Digital Cinema Report - Distribution and Exhibition Articles

Arts Alliance Signs Deal with Pillar Group, DigiScreen and Royal Opera House

Nick Dager — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:39:05 -0400

Arts Alliance Media has announced an exclusive digital distribution agreement with Montreal-based DigiScreen Corporation, the Pillar Group and the Royal Opera House.

Russia has Breakthrough with Scar 3D on 33 Digital Cinema Screens

danielle.mickey — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:10:43 -0400

Russian digital cinema has experienced a significant breakthrough with the presentation of the movie Scar 3D on 33 screens throughout the country.

Display Week Special Session May 21st to Focus on 3D Cinema

danielle.mickey — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:26:10 -0400

The Society for Information Display has announced a 3D technology-focused addition to its program lineup for Display Week 2008, May 18-23 at the Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

Newseum Features ‘Electronic Window on the World’

danielle.mickey — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:31:36 -0400

When the Newseum – an interactive museum of news – celebrated the grand opening of its new location last month, visitors were greeted by a 40-by-22-foot LED wall displaying crystal-clear video of

LG Electronics Joins ETC at USC

danielle.mickey — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:03:31 -0400

The Entertainment Technology Center at USC has announced that LG Electronics has joined ETC as an Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab sponsor.

DTS Digital Cinema Acquired by Beaufort International Group

danielle.mickey — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:40:54 -0400

Beaufort International Group has announced that it has acquired the business and assets of DTS Digital Cinema from DTS, Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

Lionsgate Signs Long-Term Digital Cinema Deal with AccessIT

danielle.mickey — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:48:48 -0400

Lionsgate has signed an agreement to provide its movies in the digital cinema equipped theatres in AccessIT’s Phase 1 digital cinema program.

Breaking a Sound Barrier

danielle.mickey — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:07:21 -0400

Russia’s Cinema Park gets World’s First Complete Digital B-Chain Audio Network

DPI Continues Expansion with New Southern China Office

Nick Dager — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:31:08 -0400

Digital Projection International has expanded operations in China by opening a new office in the southern city of Guangzhou.

XDC Adds Sony, Universal Digital Cinema Deployment List

Nick Dager — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:43:21 -0400

XDC has signed non-exclusive agreements with Sony Pictures and Universal and is now the first deploying entity to sign with six major U.S. distributors for the deployment of up to 8,000 DCI-compliant digital cinema installations across Europe. Sony Pictures Releasing International and Universal City Studios will support XDC, acting as a deploying entity, to roll out DCI-compliant digital cinema systems for theatrical presentations in several countries in Europe.

Sensio and International Sign 3D Licensing Agreement

Nick Dager — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:47:50 -0400

Sensio has signed a licensing agreement with International Datacasting Corporation for the integration of the Sensio 3D cinema decoding technology into products for the digital cinema market. This agreement comes with the first sale of licenses for an initial deployment of 3D systems for 50 movie theatres to enable the broadcasting of live stereoscopic 3D events.

Real Digital Media Announces On-Demand Feature for Neocast

Nick Dager — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:48:49 -0400

Real Digital Media has announced a new on-demand feature for its Neocast digital signage platform.
Using a simple, remote control device with a tiny receiver connected via USB, Neocast clients are now able to instantly suspend a running play list, jump to a menu screen, scroll up and down to select a desired menu item and have that selected item start playing instantaneously.

SMPTE Forms 3D Home Display Task Force

Nick Dager — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:36:44 -0400

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers is establishing a task force to define the parameters of a stereoscopic 3D mastering standard for content viewed in the home.

Cinema Ad Council Names 2007 Creative Excellence Award Winners

Nick Dager — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:42:15 -0400

The Cinema Advertising Council has named the winners of its 2007 Creative Excellence Awards. The annual awards recognize high-quality, entertaining advertising that has been showcased in movie theatres during the past year, on a national, regional and local basis.

National CineMedia Promotes Biederman, Hoff and Leff

Nick Dager — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:44:40 -0400

National CineMedia has promoted Pam Biederman, Beth Hoff and Lauren Leff to the role of senior vice president.

