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Festival & Release Calendar: Where to Catch EO Media’s Top New Titles in 2026

ggreatest

2026-02-08

9 min read

Curated 2026 festival calendar for EO Media titles — where they screen, how to get tickets, and pro tips for buyers and fans.

A one-stop festival calendar for fans and buyers — and how to catch EO Media’s 2026 breakout titles

Missing premieres, juggling passes, and losing sight of release windows is the experience of many fans and buyers in 2026. EO Media’s 2026 slate—reinforced by partnerships with Nicely Entertainment and Gluon Media and bolstered by 20 new titles announced at Content Americas—adds urgency to the question: where and when will these films screen, and how do you actually get in?

Quick read: essential calendar + ticket strategies

At a glance: EO Media’s likely festival roadmap for 2026 clusters premieres at Content Americas (Jan), Sundance (Jan), Berlinale Market (Feb), SXSW (Mar), Cannes & Marché du Film (May), Tribeca (June), Venice & Venice Market (Sept), Toronto & TIFF Industry (Sept), AFM (Nov) and market screenings across Busan and AFI’s fall festivals. Below you’ll find a month-by-month calendar, ticket strategies for fans and industry, plus release-window playbooks and outreach templates to secure screenings and meetings.

"EO Media brings specialty titles, rom-coms, holiday movies to Content Americas" — Variety, Jan 16, 2026

Why this calendar matters in 2026

Festival behavior changed markedly between late 2024 and early 2026. Organizers pushed hybrid passes and curated marketplaces to help buyers cut through subscription fatigue and platform fragmentation. Studios and boutique distributors increasingly split premieres across markets—industry-only market premieres for deals at Marché du Film and Content Americas, followed by public premieres at flagship festivals. EO Media’s 2026 slate is tailored to that strategy: a blend of specialty dramas, rom-coms, and holiday titles optimized for both market sales and consumer-facing festivals.

That means two things for you in 2026: first, screenings you can attend fall into two flavors—industry/market screenings (booked via badges and buyer registrations) and public festival screenings (single tickets, subscriber queues). Second, release strategies are hybrid-heavy: limited theatrical runs, targeted festival pushes, and carefully timed streaming windows to maximize upfront deals.

EO Media’s 2026 festival & release calendar (curated)

Below is a curated roadmap built from the EO Media sales slate announced at Content Americas (Jan 2026), historical festival patterns, and early 2026 market behavior. Use this as a planning baseline—events may shift, so confirm with festival schedules and EO Media’s market catalog.

January — Content Americas (Miami) & Sundance (Park City)

Content Americas (Jan): EO Media’s expanded 20-title slate debuted here. Expect industry-first market screenings and sales calls. If you’re buying: book market meetings in advance and keep availability windows tight.
Sundance (late Jan): Ideal for high-profile indies and audience awards. Titles to watch from EO: award-bearing festival darlings like A Useful Ghost (Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prix 2025) could receive boutique US exposure aimed at indie buyers and critics.

February — Berlinale & Berlinale Co-Events

Where: Berlin’s industry market remains a top place for European co-pros and global sales agents. EO Media titles with festival pedigree often position market screenings here to court European distributors before wider festival runs.

March — SXSW & Early Market Pushes

SXSW is a play for titles with cross-platform appeal (TV adaptations, podcasts-to-film, music-driven features). Expect EO rom-coms and rowdy indie fare to show here, followed by targeted US release talks.

May — Cannes Film Festival & Marché du Film

Cannes is the critical sales hinge. EO Media often uses the Marché du Film to secure international deals. Titles that need coast-to-coast buyer focus or major foreign pre-sales will screen in Cannes’ Marché screenings, even if their public premiere is later.

June — Tribeca & Specialty US Festivals

Tribeca is a natural public showcase for US-focused indie fare and audience-friendly rom-coms. Expect EO to book consumer-facing world or North American premieres here when targeting US theatrical or streaming partners.

Summer — Specialty Festivals & Niche Markets

June–August sees genre festivals, LGBTQ+ showcases, and summer specialty markets. Holiday titles may preview in summer markets for international buyers planning seasonal windows.

September — Venice, Toronto (TIFF), and Industry Networking

Venice and TIFF are indispensable for awards-aspiring features and big international sales. EO Media’s higher-profile titles aiming at awards conversation will concentrate premieres here, with TIFF Industry providing late Q4/early 2027 platform deals.

October–November — Busan, AFM (American Film Market), and Holiday Release Prep

AFM is where distributors close US and ancillary deals ahead of holiday seasons—a vital stop for EO’s seasonal titles. Busan accelerates Asian sales and can be a last-mile market for world sales agents.

December — Limited Theatrical & Holiday Streaming Windows

EO’s holiday films and rom-coms tend toward limited theatrical windows in December before streaming platform rollouts in Q1. Watch release schedules for staggered windows: theatrical (2–4 weeks), PVOD (30–45 days after theatrical), then SVOD (90–120 days).

Mapping standout EO Media titles to likely festival stops

Based on EO Media’s Content Americas announcement and EO’s sales relationships, here’s how a few likely titles can be expected to travel in 2026.

A Useful Ghost — Cannes Critics’ Week winner (2025). Likely market screenings at Cannes Marché (May 2026), followed by limited festival runs (Telluride/Sundance/Tribeca circuit or specialty European festivals) and a late-2026 theatrical/streaming release.
Stillz’ found-footage coming-of-age tale — festival-first strategy: Sundance or SXSW for US launch, then niche horror/genre festivals and a targeted streaming window tailored to Gen Z viewership.
EO Rom-Coms & Holiday Titles — marketed aggressively at Content Americas and AFM for pre-sales; public premieres at mainstream festivals (Tribeca, Toronto) timed for fall/winter release windows.

