Coming Home! Week at INDEX
Updated: 3 days ago
By Julie Sisk | June29, 2026
This week I attended IND/EX in Chicago — The Independent Film Exhibition Conference which is a co-production of the Art House Convergence and the Film Festival Alliance. It is a gathering of independent cinemas, art house leaders, and people who believe very much in the power of film to bring communities together.
Now back in Los Angeles and reflecting on my experience, I’m realizing how comfortable and at home I felt.
Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to experience a very different world. After decades building The American Pavilion at Cannes, the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic led me to explore life inside a large media corporation. It was educational, and gave me an entirely new perspective on how corporate entities operate.
I’m grateful for that experience, as it has put so much into perspective for me such as what is important in life at this stage and how I make sure I am on that meaningful path.
Being at IND/EX this week reminded me of something so important to me: I am, in my heart of hearts, a community builder.
The independent film world has always been my milieu. These are the people who understand that film is not simply content to be consumed or numbers to be measured on a quarterly report. It's a catalyst for conversation, connection, and discovery.
At IND/EX, every conversation felt inspiring, energizing and passion filled. People were talking about audiences, filmmakers, ideas, and how to create meaningful experiences around cinema. This was a gathering of passionate independent thinkers… all deeply invested in bringing people together.
The experience was a reaffirmation of why I created Take2Film.
Take2Film was never intended to be a traditional travel company. It grew out of a simple realization: some of the most meaningful moments I've experienced over nearly four decades in film have happened because I was able to share these extraordinary places and events with friends, colleagues and avid film enthusiasts.
The magic has never been solely about sitting in a theater and watching a movie. It's about extending the experience beyond four walls and the conversations afterward. The people you meet. The friendships that form over a post film meal. The feeling of being part of a larger global community of film lovers.
This week has reminded me that this is exactly where I belong.
Take2Film is a natural extension of everything I've spent my career building: creating spaces where people connect through a shared love of cinema.
I'm excited to see where this journey leads, and grateful to be back with my people.
– Julie
