Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne

What Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne does

Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne, also branded as "Think Cinema," is a nonprofit annual film festival founded in 2018 in Lausanne, Switzerland, by Swiss actor Vincent Perez. The festival is currently in its 9th edition (announced for 2026 under the HOPE theme) and operates as a multi-strand event comprising film premieres, restored classic screenings, masterclasses, workshops, honorary awards, and the newer 'Nid à Talents' short film competition for emerging European filmmakers. Physical programming is staged at anchor venues including Le Capitole and Cinémathèque suisse, with a dedicated festival mobile app extending the experience digitally and integrating the Greta app for audiodescription and SDH accessibility services. A defining differentiation is the festival's accessibility and inclusion orientation, formalized through partnerships with Autisme Vaud, Sorties Relax, Regards Neufs, Fondation de l'Espérance, and the 'Rencontres en Plus' program, which trains young adults with ASD as festival journalists.

The business model is structurally nonprofit and event-driven. Revenue mechanics combine ticket sales for screenings and special events, project submission fees through the FilmFreeway platform for 'Nid à Talents', corporate sponsorship (BRP, Pathe, Piguet Galland, Pax, Swissmovie, 24 heures, Carac, LFM), corporate philanthropy (Nestlé Community), and government/foundation grants (Canton de Vaud, Ernst Göhner Foundation, VMR Foundation). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The primary customer segments are film enthusiasts and cinema lovers in the Lake Geneva region, emerging independent European short film creators, and accessibility-focused audiences including people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals. Distribution runs through physical venue screenings and the festival app; the Lake Geneva region is the core geographic footprint, with the 'Nid à Talents' program extending reach across European territories. The organization is small (15 employees), with no disclosed funding rounds, revenue figures, or M&A activity.

Name

Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne

Legal name

Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne

Website

https://rencontres7art.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne is a nonprofit annual film festival founded in 2018 in Lausanne, Switzerland, serving film enthusiasts, emerging European filmmakers, and accessibility-focused audiences through screenings, masterclasses, restored films, and the Nid à Talents short film competition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival Events

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Film festival
• Independent cinema
• Short film competition
• Cinema masterclasses
• Accessible film screenings

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Public ticket sales for film screenings, premieres, special events, and ceremonies during the annual festival
2. Project Submission Fees: Submission fees from emerging filmmakers entering short films through the FilmFreeway platform for the 'Nid à Talents' competition

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne (also known as Think Cinema) is an annual film festival based in Lausanne, Switzerland, in its 9th edition (2026) under the theme HOPE. It presents film screenings, premieres, restored classics, masterclasses, workshops, honorary awards, and the 'Nid à Talents' short film competition for emerging European filmmakers. The festival is distinguished by dedicated accessibility services including relaxed screenings, audiodescription, and SDH subtitles via the Greta app.

