ICA Conference (Independent Cinemas Australia)

Independent Cinemas Australia (ICA) is the national body for independent cinemas, festivals, cinematheques and cultural screen organisations across Australia and New Zealand. Its conference is its main event of the year. ICA describes it as bringing together independent cinema owners, suppliers, distributors, technology providers and industry leaders to talk about the commercial, operational and cultural future of cinema.

The format is three days of presentations, panels, screenings and networking, with an awards presentation. Christie is the conference's exclusive projection partner for 2025–2027, and the event is branded "ICA Conference: Projected by Christie". At the 2025 edition Christie also funded two full passes for smaller members who could not otherwise afford to attend.

The 2025 conference ran 29 April to 2 May at Palace Cinemas Moore Park in Sydney. The 2026 conference ran 13–15 May at Palace Cinemas Pentridge in Coburg, Melbourne, with tickets sold through TryBooking.

2027 is the 30th-anniversary conference and the first held in Canberra. An ICA announcement in May 2026 gave the dates as 4–6 May 2027 at Dendy Canberra. ICA's conference page, as of 20 October 2026, confirms Canberra and says venue, programme and registration details will follow. Ticket prices for 2027 had not been published.

For an independent operator in Australia or New Zealand, yes: it is the one event built around your part of the market rather than the big circuits. You meet the distributors who book your screens, the suppliers who service your equipment, and other independents dealing with the same issues. ICA also runs member programmes, such as group buying and the My Cinema ICA promotional platform, and the conference is where members hear about them.

For operators outside the region, CineAsia is the broader Asia-Pacific convention.