CEA and UK Film Council announce digital roadshows for exhibitors

CEA AND UK FILM COUNCIL ANNOUNCE

 

DIGITAL ROADSHOWS FOR EXHIBITORS

London – 18 March 2009: The Cinema Exhibitors’ Association and the UK Film Council, working with Screen Digest, have today announced a UK-wide programme of digital roadshows to raise awareness and understanding amongst the exhibition sector of issues around digital cinema.

The events, which will run from April – June at eleven digitally-equipped venues across the country, will provide an overview of the financial, operational and technical issues around digital cinema operation and allow those attending to hear first-hand experience from colleagues on the opportunities and challenges presented by conversion from 35mm technology.

A number of the events will also focus on aspects of digital 3D cinema, interest in which has been boosted recently by the success of titles such as My Bloody Valentine and Bolt and anticipation of the upcoming Monsters vs Aliens.

The roadshows will be open to all UK exhibitors, including commercial and specialist cinemas, arts venues and film societies. 

Announcing the proposed events, CEA Chief Executive Phil Clapp said:

“I am hugely grateful to colleagues at the UK Film Council and Screen Digest for their willingness to work with us and share their expertise. I see the roadshow events as an important opportunity for the wider exhibition sector to learn more and to discuss the key issues around digital cinema.

“It seems clear that the current transition to digital is only likely to gather pace in the future. It is vital therefore that all exhibitors are armed with the facts to enable them to decide whether they want to make that change, and if so, on what timescale. In order that all can make informed business decisions, we need to ensure that as much objective information as possible has been made available.”

Commenting on the desire to involve as wide a range of exhibitors as possible, Peter Buckingham, Head of Distribution and Exhibition at the UK Film Council, added:

“The transition to digital cinema technology will impact at some point on everyone who currently exhibits films or wishes to do so in the future. Everyone shares the same issue here, no matter what type of venue or type of programme. Namely, how is the switch from 35mm to digital going to benefit their operations, and crucially how will it be funded. It is therefore vital that as many as possible working in this part of the sector fully understand the financial and operational implications.

“We hope these events will provide a key opportunity for exhibitors and anyone working in this sector to engage with those who have first-hand experience of what it means to ‘go digital’.”

Full details of the events and information on how to attend can be found at this link:

www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/roadshow 

Dates and venues for the events are as follows. All events will begin at 10.00am and finish by 3.00pm.

 

Monday 27 April

Cornerhouse, Manchester

70 Oxford Street

Manchester M1 5NH

 

Tuesday 28 April

Vue, Hull*

Princes Quay

Kingston-Upon-Hull HU1 2PQ

 

Wednesday 29 April

Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge

38-39 St Andrew\\\’s Street

Cambridge CB2 3AR

 

Friday 1 May

Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle

10 Pilgrim Street

Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6QG

 

Thursday 7 May

Glasgow Film Theatre

12 Rose Street Glasgow

G3 6RB

 

Wednesday 13 May

Cineworld, Cardiff

Mary Ann Street

Cardiff CF10 2EN

 

Friday 15 May

Watershed, Bristol

1 Canon’s Road, Harbourside

Bristol BS1 5TX

 

Monday 1 June

Light House, Wolverhampton

The Chubb Buildings

Fryer Street

Wolverhampton WV1 1HT

 

Wednesday 3 June

Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast

Queen’s University of Belfast

Culture & Arts Division

8 Fitzwilliam Street

Belfast Northern Ireland BT9 6AW

 

Thursday 4 June

Odeon Bayswater, London*

Whiteleys of Bayswater

Queensway London W2 4YL

 

Monday 8 June

Plaza Cinema, Truro

Lemon Street

Truro TR1 2PN

 

Exhibitor enquiries

Any queries or questions should be directed to: digitalcinema@cinemauk.org.uk

Media enquiries

For more information, please contact Phil Clapp / James Bird at the CEA on Tel: 020 7734 9551 or email: digitalcinema@cinemauk.org.uk

Or Caroline Nagle at the UK Film Council on Tel: 020 7861 7508, email caroline.nagle@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk