ABOUT US
European Languages & Movies in America is a Santa Monica-based nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing European movies.
Founded in 2007, ELMA partners with festivals, consulates and local organizations to bring a diverse array of European films and events to Los Angeles. We believe film is a universal language, one that sparks curiosity, connects cultures, and inspires audiences of all ages.
Pascal Ladreyt, Founder
​​​​Pascal built a career that bridged both the public and private sectors. A Paris native with a passion for cinema, he launched the Cork French Film Festival (Ireland)—now celebrating its 36th year—during his tenure as Executive Director of the Alliance Française.
He went on to earn an MBA in International Management in Paris, New York and Tokyo, and worked as a management consultant in the UK before returning to cultural work as Vice President of the Alliance Française in New York City. His journey then took him to London, where he served as Director of Corporate Training at the French Institute.
In 2003, Pascal and his American wife Paulina settled in Santa Monica, raising twin sons Christopher and Nicolas by the Pacific.
Before retiring, Pascal worked at a startup company offering fractional ownership of planes.
With the aim of helping new generations of American audiences to discover and embrace the richness of European cinema, he founded ELMA in 2007.
Malin Kan, Director
​
Malin Kan joined ELMA as Director in July 2025. Based in Los Angeles, she brings over a decade of experience in film festival programming and nonprofit leadership, along with deep knowledge of the city’s film exhibition landscape.
​
From 2016 to 2025, she helped shape the identity of AFI FEST, most recently as Senior Programmer. At AFI, she played a leading role in international feature selection, oversaw global festival tracking and industry outreach, and curated the NEA-supported Cinema’s Legacy section, devoted to restored and rediscovered works.
​
She holds a BA in Film and Media Studies from UC Berkeley and an MA in Moving Image Archive Studies from UCLA. This foundation informs her commitment to an evolving, inclusive canon shaped by global and historically engaged programming.
​
Malin has contributed writing to numerous publications, and participated on juries and panels internationally. She brings a collaborative, historically grounded lens to all facets of her work, championing programs that broaden the canon and strengthen cultural dialogue.
Malin now works with Pascal to bring ELMA’s mission to broader audiences.
Geert Criel, Advisor
​
Geert joined the ELMA team as a director in October 2022. He has a passion for film, both past and present.
​
During his long diplomatic career with the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served at the Embassy in Washington, and as Consul General in Los Angeles from 2008 to 2012. Most recently, Geert held an ambassadorial posting in Santiago de Chile. As Consul General, Geert worked with the American Cinematheque and ELMA to launch the monthly Belgian movie series, “Grit and Whimsy.”
​
He stepped down as director in 2025, but continues to work with ELMA, as a strategic advisor, to support its mission and to celebrate independent European cinema.