EFP Welcomes Irina Ignatiew-Lemke as New Managing Director

EFP Welcomes Irina Ignatiew-Lemke as New Managing Director

European Film Promotion (EFP) has announced the appointment of Irina Ignatiew-Lemke as the new managing director, succeeding Sonja Heinen starting August 1, 2026. With over 25 years of experience in the European and international film industry, Ignatiew-Lemke has held executive positions at Telepool, Red Arrow International, and All3Media Fiction Deutschland. She has also worked on various projects such as Lilyhammer, Bosch, and Cleverman, among others. Additionally, she recently founded Boxworks Media, a Munich-based production company focusing on scripted content.

During the summer, Heinen will assist Ignatiew-Lemke in transitioning into her new role before officially stepping down at the end of July 2026 after a decade as managing director. Vítor Pinheiro, the president of EFP, praised Ignatiew-Lemke's industry expertise and international perspective, highlighting her understanding of both the creative and business aspects of the global film landscape. He also expressed gratitude to Heinen for her exceptional leadership during her tenure.

Ignatiew-Lemke emphasized the importance of European cinema's creative strength, diversity, and international significance, noting EFP's crucial role in supporting films and talent on a global scale. EFP, a network of film promotion institutes from 37 European countries, promotes European films and talent internationally through various initiatives, including European Shooting Stars, which showcases ten emerging European actors annually at the Berlin Film Festival.