Ticket tips for fans (how to catch screenings without industry access)

Subscribe early: Festival newsletters sell out fast. For public festivals (Sundance, Tribeca, TIFF), subscribe the instant programs drop to access single-ticket windows and seat lotteries.
Use festival apps and alerts: Install official festival apps (many use Eventive, Festive, or bespoke platforms) and activate push alerts for screening additions and returns.
Get on waitlists: Late cancellations open spots. Waitlist persistence pays off—set calendar alerts for drop times.
Plan hybrid attendance: Buy a hybrid pass if you want maximum flexibility—virtual screenings often sell out slower and are sometimes released to pass-holders earlier.
Avoid scalpers and shady resellers: Use the festival’s official resale channel or verified platforms (Tixr, Eventbrite partners). Check refund policies for virtual screenings and QR-ticket transfer rules.
Follow EO Media and sales agents: EO and its sales partners often post last-minute pop-up screenings and Q&As on X, Instagram, and their sales catalogs—follow them for pop-up screenings and Q&As.

Ticket & scheduling tactics for industry (buyers, programmers, press)

Book meetings early: Market meetings cluster during Content Americas and Marché. Use festival marketplaces to request slots, then confirm via email—send your availability as blocks, not single times.
Prioritize market screenings: Industry-only screenings are the fastest way to see sales-ready cuts. If a title is market-only at Cannes or AFM, allocate time slots specifically for those sessions.
Leverage sample reels and EPKs: Request screeners and one-sheet synopses in advance. For EO’s 20-title slate, compile a one-page priority list and circulate internally to focus buy-in.
Use buyer credits wisely: If you have limited screening credits, use them on titles with measurable demand (press buzz, sales interest). Save credits for late breakers with awards momentum.
Network around screenings: The best deals often form in casual after-parties or market lounges—attend panel discussions and sales mixers tied to EO screenings.

Release-window playbook (what to expect in 2026)

2026 continues the hybrid pattern: festivals are now revenue-generation platforms, not just publicity stops. EO Media’s strategy shows this—market-first sales, festival premieres for buzz, then carefully timed release windows.

Market screenings (Jan–May): Secure international pre-sales and platform interest.
Festival premieres (May–Sept): Build press and awards positioning, then use momentum to upsell territorial deals at AFM/Busan.
Limited theatrical (Nov–Dec): For holiday titles and awards contenders. Focused city runs and event screenings (Q&As, cast appearances).
PVOD & SVOD (30–120 days): Window lengths vary by deal; expect more flexible, negotiated windows in 2026 as platforms compete for exclusives.

Case study: How A Useful Ghost might travel (example timeline)

Using what we know about its 2025 Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prix and EO’s 2026 slate:

Jan 2026: Market screenings at Content Americas to gauge US sales interest and festival placements.
May 2026: Marché du Film screenings—secure European distribution.
June–Sept 2026: Select festival run across Tribeca or BFI Southbank for public exposure.
Nov–Dec 2026: Limited theatrical release in key cities, awards-qualifying runs where applicable.
Q1 2027: PVOD/SVOD windows depending on platform deals made at AFM.

Practical outreach templates and festival-day checklist

Use these quick scripts to streamline outreach:

Buyer intro email: "Hi [Sales Rep], I’m [Name], programming for [Platform/Festival]. Interested in a market screening and screener access to [Title]. We have availability at [dates]. Can we schedule a 20-min meeting at [market/event]?"
Fan RSVP DM: "Hi EO team — is [Title] available for public screening at [Festival]? Looking to attend and bring a group—any early-bird ticket windows?"

Festival-day checklist:

Confirm screening QR ticket or badge access the night before.
Download festival map and app; mark alternate screenings if your first choice sells out.
Bring business cards for industry meetings and a portable battery pack (phones are lifelines at markets).

2026 trends that will affect your planning

Curated marketplaces grow: Festivals continue to lean on curated market platforms—expect smaller buyer lists and more pre-vetted screenings.
Staggered release windows: Platforms negotiate bespoke windows; anticipate PVOD deals becoming a standard intermediate step.
Hybrid Q&As & backstage content: Virtual Q&As and backstage footage are now standard add-ons at festivals—fans should watch festival channels for exclusive content drops.
Shorter theatrical runs for specialty fare: Distributors prioritize targeted city runs and eventized screenings for publicity efficiency.

Actionable takeaways — what to do this week

Subscribe to Content Americas and EO Media updates; add screening release date alerts to your calendar.
If you’re a buyer: assemble a 3-title short list from EO’s slate and request market screeners now.
If you’re a fan: sign up for festival waitlists and set push notifications for the festival apps you use most.
Mark AFM and Cannes Marché dates and budget time for sales meetings—many 2026 deals finalize there.

Final note — how greatest.live helps

We’ll maintain a live, updated EO Media festival & release calendar throughout 2026, tracking market screenings, public premieres, and ticket drops. Bookmark the calendar for real-time alerts and join our newsletter for ticket tips and priority access to backstage content and livestreams when EO adds surprise pop-up screenings.

Call to action

Don’t miss the moments that matter: bookmark the greatest.live EO Media Festival Calendar, subscribe to alerts, and claim your seat when EO’s 2026 titles hit the market. Whether you’re buying, programming, or just a fan hunting the next great screening, this calendar is your map to the year’s best premieres.

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