Product overview

Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne (also known as Think Cinema) is a film festival in Lausanne, Switzerland, currently in its 9th edition. The festival operates as a single unified event offering multiple programming strands: the core film festival with screenings and premieres, the Nid à Talents short film competition, Think Restored (classic film restorations), masterclasses and workshops, and honorary awards. The festival also provides accessibility features including relaxed screenings and audio description services through the Greta app, along with a dedicated festival app for ticketing and information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Think Cinema Film Festival Annual multi-day film festival in Lausanne, Switzerland, featuring film premieres, special screenings, junior screenings, masterclasses, workshops, and ceremonies, targeted at film enthusiasts, cinephiles, and the general public.
• Nid à Talents Short Film Competition Short film competition offering visibility and three prizes (Prix Envol, Jury Prize, Prix Coup de Cœur) to emerging European filmmakers.
• Masterclasses & Workshops Educational sessions featuring industry professionals, filmmakers, and guest speakers offered as part of the festival programming for attendees and aspiring filmmakers.
• Think Restored A programming strand dedicated to screening restored classic films, showcasing heritage cinema preservation efforts to festival audiences.
• Honorary Awards Prestigious awards presented to distinguished figures in cinema recognizing lifetime achievement and outstanding contributions to the film industry.
• Relaxed Screenings Specially adapted cinema screenings with soft ambient lighting, controlled sound levels, and a judgment-free environment for people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals, offered in partnership with Sorties Relax and Autisme Vaud.
• Festival Mobile App Mobile application providing festival schedule, ticketing, and accessibility features, including audiodescription (AD) and SDH subtitles delivered via the integrated Greta app.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three short films selected and awarded per edition through the Nid à Talents program
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canton de VaudcoreOthers · 1 January 2026Government support for the festival's inclusivity initiatives and accessibility programs.
• Nestlé CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership launching the inaugural 'Nid à Talents' call for projects dedicated to independent European short films. Nestlé Community supports emerging filmmakers through three prizes (Prix Envol, Jury Prize, Prix Coup de Cœur). The 2026 theme is HOPE. Submission deadline is June 15, 2026 via FilmFreeway.
• Autisme VaudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for inclusive festival programming, including autism-friendly relaxed screenings and the 'Rencontres en Plus' journalism training program for young adults with ASD.
• Sorties Relax (Association vaudoise des sorties Relax)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer two specially adapted 'Relaxed Screenings' with flexible environment accommodating diverse needs including soft lighting, controlled sound, and judgment-free atmosphere.
• Regards NeufscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation enabling access to cinema for people with visual or hearing impairments by providing audiodescription (AD) and Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH) via the Greta app.
• Fondation de l'EspéranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing ten young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to train as journalists and interview festival guests during 'Rencontres en Plus' sessions.
• Collège de Riant-PréminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for the annual flashmob event celebrating inclusivity and differences, performed at festival opening.
• Moi aussiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation collaboration for flashmob and inclusivity initiatives during the festival.
• Ernst Göhner FoundationcoreOthersFoundation supporting the festival's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
• VMR FoundationcoreOthersFoundation supporting inclusivity initiatives at the festival.
• BRPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor logo displayed on festival website footer.
• PatheminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor logo displayed on festival website footer.
• Piguet GallandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor logo displayed on festival website footer.
• PaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor logo displayed on festival website footer.
• SwissmovieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner logo displayed on festival website footer.
• 24 heuresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner logo displayed on festival website footer.
• CaracminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner logo displayed on festival website footer.
• LFMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner logo displayed on festival website footer.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Locarno Film Festival: Switzerland's largest film festival held annually in Ticino. Directly comparable as a Swiss annual film festival with similar scope (screenings, masterclasses, restored films, honorary awards), but at materially larger scale and international reach.
• Zurich Film Festival: Major Swiss film festival held annually in Zurich. Comparable as a Swiss annual cinema event combining premieres, retrospectives, and industry programming targeting a similar European cinephile audience.
• Visions du Réel: International documentary film festival in Nyon, Switzerland. Comparable as a Swiss annual festival with curated programming strands, filmmaker development, and industry audience.
• Solothurn Film Festival: Swiss national film festival focused on Swiss cinema, held annually in Solothurn. Comparable as a domestic Swiss festival programming national and independent cinema with curated strands.
• FIFF Fribourg International Film Festival: Swiss international film festival in Fribourg focused on human rights, inclusivity, and cultural diversity. Closely comparable given Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne's accessibility and inclusivity positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Berlinale: Major international film festival in Berlin. Comparable as a broader incumbent annual festival with multiple parallel programming strands (competition, retrospectives, masterclasses) but at vastly greater scale and reach.
• Cannes Film Festival: The world's most prominent film festival. Comparable as the gold-standard incumbent for festival programming models (competition, restored prints, masterclasses, short-film prizes à la Cinéfondation), though at a fundamentally different scale.
• Sundance Film Festival: Premier independent film festival in the United States. Comparable as a curated indie-film annual event with filmmaker development programs, restored-classics programming, and broad industry sponsor support.
• BFI London Film Festival: Major UK annual film festival operated by the BFI. Comparable as a broader incumbent with parallel programming strands (premieres, restored films, industry events) targeting similar cinephile and industry audiences in Europe.

BROAD_INCINCUMBENTs

• SXSW Film Festival: Annual US film and culture festival in Austin. Comparable as a multi-strand festival (premieres, masterclasses, awards) intersecting culture and industry, though at significantly larger scale and with broader entertainment programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Rencontres7eArtLausanne
• Facebookfacebook.com/LesRencontres7eArtLausanne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rencontres7artlausanne
• Instagraminstagram.com/rencontres7art

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne