REEL Final Conference in Dubrovnik: cinema, tourism and new ways of experiencing places
28/09/2026
On 24 September 2026, Dubrovnik hosted the REEL Final Conference, bringing together project partners, stakeholders and participants to share the main results developed through the project and reflect on the role of cinema as a tool for cultural and tourism development.
Hosted by Kinematografi Dubrovnik, the conference represented an important milestone for the project, offering the opportunity to present the experiences developed across Italy and Croatia and to explore how audiovisual content can contribute to creating new ways of discovering and experiencing territories.
Throughout the event, the partners presented the main activities and results implemented in their territories, including film itineraries and digital applications, audiovisual productions, cultural pilot actions, training activities and innovative approaches to connecting film heritage with tourism, visitors and local communities.
A joint approach to Film-Induced Tourism
A central part of the conference was dedicated to the Joint Methodology for Film-Induced Tourism, one of the main outputs developed within the project.
Building on the experiences, pilot actions and knowledge generated by the partnership, the methodology brings together a shared approach to the development of film-related tourism initiatives and provides a practical framework that can also be adapted and replicated in other destinations.
The methodology reflects one of the core ideas behind REEL: cinema can contribute to territorial promotion not only by increasing the visibility of destinations, but also by creating stronger connections between stories, places, cultural heritage and visitor experiences.
By linking audiovisual narratives with local identity and tourism development, film-induced tourism can therefore support more diversified and sustainable ways of experiencing destinations.
Taking REEL outside the conference room
The activities continued beyond the conference venue, allowing participants to experience the project approach directly through a guided movie tour in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.
Walking through the historic centre, participants had the opportunity to discover the city from a different perspective, connecting locations and cultural heritage with audiovisual stories and the cinematic identity of Dubrovnik.
The tour provided a practical example of how a film itinerary can transform a visit into a more immersive experience, encouraging participants to look at familiar places through a new lens.
More than a simple guided walk, the experience demonstrated how cinema can become part of the interpretation of a destination, creating connections between film narratives, local heritage, urban spaces and tourism.
The Dubrovnik experience therefore brought to life one of the concepts explored throughout REEL: film stories can become a gateway to places, inviting visitors to discover their cultural identity, atmospheres and heritage in new ways.
Sharing the legacy of REEL
The Final Conference provided an opportunity not only to present the results achieved so far, but also to reflect on how the knowledge, tools and experiences developed within REEL can continue to generate value beyond the project itself.
