A Locarno Pro panel examined how power, people and data should shape decision-making in the film industry, with each speaker placing the three concepts in a different order. The discussion matters because it highlighted a continuing tension between data-led commercial assessment and the human judgement used to select and support films.

Doris Ruth Eikhof argued for addressing power structures before interpreting data and supporting people, while Lucky Red founder Andrea Occhipinti put people first and described data as a useful tool. mk2 Films’ Yasmine Talli favoured people, data and power, suggesting data can help people retain influence; Occhipinti said Lucky Red relies primarily on instinct, sensitivity and experience, citing the initially unlikely prospects of black-and-white Polish film *Ida* and *Moonlight*.