The European Cinema trade group the International Union of Cinemas today announced that Imax Corporation and Vista Group take on the role of principal sponsors of its flagship Women’s Cinema Leadership Programme, already in its fifth year. At the same time UNIC launched a call for mentors and mentees to take part in the next 2022-23 edition.
Moving Image Technologies has appointed Francois Godfrey as vice president, business development, sales. He will report to Joe Delgado, executive vice president, marketing, and sales.
Arts Alliance Media has agreed to a strategic software partnership with the cloud-based monitoring and analytics software developer Cielo. Drawing upon each other’s technical and industry expertise, the newly formed alliance will enable the deployment of a new and improved, cloud-based network operations center system, helping exhibitors to centralize asset management and put an end to potential show stoppers.
GDC Technology’s Brazil office has signed an agreement with Cinesystem Cinemas, the fourth largest movie theatre company in Brazil, to replace their current theatre management system with GDC’s TMS-2000. The installation will involve 26 cinema locations and 160 screens and is scheduled to be completed by the end of February.
Strong Technical Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ballantyne Strong completed the sale and installation of 38 projection systems for Showplace Entertainment at Evansville North 9, Newburgh 10, and Evansville East 20. The work was completed in January.
Leading British independent exhibitor Reel Cinemas, which operates 15 multiplex sites with 78 screens across the United Kingdom, has retained Showtime Analytics to provide it with an operational data platform and customer communication. Reel Cinemas just entered its 21st year in business. With continued expansion plans underway, the company launched two sites during the pandemic.
Unique X is partnering with the Spanish post-production and digital effects company Antaviana, for commercial representation for distribution, hard drive fulfilment, remediation, local support, and exhibitor engagement to further grow the Movie Transit network.
Vista Group International has acquired the U.S. entertainment software company Retriever Solutions. Under the terms of the deal, Vista Cinema will acquire all Retriever’s software, IP and customers, with an offer of employment to all current employees. Employees will continue to work from Retriever’s existing premises in Owosso, Michigan and Denver, Colorado.
Omniplex Cinemas, Ireland’s largest cinema chain, has signed an agreement with Showtime Analytics to provide it with customer analytics and communication for its 33 theatres. Spanning two markets, Omniplex Cinemas has theatres in most major cities and towns in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Based on preliminary data the European Audiovisual Observatory estimates that cinema attendance in the European Union and the United Kingdom increased to 383.2 million tickets sold in 2021. This is 83.8 million admissions more than in 2020, representing a year-on-year growth of 28 percent. The rebound was less pronounced in the European Union only (EU27), where ticket sales increased by 21 percent to 309.2 million admissions, 53.8 million visits more than in the previous year.
