The latest from around the world of cinema exhibition

U p - t o - d a t e r o u n d - u p o f t h e g l o b a l i n d u s t r y n e w S , v i e w s & e v e n t s London

C T N E W S R E E L

The Lexi turns to crowdfunding for its new Hub

THE LEXI, IN LONDON’S Kensal Green is the UK’s first social enterprise cinema — and the team behind it have turned to crowdfunding to support its proposed expansion.

“Powered by the energy and enthusiasm of 50 local volunteers, the cinema is affordable, accessible and friendly, but with one screen and just 75 seats, there’s a limit to how much we can do, and we’re now at capacity,” explains the Lexi’s founder Sally Wilton, “The new Hub building that we want to raise funds for will be an attractive, sustainable build, providing 2,000 hours of additional community space per year. Our mission is to change lives through film. The Lexi Hub with its second screen would mean we can do so much more for our community.”

Plans for the new Hub include a second screen and no fewer than 3,860 additional places per year for local schools and nurseries. Find out more at: www.spacehive.com/thelexihub “I am a cinema. Love me.” The Lexi is a prime example of cinema’s role in the community

CineAsia heads back to Bangkok this December

FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION of last December’s CineAsia due to the recent political upheavals in Hong Kong, the Film Expo Group has announced that the CineAsia conference is to return to Bangkok after a decade’s absence. From 7-10 December, the venue will be the Royal Paragon Halls at the Siam Paragon Mall with screenings and presentations at the Paragon Cinema.

The management team had no trouble picking the location as “the support from local exhibition is extraordinary, the theatres are among the bestdesigned and technically enhanced theatres in the world and the cinema itself is on the same level as the convention center,” according to Robert and Andrew Sunshine, the co-managing directors of CineAsia. Find out more at www.filmexpos.com

Paul Hermans and Oliver Pasch join Cinionic

CINIONIC HAS ANNOUNCED two new leaders to its team: Paul Hermans (right) and Oliver Pasch (inset), who are joining to support the delivery of expanded managed service and premium service solutions. According to Cinionic, the appointments cement a commitment to a growing exhibition landscape. Paul Hermans joins as senior vice president, cinema as a service (CaaS). Formerly at Barco NV where he led various global change initiatives in aftermarket service optimisation, Paul will now be responsible for the development and global scaling of Cinionic’s new CaaS business, which includes its laser as a service offering.

Oliver Pasch joins Cinionic as vice-president, sales and business development in the premium cinema sector. Based in Germany, Oliver is an industry veteran with proven expertise in cinema operations and technology. Over the past 15 years, he was active in the first digital conversion wave, notably serving as sales director of digital cinema at Sony.

Germany

Pasch and Hermans will support managed and premium services

Cineworld and RealD announce multi-year partnership on 3D equipment

CINEWORLD AND REALD have announced a continuation of their partnership on RealD 3D equipment and 3D glasses within the UK. The renewal was signed in December as part of a wider deal to include Regal in the US.

Renana Teperberg, chief commercial officer at Cineworld, said, “We’re proud to continue our relationship with RealD to offer industry-leading 3D at our locations. It has always been our goal to create the best 3D experience for our consumers. Movies such as “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”, “Wonder Woman 1984”, and “Jumanji: The Next Level” are made to be seen in 3D. We firmly believe in the future of the market and our long-term partnership with RealD reflects that.” John Trafford-Owen, managing director of RealD Europe, said, “RealD is delighted to continue our partnership with such a progressive company as Cineworld. Together we will strive to develop technology and screen the latest and greatest movies to consumers in the way they were meant to be seen: in spectacular, bright and crisp RealD 3D.”

Galalite promotes the screen upgrade path

LEADING SCREEN TECHNOLOGY company Galalite recently unveiled its latest marketing campaign for 2020. The campaign headline “Upgrade to Galalite” establishes the company as the superior choice. “Whichever screen you’re using, you need an upgrade if it’s not Galalite,” commented Yusuf S Galabhaiwala, Galalite’s director of operations, adding, “At Galalite, forward-thinking innovation have been our watchwords for generations. Today, even mobile applications on phones need regular updates, so why should cinema screens be any different? Upgrades enhance experiences. And that’s what we stand for: offering an enhanced experience to the cinema-goer, and therefore, benefits to the cinema-owners.”

