08/21/2026
🌸 Aug Member Spotlight 🌸
🌟 WIE're excited to highlight Cathy Huis in 't Veld Esser this August! Cathy is the Chief Technology Officer of Gofilex, President of the DCF, and International Board Member of the ICTA.
💪 People Turn to Cathy for:
People tend to turn to Cathy when something technical needs to be translated into something practical and understandable. Over the years, she's developed the ability to bridge the gap between complex technology and real-world business needs—helping teams and partners see not just how something works, but why it matters. Cathy is also known for being solution-oriented and calm under pressure, and for solving complex technical problems: colleagues and partners know that when there is a challenge, she'll approach it methodically and see it through. She's found that the toughest problems are rarely solved alone—it is the combination of deep knowledge, working closely together as a team, and above all a great deal of persistence that gets us to the solution.
🎥 Take a look at Cathy's journey to exhibition:
Cathy's entry into the cinema world came through technology rather than the traditional route. After acquiring Gofilex, she took on broad technical responsibility as CTO, and quickly became immersed in the world of digital cinema—content delivery, distribution, and the systems that keep films moving from studios to screens worldwide. What began as a technical challenge grew into a genuine passion for the industry and the people in it.
⚡ Check out Cathy's career highlights:
She's especially proud of building Gofilex into the platform it is today. In the early days, she managed nearly all technical aspects herself—development, infrastructure, frontend, and backend—because they were building solutions that did not yet exist. Watching that evolve into a strong team and an innovative platform now used across the global cinema industry is a collective achievement she holds close. Her long-standing involvement with the EDCF and the ICTA, where she has served as board member and president, has also been a meaningful part of her journey and taught her a great deal.
🎞️ Cathy's favorite part about the moviegoing experience:
It is the shared experience—the way a room full of strangers can laugh, gasp, or fall silent together. There is something irreplaceable about the collective emotion of a cinema. Behind the scenes, she also finds real joy in knowing that so much technology and craftsmanship comes together seamlessly to create that moment of magic for the audience.
🗣️ Cathy's advice to others:
The best advice—trust your own expertise and not feel you must constantly prove yourself. Your work will speak for itself. Stay curious, keep pushing boundaries, and do not be afraid to take your seat at the table. And surround yourself with people who both challenge and support you—those relationships will shape your journey.
😲 Fun fact:
Cathy shares both her professional and personal life with Paul, her husband, who is CEO of Gofilex—so their dinner conversations often move seamlessly between family planning and the future of cinema technology. It keeps life interesting, and it means the industry is never far from their hearts.
💛 Why Cathy loves WIE:
Cathy strongly believes in the importance of representation. Early in her career she did not have female mentors, and that experience motivates her to be that presence for others today. She would love to support and mentor women entering or growing within the technology side of the cinema industry—sharing knowledge, offering guidance, and helping them see both the opportunities and the pathways forward. Connection and open conversation are where real change begins.
🤝 Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-huis-in-t-veld-esser-a457395/)