New Study Looks at Everything from Red to Blu-ray

Nick Dager — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:46:00 -0400

Digital Cinema is more than just about a digital projector.

Carmike to Show Delirium and Rent

Nick Dager — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:47:42 -0400

Carmike Cinemas has announced that Cirque Du Soleil's "Delirium" and the Broadway hit "Rent" will be featured on 176 digital screens at Carmike movie theatres through Sony's The Hot Ticket. Tickets will cost $20 for each event.

Barco Supplies Projectors for the 61st Locarno Film Festival

Nick Dager — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:02:31 -0400

Barco was selected by XDC to be the exclusive projector supplier for last month’s 61st Locarno Film Festival. The highlights of the festival were the open-air screenings at Piazza Grande.

New York Disabilities Film Festival Premieres in September

Nick Dager — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:10:48 -0400

Realabilities: The First Annual NY Disabilities Film Festival debuts this fall simultaneously in 14 locations throughout the New York metropolitan area. From September 21-23, Realabilities will showcase feature, documentary and short films by and about the lives of people with disabilities.

Dolby Supports Toronto International Film Festival for 15th Year

Nick Dager — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:25:47 -0400

Dolby provided technical services and digital cinema technology systems to the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival for the 15th year in a row.

Fogel Joins National CineMedia as Senior VP

Nick Dager — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:15:39 -0400

Bennett Fogel has joined National CineMedia as senior vice president of sales development and integrated marketing in New York.

Dolby Lowers Exhibitor Price of its Reusable 3D Glasses

Nick Dager — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:04:08 -0400

Dolby announced today that it has reduced the price of its reusable 3D glasses. Starting today, exhibitors can purchase new Dolby 3D glasses at a US list price of $27.50, reduced from $39.

AccessIT and Overture Films Enter 10 Year Agreement

Nick Dager — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:41:26 -0400

Digital Cinema solutions provider Access Integrated Technologies has announced that film distributor Overture Films will provide all of their movies to digital cinema equipped theatres in AccessIT's Phase 1 digital cinema plan and will pay virtual print fees (VPFs) under a 10 year agreement similar to those signed by all the other major studios. This agreement expands upon the strong relationship the companies have built since Overture's inception last year, as Overture is already a customer of both AccessIT's distribution software and satellite delivery services.

Adlabs Films First in India to Show Journey to the Center of the Earth in Digital 3D

Nick Dager — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:47:18 -0400

India-based Adlabs Films, part of Reliance ADA Group, announced that it will premiere the 3D Hollywood movie Journey to the Center of the Earth in digital 3D for the first time at the Adlabs Cinema in Vashi in New Mumbai. In a press statement, Patrick von Sychowski, chief operating officer of Adlabs Digital Cinema, says that the digital 3D technology was a new form of cinema entertainment where the audience can view the movie with enhanced clarity.

New IndiePix Film Collection Unites Shakespeare Adaptations From Around the World

Nick Dager — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:49:45 -0400

Internet-based distributor IndiePix announced its latest collection: a series of adaptations of famous plays and films with a Shakespearian theme.

Vivitek Marks Entry into Professional AV Display Marketplace

Nick Dager — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:52:22 -0400

Vivitek Corporation formally announced its entry into the growing marketplace for high-quality signage, visual display, and professional presentation products.

Screenvision to Sell Advertising for UniqueScreen Media

Nick Dager — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:44:08 -0400

Access Integrated subsidiary UniqueScreen Media and Screenvision have completed an agreement for Screenvision to sell national advertising on behalf of USM and its exhibitor customers.

SureWaves Partners with AdLabs

Nick Dager — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:46:41 -0400

Adlabs, a part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and India's largest cinema chain, and SureWaves, a media convergence solution provider have partnered to create communication channel at their cinemas.   The SureWaves centralized servers help manage delivery of content across the 150-plus digital screen network across 12 locations at Adlabs Cinemas.

Giant Screen Films Chooses Dolby, Barco to Show Egypt 3D: Secrets of the Mummies

Nick Dager — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:56:24 -0400

Dolby 3D Digital Cinema has been selected to present Giant Screen Films' Egypt 3D: Secrets of the Mummies, a companion 3D movie experience to the National Geographic touring exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.