Stunning visuals: the NC1201L laser solution from NEC

NEC brings epic cinema to Spazio Cines

NEC Display Solutions has announced the completion of a new project with Spanish cinema Spazio Cines that brings stunning visuals to the screen while delivering operational savings. NEC has deployed its industry-leading laser projectors in seven theatres at Spazio Cines’ new cinema in Parla near Madrid. The projectors combine vibrant colour with exceptional image quality. The two types of projector selected for the project, NC1000C and NC1201L, ensure lower total cost of ownership and easier maintenance, resulting in lower lifetime costs and less downtime.

New features and performance improvements: the new DPA-Q series

QSC’s DPA-Q Series power amplifiers roll out globally

QSC HAS ANNOUNCED global availability of its new DPA-Q Series network power amplifiers in four- and eight-channel models. The new DPA-Q Series amplifiers unite the QSC legacy of robust power amplifiers, advancements in high-efficiency output devices, and native network transport, plus the control and monitoring capabilities of the Q-SYS Ecosystem.

“The addition of DPA-Q amplifiers to a Q-SYS design is an excellent example of a native ecosystem approach to network design,” says Barry Ferrell, VP, cinema product development and strategy. “Technicians can take advantage of next-generation amplifier design, while also utilising the native signature features and technologies QSC is known for, like Intrinsic Correction. This native approach can greatly reduce installation and setup time.” www.qsc.com

ASSET FINANCE SPECIALIST, Medialease, has supported cinemas throughout the UK, funding everything cinema-related from projectors to bar areas and kiosks, often ensuring that even the smallest boutique cinemas can stay up to date. One current Medialease project is with renowned cinema architect, Bill Chew, who is in the process of developing ‘The Goods Shed Cinema’ in Wymondham, Norfolk. This will be a two-screen cinema, housed in a Grade II-listed building, with a bar/café area and an additional flexible event space that can be used for screenings, workshops, meetings or as a gallery for hire by the local community. This project came about following an approach by the local council and the building’s owner, as they wanted to give the 3,500 sq ft building a new lease of life, transforming it into a cinema and leisure destination for the local area. “Using finance will mean we can install the latest cinema technology, helping future-proof the venue,” comments Bill. www.medialease.com. Norfolk

NEWS IN BRIEF

Wanda chooses Christie for its 600th multiplex

China

WANDA CINEMA, CHINA’S largest feature film distributor and cinema operator, has chosen Christie’s compact all-in-one, RGB pure laser cinema projector, with RealLaser illumination technology, for its 600th multiplex, the Guangzhou Haizhu Wanda Cinema

With nine auditoriums in total, including a “Prime at Wanda” premium auditorium, the cinema is located in the southern port city of Guangzhou. The premium auditorium is equipped with power reclining seats, as well as invigorating surround audio and stateof-the-art visuals from the Christie CP4330-RGB cinema projector. This pure laser cinema projector features CineLife electronics as well as RealLaser

An auspicious installation — Wanda selected Christie for its 600th multiplex

illumination which deliver significant breakthroughs in image performance and brightness, operational lifetime and cost of ownership. All other auditoriums include a selection of Christie’s reliable 2K digital cinema projectors, for screens up to 100ft. The multiplex officially started operations on 30 December.

Since their official launch, exhibitors worldwide have adopted Christie’s RGB pure laser cinema projectors as a replacement for lamp-based projection systems and in new installations. Major chains in Australia, China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand have all selected Christie laser equipment.

