The Union International des Cinemas (UNIC) has announced the election of a new president made official at an annual meeting held during the Cannes Film Festival.

Jan van Dommelen of the Dutch Federation will step in to replace the Belgian Federation's Guy Morlion who becomes senior vice president.

UNIC is the international body that unites the national cinema federations of fifteen countries, mostly in Europe. The organisation represents more than 25,000 screens in Europe focusing on matters such as digital cinema, piracy and the Television Without Frontiers directive.

Four vice-presidents were also named to the board at the Cannes meeting, Fabio de Luca from Italy, Steffen Kuchenreuther from Germany, Denmark's Mette Schramm and Spain's Primitivo Rodriguez. Frenchman Philippe Paumelle will act as treasurer.