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, February 4th 2026.

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