On May 10, the International Cinema Technology Association will present its Presentation Excellence Award to Klaus Ungerer, operator of the Cinema film theatre in Munich. The presentation will take place during Germany’s cinema exhibitor convention Kino 2023 in Baden-Baden.
With the award the ICTA honors cinema operators who embrace cinema technology and continuously strive towards celebrating the cinema theatre as a social and experiential meeting space to the benefit of their audiences. Creativity, digital excellence, and a strong focus on audiences were further selection criteria.
The Cinema film theatre was nominated alongside 12 further cinemas by members of the ICTA.
An international selection committee chose the winner. ICTA’s international directors, Jan Runge, Cathy Huis in ‘t Veld-Esser, Oliver Pasch and Till Cussmann, and Benjamin Dauhrer of Cinecitta made the selection.
Runge said, “We are delighted that this year’s ICTA award will be presented to Klaus Ungerer and his team at Munich’s Cinema. The philosophy of the cinema – To Be a Movie Lovers’ Paradise – is ambitious and has been brought to live for many decades. When cinema pioneer Dr. Dieter Buchwald – who passed away in 2018 – took over the cinema, he turned it into a trailblazing icon of Germany’s exhibition landscape. The Cinema was the first German cinema to be THX-certified (in 1987). Whether popcorn, sneak previews or experimenting with event cinema – the Cinema has long ensured that its audiences are amongst the first to experience new trends in theatrical exhibition.
“This pioneering spirit is now carried forward by Klaus Ungerer and his team. After a significant refurbishment the Cinema today offers a high-end cinema going experience with excellent sound, latest laser projection, comfortable seating, and a newly renovated foyer. This customer focus is also reflected in the cinema’s website design, which highlights and promotes different cinema technology features. This approach, in our view, is showmanship at its best.”
Ungerer said, “It’s a great honor to receive this award on behalf of the entire team at the Cinema. We have always deliberately focused on implementing the latest technical innovations and original ideas. Especially at a time when it is essential to drive audiences back to the theatre, it is our priority to illustrate what makes the big screen experience so unparalleled. It’s encouraging that this approach is now honored through this award. We truly appreciate and are thankful for the recognition.”
HDF Kino executive vice president and CEO Christine Berg, congratulating Ungerer on behalf of the German cinema exhibitors’ association, said, “Huge congratulations to Klaus Ungerer for this recognition. The Cinema in many ways is a location that sets standards. Throughout its almost 70 years of existence, it has excelled at introducing new technological innovations in the cinema space. Today Klaus Ungerer continues to offer perfect film viewing experiences through the latest projection and sound technologies. That’s the big screen at its best.”