EFM Distributor Award Goes to Monica Felea and Ştefan Bradea from Bad Unicorn Distribution

The European Film Market is very pleased to announce the winner of the EFM Distributor Award 2026: Ştefan Bradea and Monica Felea, Bad Unicorn (Romania). The award, endowed with a cash prize of 7,500 euros is sponsored by Fintage House and will be presented during the EFM Kick-Off event on February 11, 2026.

Delighted about the honour, winners Monica Felea and Ştefan Bradea shared: „Nine years ago, here at the Berlinale, we discovered a film that touched our hearts: On Body and Soul. We decided then to become distributors of auteur films, even though we were aware that the Romanian market is not an easy one at all. Here we are again, nine years later, with a portfolio of over 60 titles and over 900,000 admissions. We did it!

We are delighted and honored by this award. You feel seen and appreciated. The job of a distributor is one done in the shadows - you don’t see it on the red carpet or on stage, but it is essential for arthouse films. Without distributors throughout Europe, films would not reach the public, and the emotion experienced in the cinema is a unique one that nothing can match.”

Vaucia Pahlad, COO of Fintage House, comments „Fintage House is dedicated to supporting filmmakers globally— from the heart of Europe to the furthest corners of the world. We proudly sponsor the Distributor Award because European arthouse distributors are the bridge between the daring storytellers and the audiences who need them. Fintage House honours their resilience and leadership in safeguarding cinema and our global collective culture. Through their dedication arthouse films, documentaries, and emerging talents find the homes they deserve. “

The three-member jury is composed of renowned industry representatives Dorothee Pfistner (Head of Aquisitions at Neue Visionen Filmverleih), Marta Fernandes (Head of Distribution and Acquisitions at Midas Filmes) and Nicolai Korsgaard (Sales Director at TrustNordisk).

“In a country like Romania, which has one of the lowest numbers of cinema screens per capita in the EU, securing screens and building audiences for European arthouse cinema is a genuine challenge. Yet Monica Felea and Ştefan Bradea of Bad Unicorn consistently demonstrate an exceptional level of commitment to their carefully curated lineup, which in recent years has included titles such as Sentimental Value, Flow, Fallen Leaves, Close, and The Zone of Interest.

For each release, they design tailored and innovative distribution campaigns, constantly seeking new ways to reach audiences and foster meaningful engagement with the public. Their creativity, perseverance, and deep belief in the power of cinema allow these films to find their place even within a highly challenging market.

Bad Unicorn’s spirit and dedication to promoting European arthouse cinema in a territory as demanding as Romania make them truly deserving of this award. We hope it not only celebrates the remarkable work they have accomplished so far, but also serves as an encouragement to continue their passionate and inspiring distribution journey.

Congratulations!”

Founded by experienced film distribution specialists Ştefan Bradea and Monica Felea, Bad Unicorn is an ambitious auteur film distribution company in Romania with 12 to15 film releases per year, dedicating extensive time and energy to each campaign. They’ve successfully distributed acclaimed titles like Perfect Days, The Zone of Interest, We Live In Time, Babygirl, Maria and the animation titles Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights and Flow. Current titles include: Dreams (Sex Love), Alpha, Sentimental Value, Romeria, Yes, Silent Friend and No Other Choice. For more information visit Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights.

With its head office based in the Netherlands, Fintage House is an independent global film and TV rights company cofounded in 1986 by Robert Aarts and Niels Teves. The company has over the years developed a unique breadth of business services, ranging from digital rights management and collection account management for film & TV production to custom-made services for the music and audio-visual industries. Fintage House has worked with some of the most influential and iconic artists of our time, as well as small, independent rights holders, across its diverse client base. Today, the company’s influence in the media space reaches nearly all of the major film and television markets across the world and is expanding further into additional rights and media outlets. As a leader in the global media business, Fintage House provides strategic value by identifying, protecting, and facilitating additional revenue streams for rights holders and clients in the broader global media landscape. For more information fintagehouse.com.

The European Film Market is part of Berlinale Pro, which unites the European Film Market, the Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and the World Cinema Fund. Berlinale Pro is the festival’s full-circle industry infrastructure that serves the global film industry as incubator, enhancer and supporter in all stages of film development, production, sales and distribution.

More information about the European Film Market 2026.

The full event programme can be found on the official EFM website.