February 12, 2026 - Lisbon, Portugal — Joana Vicente, former CEO of Sundance and former Executive Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, and Academy Award®-nominated producer Jason Kliot, together with former WarnerMedia Chief Revenue Officer Tony Gonçalves and Portuguese entrepreneur and investor Filipe de Botton, have announced the launch of OPEN CITIES, an international, filmmaker-led and technology-enabled film accelerator and production company designed to help independent filmmakers create more ambitious work at sustainable budgets.

Headquartered in Lisbon, with an office in New York, OPEN CITIES will leverage strong U.S. and international relationships and pair artistic vision with advanced production technologies and global collaboration to support films with worldwide distribution potential. Projects developed through OPEN CITIES are international in scope. Filmmakers may shoot and produce their work in any location worldwide, and participation in the accelerator is not contingent upon production taking place in Portugal.

OPEN CITIES is a filmmaker-centered story accelerator and production company with an affiliated film fund. Grounded in the belief that technology should serve artists, OPEN CITIES brings filmmakers and technologists together in a collaborative environment that supports projects from early development through production.

The three-month accelerator begins with a virtual program focused on hands-on script refinement, one-on-one mentorship, and the guided, intentional integration of new production tools and emerging technologies, including the informed use of AI, alongside rapid prototyping. The program culminates in a week-long, in-person immersive session and pitch day. A limited number of projects are selected for financing and production, while all participants leave with a refined script, a clear production-ready roadmap, and concrete proof-of-concept materials to help bring their films to life.

“At a moment when independent film feels increasingly fragile, we see enormous possibilities. By building a space for experimentation with artists, we’re creating an environment where creative and technical innovation can thrive together, supporting artist development and enabling filmmakers to tell bold and ambitious stories,” said Vicente, Co-Founder and CEO.

“As Akira Kurosawa once said, ‘To be an artist means to never look away.’ We’ve spent our careers confronting technological change and converting it into creative power. Our focus now is enabling the next generation of independent storytellers to make films that were previously beyond reach.” said Jason Kliot, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Creative Officer.

Vicente is a global leader in artist development and institutional strategy, having previously led major artist-centered organizations, including the Sundance Institute as the Chief Executive Officer, TIFF as the Executive Director, and The Gothams, where she championed new voices and responsible innovation. Kliot, a producer and pioneer of digital independent film, was at the forefront of the medium’s Digital Revolution and is a longtime educator at leading universities. Together with Gonçalves’ experience building and scaling media and technology businesses, including the launch of HBO Max and early work with Hello Sunshine and de Botton’s global business expertise, the founding team brings deep leadership across film, technology, and large-scale media operations.

The model builds on a proven history. Twenty-five years ago, Vicente and Kliot helped demonstrate how digital filmmaking could radically expand what independent creators could achieve. Today, they see new production technologies and AI as an even more transformative shift, one that OPEN CITIES is designed to explore responsibly and creatively.

OPEN CITIES is backed by international investors from Brazil, Portugal, and the United States, reflecting the increasingly global nature of independent filmmaking. The company’s core belief is that technology should expand the filmmakers' canvas, not replace it, and that responsible innovation can unlock new creative and economic sustainability for independent film.

OPEN CITIES is supported by an international advisory group spanning film, technology, philanthropy, and creative leadership. Advisors include David Linde, CEO of the Sundance Institute; Katherine Oliver, Principal at Bloomberg Philanthropies; Mark D’Arcy, Global Creative Director at Microsoft AI; Joonas Makkonen, Founder and CPTO of Dobbin; Pedro Santa Clara, Founder of Tumo and 42 Lisbon; Jon Kamen, Founder and CEO of RadicalMedia; Jed Alpert, Founder and CEO of Mobile Commons; and Abhishek Sharma, AI product developer and engineer.

The inaugural accelerator program will run virtually from August-November, culminating in a week-long in-person immersive residency in Lisbon. Submissions will open March 15, 2026.

ABOUT OPEN CITIES

OPEN CITIES is an international, filmmaker-led and technology-enabled film accelerator and production company dedicated to helping independent filmmakers create ambitious work at sustainable budgets. Headquartered in Lisbon, the company combines a selective story accelerator, integrated production company, and a collaborative environment where filmmakers and technologists work together to support projects from development through production, while responsibly engaging emerging technologies that expand creative possibility. Founded by award-winning producer and film executive Joana Vicente and Academy Award–nominated producer Jason Kliot, alongside Tony Gonçalves and Filipe de Botton, OPEN CITIES brings together deep expertise across film, technology, and global media operations to support films with worldwide distribution potential.

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