Film & Kino the Norwegian interest organization for cinemas has announced the world’s first non-commercial complete national digital roll out with agreements with Twentieth Century Fox United International Pictures (the local distributor for Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures in Norway) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International and Warner Bros. Pictures International. According to Film & Kino this complete digital roll out will transform all of Norway’s cinemas big and small to modern DCI-compliant digital cinema houses. The roll out will start in late 2009 after the completion of public tenders for the procurement of equipment and services required for the digitization process. “This is a great undertaking for a small country ” says Jorgen Stensland director of consultants at Film & Kino. “Under these agreements Disney Fox Paramount Universal and Warner have committed to deliver wide releases to Norwegian digital cinemas. The deal also covers our own mobile cinema in rural areas. Film & Kino’s goal of delivering quality film all over this country is secured in the future by these agreements. We are happy that Norwegians will be able to experience the perfect quality of a DCI-compliant digital exhibition which will also give our audiences the opportunity to see the new generation of 3D films that are underway. We look forward to working together with the studios to make this happen.” The agreements will help facilitate the financing of the conversion to digital cinema. The costs will be shared between distributors cinemas and Film & Kino. “A success like this is the result of a great team effort. We want to thank our team members for their unflagging commercial technical and legal support during these negotiations ” says Roar Svartberg acting director of Film & Kino. Roger Pollock Paramount Pictures’ executive vice president International Distribution & Operations says “Digital distribution and the growth of 3D cinema is the future of our industry enabling films to be seen in the highest quality and most dynamic ways possible. Film & Kino is aggressively stepping forward to place Norway at the forefront of this technology providing their audiences with the very best movie-viewing experience available. This is an important step in Europe’s roll out to digital conversion and will hopefully serve as an influential example across the region.” Julian Levin executive vice president digital exhibition Twentieth Century Fox says “We are delighted to have closed a deployment agreement with Film & Kino. This important deal is the first of its kind covering the conversion from 35mm film to DCI compliant digital projection for the entire country. The transition to a digital projection platform will additionally provide the foundation for 3D exhibition capability exhibition of alternative content and improved flexibility in distribution and exhibition operations. The ultimate beneficiary of the transition will be the movie going audience. We look forward to working with our colleagues at Film & Kino during the transition and providing Fox’s movies in 2D and 3D to Film & Kino digital projection system deployments.” Duncan Clark executive vice president international distribution Universal Pictures International says We’re pleased to be working with Film & Kino to help the Norwegian cinema industry transition to digital cinema via our UIP territorial office in Norway. Clearly the growth of 3-D cinema and digital distribution is the future of our business and this complete rollout of digital to Norway’s cinemas which has the backing of the Norwegian government is an important step. Norway is the latest country to become part of the extensive conversion to digital that is being rolled out to cinemas in Europe. By supplying our movies digitally we hope audiences in Norway as early as later this year will soon be able to experience the highest quality cinema experience via the best digital technology available.” Jason Brenek senior vice president worldwide digital cinema and cinema programming Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures says “Digital cinema is taking a giant leap forward in Norway thanks to the tremendous efforts of Film & Kino. This is a bold and exciting move to transform all of Norway’s theaters to state-of-the-art DCI-compliant equipment and give moviegoers the best possible theatrical experience. Disney remains committed to digital cinema and digital 3D and will continue to work with Film & Kino to bring the future of exhibition to moviegoers in a timely and cost effective manner. Our lineup of upcoming films includes a wide variety of titles that showcase this latest digital technology including many films presented in Disney Digital 3D.” Veronika Kwan-Rubinek president international distribution from Warner Brothers says “Warner Bros. is excited about this unique partnership with Film & Kino the first-ever deployment model that aims to digitize an entire country. This holistic transition to DCI compliant digital projection systems firmly establishes Norway as a leader in technological innovation and ensures the continued growth of this robust theatrical market.
