Rather than traditional financial support, the award offers customized consultancy from PUBLIKUM at a critical stage of development. This allows audience insights to meaningfully inform creative choices, positioning, and communication strategies from the start.

In a fragmented cultural landscape, we believe cinema remains a vital space for shared encounter. By supporting films that connect with specific and underserved audiences, this award reinforces a commitment to stories that bridge divides and create moments of collective reflection.

The winning project will be announced at the IFFR Pro Awards on Wednesday, 4 February 2026.

Special thanks to Tamara Tatishvili and Jeske van der Slikke for their partnership in making this award a reality.