The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), the body representing European cinema trade associations and operators, today issued a statement condemning Universal Studios' reported decision to stream movies the same day they are released to theatres. Here is the UNIC statement:
The COVID-19 crisis is hitting many markets and industries hard. The cinema market, and specifically theatre exhibition is experiencing a big impact. Being the home of large crowds, flocking together to enjoy a fun social experience, going to the movies was put in lockdown across the world. The impact of this is not to be underestimated, because typically cinema exhibition is close to a 24/7 activity. In this article, we’ll take a forward-looking stance and focus on things to consider when starting up projection booths and re-opening cinemas again.
The current pandemic has placed critical pressure on the global cinema community with the exhibition sector in most major markets being forced to shut down as governments seek to prevent the spread of the virus by limiting mass gatherings and social interactions. The London-based trade group Cinema Technology Community has offered steps to take to safely close movie theatres and what measures should be taken when reopening once the COVID-19 crisis passes.
John Fithian, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners and Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of the trade show CinemaCon issued a joint memo to the industry today to announce that, “It is with great regret we are announcing the cancellation of CinemaCon 2020.”
Late last month, John Fithian, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners and Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of the trade show CinemaCon issued a joint memo to the industry acknowledging that while the Coronavirus or COVID-19 is a serious concern, CinemaCon 2020 is still set to convene March 30 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Digital Cinema Report published that memo http://bit.ly/2uQJITK in its entirety. This week the two men issued another memo detailing the many precautions that are being taken to ensure the safety of everyone who attends the convention.
John Fithian, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners and Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of the trade show CinemaCon have issued a joint memo to the industry offering an update regarding the impact the Coronavirus or COVID-19 is having on CinemaCon 2020, set to convene March 30 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. In doing so they made one thing clear: as of now, CinemaCon 2020 will go on as planned.
The ISE Digital Cinema Summit convenes Wednesday, February 12 at the Okura Hotel in Amsterdam the Netherlands. The central question of the event is: where do movies and movie theatres fit in the 21st century? The theme of the half-day event is The Changing Cineplex. During the event we will highlight how advances in digital cinema technology are reshaping movie theatres and the entire movie-going experience.
The speakers are set for the second annual Digital Cinema Summit to be held February 12 at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam the Netherlands. The theme of the half-day event is The Changing Cineplex. During the event we will highlight how advances in digital cinema technology are reshaping movie theatres and the entire movie-going experience. Digital Cinema Report readers can get thirty percent off the registration fee by using this code: DCS 419882.
Given the state of the motion picture business today it hardly seems possible that in 2010 a significant number of movie theatres were still running film projectors and that many exhibitors were reluctant to make the transition to digital cinema technology. A lot has changed in the past ten years – digital cinema’s second decade – change that was driven almost entirely by new technology. While predicting what the next decade will bring is all but impossible, I feel safe in saying that moving forward the exhibition business will be increasingly interactive, immersive and local. I also feel safe in saying that eSports and content from companies such as Netflix will both play major roles in exhibition before the new decade comes to a close. And China’s role in all of this seems all but certain to get even more complicated. But let’s begin our look back at the past decade with Avatar, the movie that arguably jumpstarted everything.
Following the successful debut earlier this year of the first event, Digital Cinema Report, in conjunction with Integrated Systems Europe is presenting the second Digital Cinema Summit February 12, 2020 at the Okura Hotel in Amsterdam the Netherlands.
