Distribution & Exhibition

August posted another pandemic-era high at the international box office and the second biggest month of global box office since the pandemic began, according to the latest report from Gower Street Analytics, London. The month delivered a $2 billion global box office, up on July’s $1.9 billion and only lagging February’s $2.3 billion, which was fueled by a record box office month in China. The international market (excluding China) contributed $1.11 billion to the August total, beating its previous pandemic-era high, recorded the prior month, of $960 million.

In what its organizers are billing as a groundbreaking film festival event, the first annual Dome Fest West will take place October 8-10 at the Orange Coast College Planetarium in Costa Mesa, California. Dome Fest West is 360-degree film festival and conference that will bring together the filmmaking community, Hollywood filmmakers and up-and-coming immersive content creators.

According to industry statistics, premium large format screen installations have seen an increase of almost 19 percent year over year. They set a record in 2019, when 734 screens were installed, a 65 percent increase over 2018. As theatres slowly reopen worldwide following lockdowns due to COVID-19, the pace of adoption is expected to resume. Owned by the China Film Group and Huaxia Film Distribution, Cinity uses premium large format laser projection, immersive sound, and ultra-high frame rate capability. Today, with 57 installations and an almost equal number on tap in cities across China, Cinity enjoys cooperative agreements with many major Hollywood and Chinese studios. The system can be viewed at the Harmony Gold Preview House in West Hollywood, where filmmakers can also screen their latest projects at the industry’s highest frame rate.