Representatives from the three companies will present their projects at upcoming CineEurope.

The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) have announced the three finalists for their inaugural Cinema: Digital Innovation Award.

WeWantCinema, Gruvi and Distrify will compete for the €5000 cash prize sponsored by Orange, which aims to encourage radical new thinking, helping cinemas reach out to new audiences using social media, smartphone applications and other digital innovations.

Marieke Jonker (WeWantCinema), Ben Johnson (Gruvi) and Andy Green (Distrify) will present their company’s project at a special session chaired by Peter Buckingham at CineEurope on June 18.

The competition attracted more than 40 project proposals from 15 different countries, before a panel of judges chaired by Buckingham selected the three finalists. At the end of the session at CineEurope, the winner of the award will be chosen by the audience, made up of decision makers from across the European cinema exhibition industry.

UNIC’s Chief Executive Jan Runge [pictured] said: “We invite all those present in CineEurope to join us at the Cinema: Digital Innovation Award session for an exciting look into future innovative solutions bringing together exhibitors and their audiences.”