Fox, Paramount and Sony Pictures Sign with Sony DCSS Group

Nick Dager — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:10:32 -0400

Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures Entertainment have entered into separate non-exclusive digital cinema deployment agreements with Sony Electronics’ Digital Cinema Solutions and Services group. The agreements relate to supplying exhibitors with feature motion pictures in digital form in order to promote the use of digital cinema projection systems.

Carmike Cinemas to show Five Royal Opera House Masterworks in 26 States

Nick Dager — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:05:05 -0400

Carmike Cinemas has announced that The Royal Opera House in HD "Series of Five Masterworks" will be featured on 42 digital high definition screens through DigiScreen, at local Carmike theatres in 26 states. The Royal Opera House is the home of three world-class performing companies -- The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, and The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Carmike Cinemas will feature a series of five masterworks - including two operas and three ballets.

Lionsgate to Provide AccessIT with Content and VPFs for its Phase 2 Digital Cinema Plan

Nick Dager — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:25:56 -0400

Access Integrated Technologies, provider of integrated solutions for digital cinema, announced that Lionsgate will provide movies to digital cinema equipped theatres in the Phase 2 digital cinema prog

Dickinson Theatres Joins AccessIT’s Phase 2 Deployment Plan

Nick Dager — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:11:30 -0400

Dickinson Theatres has become the first theatre chain to commit to the previously announced Phase 2 Digital Cinema Deployment Plan from Access Integrated Technologies.

QuVIS Selects Paragon Software for Wraptor

Nick Dager — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:54:59 -0400

QuVIS has selected Paragon Software’s Universal File System Driver technology to embed within their new Wraptor Digital Cinema Package mastering plug-in for Apple Final Cut Studio.

Universal Pictures International to Support Ymagis Digital Cinema Roll Out in Europe

Nick Dager — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:56:59 -0400

Ymagis, the Paris-based European digital cinema services provider has announced that Universal Pictures will provide movies to theaters equipped by Ymagis and will pay digital print fees under a long-term agreement similar to those signed by Paramount, Disney and Fox.

Doremi Licenses IDC Streaming Software for use with AccessIT’s CineLive 3D

Nick Dager — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:30:37 -0500

Doremi Cinema has announced a licensing agreement with International Datacasting Corporation for the integration of real-time streaming software into its line of SuperFlex Pro Cinema products. The pact also enables Doremi to embed Sensio Live 3D decoding technology into Doremi digital cinema servers for CineLive 3D, AccessIT's newest solution for theatre owners.

Side Effect Wins Pretty/Scary Prize at Shriekfest

Nick Dager — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:02:27 -0500

Side Effect recently screened at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, during the 8th Annual Shriekfest Film Festival. After playing to a fervent crowd and receiving thunderous applause, Side Effect was awarded with the Pretty/Scary Award for Excellence in Horror Filmmaking. With a multitude of international film festival screenings on the calendar, Side Effect has already garnered the Best Screenplay Award at the Chicago Horror Film Festival, Best Short at Germany’s Oldendburg Film Festival and the coveted golden chainsaw statuette in the Cutting Edge Short Film Competition at the Dead by Dawn Film Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Up next, Side Effect will screen at the Denver International Film Festival the weekend of November 21st-23rd.

Ballantyne Sees Third Quarter Film-Based Revenue Decline, Digital Revenue Increase

Nick Dager — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:11:26 -0500

Ballantyne of Omaha has reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30th. Net third quarter revenues were $12.3 million, a 2.4 percent decrease from net revenues of $12.6 million in Q3 2007, principally reflecting an expected decline in film-based products. This decline in sales was offset by digital cinema equipment sales which rose to $1.6 million in the period versus $1.1 million in Q3 2007, as well as the contribution from the Company's screen business, Strong Screen Systems, acquired in mid-October 2007, which contributed sales of $1.5 million in Q3 2008.

