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CinemaNext: building the future Peter Knight looks under the hood and discovers a passion to serve the experience at CinemaNext
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ANY WILL BE AWARE of CinemaNext as it has been in existence since 2004, though you may well know it by another name. It started out in life as XDC when
A technical test-bed: the 40-seat preview theatre in Liège
to the supply chain and logistics. The Liège-Barchon offices also house sister-company Eclair’s Benelux team, which provides colour-grading and DCP mastering services for international movie releases alongside digital distribution and theatrical delivery solutions.
founded by Laurent Minguet until 2012 when it changed its name to dcinex —
As you would expect, the offices have a 40-seat screening
until it was bought by Ymagis Group in 2014 and renamed again
facility available for a variety of uses. The auditorium includes a
to CinemaNext. Headquartered in Liège, Belgium, the company also has offices in 25 other countries, including the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Russia and it employs around 200 people. CinemaNext offers a range of different services, including installation and maintenance of projection
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showroom for cinema seating and has a variety of different
CinemaNext, Liège, Belgium
quality control of content as well, so there is a control panel in
types within so visitors are able to try everything from a simple reclining seat, to the most luxurious ones. The space is used for the centre of the auditorium. Work is shortly going to start on making sure that the auditorium is equipped for both white
equipment, sound systems and outfitting for cinemas. They also advise cinemas on their financing and the management
The firm moved
and non-white screens, allowing for the greatest variety of 3D
of refurbishment projects.
to new buildings
content to be played back.
In December, CT was given the opportunity to visit the
in 2018 — one of
There is the ability to play content back from three different
the most modern
projectors — one using a xenon lamp, one a mercury lamp and
hub is located in Liège-Barchon (Parc Artisanal) and features a
logistic hubs in
one a laser so that true side-by-side testing can be carried out
2,400m² two-story building that includes 1,400m² dedicated
cinema services.
and observed. This was an interesting exercise during my visit
offices in Liège which opened in July 2018. CinemaNext’s main
www.cinematech.today
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