Pathé Gaumont strikes a deal for 200 Barco Series 4 laser projectors Cinionic — the Barco, CGS, and ALPD cinema joint venture — has struck a deal with Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont to bring its all-laser solutions to the European exhibitor. With an agreement for more than 200 Barco Series 4 laser projectors, Cinionic will power Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont’s new-builds in France and Africa, beginning with its new theatre in Sousse, Tunisia. “Our strategic relationships with key exhibitors such as Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont allow us to continue raising the bar for audiences around the world,” noted Serge Plasch, chief commercial officer at Cinionic.

Curzon Cinema acquired by Cohen Media Curzon Cinemas, the specialised UK cinema operator, has been bought by Cohen Media Group, an Academy Award-winning independent theatrical distribution and production company. The deal includes the purchase of Curzon’s Artificial Eye distribution arm as well as the Curzon Home Cinema streaming operation. Curzon Cinemas has been a respected name in arthouse and specialty films for more than 85 years. Curzon currently operates and programmes 20 cinemas and 46 screens in and around the London area.

Odeon Islington Luxe & Dine opens Odeon has opened its new Islington Square cinema in London, launching its Dolby Atmos-equipped Odeon Luxe & Dine concept, as well as a new event space equipped with high-speed connectivity and a dedicated on-site events team. The screens can be used for business presentations as well as shows, with 202 fully reclining seats with built-in tables throughout. Carol Welch, managing director at Odeon UK and Ireland said: “We’re thrilled to be taking Luxe to the next level with an all-new dine-in proposition. We can’t wait for fans to get a taste of the new experience, as well as our new gourmet menu.”.

Cineplex shareholders approve sale to Cineworld As CT went to press, shareholders in the Toronto-based Cineplex chain overwhelmingly approved a $2.8bn agreement that will see the company taken over by UK-based Cineworld Group. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2020, after which time its shares would be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange. The entertainment brands revealed in midDecember that they’d signed a deal whereby Cineworld agreed to assume Cineplex’s debt and pay $34 per share in cash.

CJ 4DPLEX introduces CGV’s Second Flexound

CGV SONGPA SPHEREX cinema is now the second CGV screen to feature Flexound audio in every seat. Based on feedback and experiences at its first Flexound cinema (the CGV Gold Class Wangsimni), CJ CGV and CJ 4DPLEX decided to continue the co-operation with the Finnish audio specialists. The new SphereX Songpa cinema featuring 73 Flexound-boosted seats opened in December. CJ 4DPLEX and Flexound are in talks to expand the collaboration further in more CGV theatres, as well as incorporating Flexound augmented audio with 4DX and ScreenX. “The original idea about multi-sensory listening came from therapy for autistic children,” explains Flexound CEO Merv Heinaro, adding “Soundwaves are vibrations that can be heard with our ears, but sound can also be perceived with our body. Why only use our hearing, if we can also enjoy wonderful movies with our sensation of touch?” www.flexound.com Korea

A new way of thinking about sound: Flexound augmented audio

California

Cost-effective and reliable — the first ever JBL-branded cinema amplifiers

JBL Professional announces its latest DSi 2.0 Series of cinema amplifiers

JBL PROFESSIONAL HAS ANNOUNCED its new DSi 2.0 Series cinema amplifiers, that the company claims offer class-leading power output, state-of-the-art DSP and advanced networking capabilities for the entire range of JBL cinema loudspeakers. The first-ever JBL branded cinema amplifiers, the DSi 2.0 Series builds on the legacy of Crown DSi amplifiers to combine the DSP of Crown’s CDi DriveCore Series amps with a high-power design delivering efficiency and audio fidelity. The DSi 2.0 Series includes 350W, 700W and 1,200W power configurations, available in analogue and analogue-plus-digital versions with Dante/AES67 and SNMP connectivity.

“As cinema systems grow larger and more complex with 5.1, 7.1 and immersive audio, venue owners require more efficient ways of powering and controlling networked audio systems,” commented Karam Kaul, vice president of audio at Harman Professional Solutions. “Cinema managers and integrators looking to maximise power investment and future-proof systems can count on the DSi 2.0 Series to deliver robust, reliable performance in a compact, cost-effective package.” www.jblpro.com