Premiere Cinemas Newest All-Digital Cinema has no Mezzanine

Nick Dager — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:13:41 -0500

Texas-based Premiere Cinema recently bought a cinema structure that is, thanks to digital technology, the first cineplex without a mezzanine, while four of the fourteen theatres are 3D capable. Premiere Cinema president and CEO Gary Moore says, “As far as I know, this is the first theatre that does not have a mezzanine and, since we’re all digital and there’s not a film projector in sight, we don’t need one.”

Q-tec Completes First Installation of RealD’s 3D System in Japan

Nick Dager — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:27:44 -0500

Q-tec, Inc., one of Japan's leading video post-production service providers, announced that it has completed the first domestic installation of 3D cinema system developed by digital 3D delivery company RealD. Q-tec plans to begin the full-scale operation this month.

Carmike Cinemas Says Third-Quarter Per/Patron Revenue Up, Overall Admissions Down

Nick Dager — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:18:01 -0500

"While the economic environment is very challenging, Carmike made continued progress towards its operating strategies in the 2008 third quarter as reflected by increases in per patron revenue, expense reductions, lower interest expense, a decline in bank debt, and additional closures of under-performing theatres," says Michael W. Patrick, Carmike's chief executive officer.

Munich’s Constantin Film Installs Digital Cinema Projection

Nick Dager — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:22:45 -0500

German film producer and distributor Constantin Film has installed Kinoton a digital cinema system installed at their screening room in Munich.

Dolby 3D Digital Cinema Licenses Doremi’s Digital Cinema Server

Nick Dager — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:44:26 -0500

Doremi Cinema has announced that its DCP-2000 JPEG2000 Digital Cinema Server has been approved as a licensee of Dolby 3D Digital Cinema, giving exhibitors even more options when screening 3D content.

Peace Arch Entertainment to Receive Government Funding

Nick Dager — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:56:01 -0500

Peace Arch Entertainment Group, an integrated global entertainment company, has announced that Telefilm Canada has made Peace Arch Releasing eligible for the Canadian Feature Film Marketing Fund.

Ballantyne Installs 3D Systems for Regal and National Amusements

Nick Dager — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:17:55 -0500

Ballantyne of Omaha has announced that its Strong Digital Systems division provided 35 NEC Starus Digital Cinema projectors with RealD 3D technology to theatre chains including Regal Entertainment Group and National Amusements.

Cinedigm Gets Eight-Year, $8.9 Million Credit Facility for Phase 2 Digital Cinema Conversions

Nick Dager — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:19:22 -0500

Cinedigm Digital Cinema, formerly AccessIT has signed its Phase 2 Entity on an $8.9 million credit facility. The facility will fund the launch of Cinedigm's first 137 Phase 2 conversions of Premiere Cinemas' theatres to the Company's digital cinema platform, in what is expected to ultimately be a 10,000-screen digital cinema deployment plan. The first 35 systems are expected to be operational in December, bringing the total for Phase 2 to 55 by the end of the year.

D&E Entertainment Presents Live at Budokan: 30th Anniversary Concert Film

Nick Dager — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:25:08 -0500

Earlier this month D&E Entertainment presented the U.S. theatrical premiere of a newly restored concert film from Cheap Trick that previously has only aired once on Japanese television in 1978. With a running time of just over 60 minutes, Live at Budokan captures the concert that catapulted Cheap Trick to stardom. The premieres were held in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, and other markets.

GDC Signs VPF Deal with Three Studios for Exhibitors in Asia

Nick Dager — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:35:59 -0500

In a move designed to accelerate the conversion of cinemas in Asia to digital technology, GDC has reached separate non-exclusive agreements with three Hollywood Studios for digital cinema deployment across Asia. Under these agreements, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures International, and Universal Pictures International, will be committed to supply Asian exhibitors with feature film content digitally, as well as to make financial contributions towards the hardware cost of DCI-compliant digital cinema equipment deployed by GDC. Phase 1 of the program covers 6000 screens in various countries throughout Asia.

RealD Opens London Office

Nick Dager — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:38:24 -0500

RealD has opened the doors to its first European office, located in London. Bob Mayson, as the newly appointed managing director of RealD Europe, will lead a European team to oversee sales, customer service and operations.