Landmark Deal Includes Three-Picture Slate
Agreement with PATHE LIVE
NEW
YORK and PARIS,
Nov. 27,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PATHE CINEMAS, leading exhibitor
in Continental Europe, and IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) today
announced a significant expansion to their historical partnership
with five new state-of-the-art IMAX® with Laser systems in
Europe, including four in
France. The new agreement also spans distribution, with IMAX
and PATHE LIVE, PATHE's subsidiary dedicated to production and
distribution of event cinema, set to release three upcoming PATHE
LIVE films across the IMAX network.
The first of the three films under the deal will be the
first-ever Filmed for IMAX classical ballet stage
performance released in cinemas. Co-produced by Paris Opera and PATHE LIVE and distributed
worldwide by PATHE LIVE, Rudolf Nureyev's choreographed ballet
"Swan Lake" will be performed by
the Paris Opera Ballet and filmed
next summer with IMAX certified cameras for a targeted global
release at the end of 2024. In 2022, IMAX and PATHE
LIVE successfully collaborated on the first concert ever to be
released through the Filmed for IMAX camera program,
"Indochine's Central Tour".
"This agreement advances two key strategic priorities for IMAX:
expanding our network in the thriving French cinema market and
further diversifying our content portfolio across new experiences,"
said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX.
"PATHE CINEMAS continues to be one of our premier global strategic
partners, as it expands one of the world's most successful IMAX
circuits and brings new cinematic experiences to its audiences
through IMAX technology."
"We are delighted to deepen our historical partnership with IMAX
through this new agreement which represents a significant milestone
in our strategic alliance," said Aurélien Bosc, Chairman of PATHE
CINEMAS. "Leveraging on the strong IMAX brand and its
state-of-the-art technical features, we reinforce our premium
strategy by offering moviegoers emotional experiences within our
cinemas and the unique opportunity to watch exclusive Live content
in IMAX theaters."
IMAX continues to drive significant box office results in
France —a top-ten market for the
Company — and remains on-pace to match its highest grossing year
ever at the French box office, set in 2019. IMAX and PATHE CINEMAS,
leading exhibitor in Continental Europe, have enjoyed a successful
partnership since 2010 and currently operate 26 locations together
across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Morocco.
The five new PATHE CINEMAS locations will be equipped with IMAX
with Laser, IMAX's most advanced theatre experience. Immersive by
design, IMAX with Laser has been developed from the ground-up to
deliver crystal clear, lifelike images and precision audio for a
moviegoing experience unlike anything else. The ground-breaking
4K laser projection system features a
new optical engine, custom designed lenses, and a suite of
proprietary technology that delivers brighter images with increased
resolution, deeper contrast, and the widest range of colors
exclusively to IMAX screens.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines
proprietary software, architecture, and equipment to create
experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world
you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing
IMAX systems to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways,
making IMAX's network among the most important and successful
theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the
globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New
York, Toronto, and
Los Angeles, with additional
offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of September 30, 2023, there were 1,731 IMAX systems
(1,651 commercial multiplexes, 12 commercial destinations, 68
institutional) operating in 87 countries and territories. Shares of
IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade
on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code
"1970."
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, Experience It In
IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®,
DMR®, Filmed For IMAX®, IMAX LIVE™, and IMAX
Enhanced® are trademarks and trade names of IMAX
Corporation or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise
protected under laws of various jurisdictions. For more
information, visit www.imax.com. You may also connect with
IMAX on Instagram (www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook
(www.facebook.com/imax), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/imax),
X (www.twitter.com/imax), and YouTube
(www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
About PATHE CINEMAS
PATHE CINEMAS offers moviegoers a unique cinema experience in
all its dimensions : an unrivaled cinema network with 131 cinemas
in 6 countries (France,
The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Tunisia, Senegal); exceptional experiences with notably
IMAX® Laser theaters; offers and services adapted to new
consumption patterns; a fluid and personalized customer journey for
a global experience on digital and in theaters.
PATHE LIVE is a pioneer in global distribution of event cinema.
Over the last 10 years, PATHE LIVE has released over 200 events in
cinemas including operas (Metropolitan Opera Live in HD in French
speaking territories), classical ballets (producer and worldwide
distributor of the Bolchoï Ballet cinema series which ended right
after the beginning of the war) and record-breaking music concerts
such as BTS - LOVE YOURSELF IN SEOUL (2019), MYLENE
FARMER 2019 – THE FILM (2019) and INDOCHINE – CENTRAL TOUR
IN CINEMA (first ever Filmed for IMAX concert film – 2022 –
French speaking territories only). PATHE LIVE strives to reach the
widest international audience with epic prestigious and unmissable
cultural events combining uniquely communal cinematic experiences
with the highest quality image, sound and comfort tailored for the
big screen.
pathe.com
For additional information please contact:
Investors:
Jennifer
Horsley
jhorsley@imax.com
212.821.0154
Media:
Mark Jafar
mjafar@imax.com
212.821.0102
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SOURCE IMAX Corporation