Screenvision Media and KAOS Connect have announced the launch of their first joint event cinema program – the empowering theatrical documentary produced by Meteor 17 CEO, Spencer Proffer, I Hope You Dance, The Power & Spirit of Song. The documentary film features stories of faith, inspiration and overcoming unimaginable odds as told through the transformative power of song.
Event cinema will take center stage at CinemaCon April 12th at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas when Fathom Events honors BBC Worldwide North America with its Excellence in Event Cinema Award. The award is for their record-breaking success in global event cinema, featuring the Doctor Who series. The award will be presented by Fathom Events CEO, John Rubey, and accepted by BBC Worldwide executive vice president of franchise and digital enterprises, Soumya Sriraman.
Funimation will screen The Empire of Corpses in more than 50 theaters across the United States on April 19 and 20. The film is the first in a series of three movies based on novels by award-winning writer Project Itoh and is directed by Ryotaro Makihara. "We're pleased to bring this first in the series of films based on Project Itoh's novels," said Gen Fukunaga, founder and CEO of Funimation. "'The Empire of Corpses' is a truly captivating sci-fi action thriller – perfect for the big screen – and one that fans will certainly enjoy."
Screenvision Media has named Craig O’Connor director of distribution, event cinema. His addition to the Screenvision Media team comes in time for the company’s first highly anticipated event cinema program following their re-launch in partnership with Kaos Connect, premiering May 2016. In his new role, O’Connor will be responsible for the distribution strategy of all event cinema programs.
Caspar Nadaud has been appointed managing director of Pathé Live. He succeeds Thierry Fontaine who now holds the title president. Nadaud, 34 years old, started in 2007 as the sales and distribution manager of Arts Alliance Media, one of the leading international theatrical distributors of Event Cinema. From 2012 on he was the director of international sales and business development.
Last night at an exclusive screening at London’s independent Genesis Cinema in Mile End, London, Philips Lighting brought one of the world’s hottest bands to the silver screen as never seen before. Philips Lighting hosted the immersive concert event with an exclusive screening of the critically acclaimed Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors Live concert powered by Philips LightVibes.
In a collaboration with Disney Music Group, Philips Lighting launched LightVibes in the U.S. at the Downtown Independent Theater in Los Angeles on February 16. An audience of music and film industry professionals and artists experienced the immersive light technology along with music video footage from the Star Wars Headspace album, an inspired-by compilation by some of the top and emerging electronic music artists, featuring tracks that integrate sound effects and dialogue from the Star Wars films.
National Theatre Live will partner with the Royal Court and Playful Productions to broadcast Hangmen from London’s West End. The play will be captured and projected in Sony 4K digital cinema across Vue Cinemas’ chain of 84 theatres. The production marks the fourth collaboration in the year-long partnership between National Theatre Live, Vue Entertainment and Sony Digital Cinema 4K, which has already seen productions of Behind the Beautiful Forevers, The Beaux Strategem and Hamlet hit the big screen from the stage. Working closely with its production partners, Sony has taken plays from different environments, including the Olivier Theatre, The Barbican and the Wyndhams Theatre, to the cinema screen.
Screenings of Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors Live music concert will be enhanced with Philips LightVibes. An initial three cinemas will deploy the technology for immersive cinema with more than 790 additional cinemas offering the title via distribution, broadening access to the concert for many more fans around the world. Tyrone Walker-Hepburn, owner of the Genesis independent cinema in London, which will show the UK screening said, “As an independent cinema, we’re all about differentiating ourselves. So being able to offer interesting, premium content like the Imagine Dragons concert using Philips LightVibes really sets us apart. It helps us to attract new audiences and revenue streams, which are key to our growth plans. People describe us as a maverick cinema and ventures like this cement that reputation."
BBC Worldwide North America and Fathom Events will commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with the release of Bill, a comedic, fictional tale of how Bill became William Shakespeare. This offbeat Monty Python-esque farce stars Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans, Bob The Builder) as William Shakespeare along with husband and wife duo – Damian Lewis (Billions, Homeland) as swashbuckling Sir Richard Hawkins and Helen McCrory (Peaky Blinders, Fantastic Mr. Fox) as Queen Elizabeth.
