Boxoffice - October 2018

EXHIBITION BRIEFS
CINIONIC RECEIVES AWARD FROM ICTA
>> At its Summer Business Retreat held in Napa, California,
last month, the International Cinema Technology
Association’s (ICTA) worldwide cinema dealer membership
awarded Cinionic the top honor for manufacturing and
service excellence.
In its address, the association’s leadership conveyed the
spirit and purpose of the award, to recognize “the ICTA manufacturer
who most closely exemplifies the progressive principles
of product development and provides the dealers with
service and up-to-date technical and sales information, while
supporting the status of his product without qualification.”
Cinionic focuses on a combination of innovative cinema
solutions, flexible financing, and a comprehensive service
model that enables exhibitors to focus on engagement
with their moviegoers while simplifying their technology
and operations.
“We are honored to receive the ICTA Teddy award. It celebrates
our mission, and our focus on quality, to deliver WOW
experiences for movie fans while empowering our valued dealers,”
said Wim Buyens, CEO of Cinionic.
ICTA was founded in 1971 and represents more than 180
manufacturers and cinema-related businesses, for a total of
more than 200 members worldwide. Past recipients include
Christie, JBL, QSC, USL, Dolby, and Schneider.
JOHN TRAFFORD-OWEN JOINS REALD
>> John Trafford-Owen has joined
RealD Inc. as managing director of
Europe, Middle East, Africa, and
Russia (EMEAR). Trafford-Owen will
be responsible for overseeing sales and
marketing of all EMEAR territories and
will report directly to Travis Reid, chief
operating officer of RealD. He will be
based in RealD Europe’s headquarters in
the U.K.
Trafford-Owen has worked in exhibition
and distribution for over 25 years.
Most recently at Gower Street Analytics,
he served as head of theatrical distribution
U.K. & Ireland for StudioCanal. He
has also held the position of sales director
for U.K. and Ireland for Paramount Pictures
International and United International
Pictures UK following a successful
early career as a senior film buyer with
Odeon Cinemas.
“John is a well-known leader in our
industry with a wealth of experience,
skills, and established relationships,” said
Reid. “He recognizes and understands
the value 3-D brings to the cinema
industry and will work closely with our
exhibition and distribution partners to
continue to expand and maximize the
potential of 3-D, the RealD cinema platform,
and RealD’s Ultimate Screen business
throughout the growing EMEAR
territories. We are thrilled to have him as
part of the RealD team.”
“RealD has and will always have a
massive impact on cinema and the movie
going experience,” said Trafford-Owen. “I
look forward to being part of this market
leading company that continues to innovate
and deliver game-changing cinema
technology to audiences worldwide.”
IMAX TO OPEN 14 NEW THEATERS
IN CHINA
>> IMAX Corporation, IMAX China
Holding Inc., and Wanying Cinema
Line, the subsidiary of China Resources
Land, one of China’s largest state-owned
commercial developers, announced an
agreement for 14 new IMAX theaters.
The theaters will feature IMAX with
Laser, IMAX’s new laser experience for
commercial multiplexes, and are expected
to open between 2018 and 2021. This
agreement brings the total number of
contracted IMAX theaters in Greater
China to more than 900.
The IMAX theaters will be installed
in new MIXCINE-branded multiplexes
within China Resources Land’s new luxury
shopping centers, a majority of which
will be located in tier-one and tier-two
cities. The parties signed their first agreement
for an IMAX theater earlier this
year, which opened in March, bringing
the total IMAX commitment of Wanying
Cinema Line, the subsidiary of China
Resources Land, to 15 theaters.
“We are pleased to build on this new
partnership with China Resources Land,
China’s most influential integrated urban
developer and operator, that will leverage
our premium brand and The IMAX
Experience as the anchor attraction
for its luxury shopping complexes. We
believe their commitment to IMAX with
Laser is a strong validation of our ability
to deliver an immersive experience that
simply can’t be matched by any other
medium or technology,” said IMAX
CEO Richard L. Gelfond.
“Over the years, we’ve witnessed the
success of IMAX to drive foot traffic to
multiplexes in many of our luxury malls
across China,” said Linkang Yu, vice president
for commercial real estate, China
12 BOXOFFICE ® OCTOBER 2018