ACE Producers today announces a leadership transition reflecting the Association’s continued growth and long-term vision. President Marleen Slot and the ACE Board are delighted to welcome Inke Van Loocke as its new Director and Adrien Barrouillet as Senior Studies Manager, following the hugely successful nine-year tenure of outgoing Director and Head of Studies, Jacobine van der Vloed.
The transition follows Jacobine’s much lauded leadership during which she implemented the successful move of the association from Paris to the Netherlands in 2017, and where she and the ACE team re-established the Association as Europe’s premier training and networking community of independent producers. Other accomplishments included expanding the ACE Annual Programme and revitalising the organisation, shown by a 40% growth of the ACE Network and a 200% rise in applications.
Jacobine oversaw the development of new programmes including the ACE Series Special, ACE Animation Special and ACE Leadership Special, which have trained over 240 experienced producers. The ACE Springboard Programme was also established to mentor and train emerging professionals, with the aim of creating a successful new generation of independent producers.
Marleen Slot, President of ACE Producers, said:
“Jacobine has played a pivotal role in the development of ACE. Under her leadership we have grown in strength and professionalism and she has laid a solid foundation for the years ahead. We are deeply grateful for her vision, commitment, and the way she has shaped the Association. We look forward to hearing what she chooses to do next and wish her all the best.As part of the transition we are delighted to welcome our new Director, Inke Van Loocke. Inke comes to us with a wealth of experience in talent and project development at IFFR as well as a wide international network and broad industry knowledge. She and our new Senior Studies Manager Adrien Barouillet bring complementary strengths which align perfectly with ACE’s next phase, expanding the relevance of its programmes, deepening international partnerships and strengthening our producer network. We look forward to working with them to build ACE’s future while embracing new opportunities.”
As Director, Inke Van Loocke will lead ACE’s Amsterdam-based international team and manage the Association towards the realisation of its mission to deliver Europe’s premier executive training to independent producers.
Inke Van Loocke joins after nearly two decades at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, followed by an impactful managerial role at the Schiedam Library. During her tenure at IFFR, Inke became head of the festival’s industry strand, overseeing its strategic vision and professional programmes, while before that she led two of IFFR’s cornerstone initiatives: the CineMart co-production market and the Rotterdam Lab workshop.
Inke Van Loocke said:
“ACE Producers embodies the kind of filmmaking culture that I value most: one that is grounded in artistic ambition, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in independent voices. Over the past years, Jacobine, the team, board and members have built an amazing home for creative leadership together. Fostering a supportive and thriving network has been a guiding principle throughout my career, and I am honoured and excited to take on this role.”
Inke will join the ACE team at the beginning of 2026, alongside new Senior Studies Manager Adrien Barrouillet. In his role, Adrien will deliver ACE’s outstanding training programmes which continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of the industry. Adrien was previously the founder of Furyo Films in France, producing the 2024 film In the Land of Brothers, which won the Directing Award – World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.
Jacobine van der Vloed said:
“I am delighted to be leaving the wonderful ACE organisation in such good health. Inke and I worked together at Rotterdam, so I know how kind, driven and motivated she is. I am so pleased that she is stepping up to the role of Director and I’m sure she will lead ACE to discover fresh perspectives. It’s been the most amazing job, but I’ve been thinking for a while about what I want to do next. In the short term my next steps are going to be physical ones, as I plan to take some time off and do some hiking!”
