NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corp.
(NYSE: IMAX) today awarded $5,000
grants each to five U.S. high school film programs as part of its
broader effort to educate students about key environmental and
societal issues impacting the world and to inspire them to become
advocates for change through filmmaking. Each student film program
has been challenged to create inspiring documentaries to further
IMAX's commitment to drive awareness of the global issues outlined
in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The grants are being awarded for the school's participation in
IMAX In Focus, a multi-faceted philanthropic program
unveiled by IMAX last year to benefit the student film programs and
help the next generation of filmmakers develop their creative
abilities and use the power of film to drive positive change.
This year's participants for the 2017-18 school year, listed
below, encompass a diverse cross-section of American high school
students geographically, demographically and economically:
- Cedar Crest High School; Lebanon,
Penn.
- Digital Arts & Cinema Technology High School; Brooklyn, N.Y.
- A collaboration of The Marvelwood School in Kent, Conn., and Stamford Academy in
Stamford, Conn.
- Henry J. Kaiser High School;
Honolulu
- The Kinkaid School; Houston
Launched in October 2016, In
Focus arose from IMAX's unique private-public partnership with
UN Environment, the UN's agency that oversees environmental issues,
which seeks to educate audiences about key societal and
environmental issues impacting the planet.
Each school will create an eight-minute documentary and related
social media content on one of the UN's 17 SDGs, which range from
eradicating poverty and promoting gender equality to ensuring
universal access to clean water and modern energy.
To ensure that a robust library of student-created content is
available for global audiences, IMAX has chosen to address three
new goals:
- Zero Hunger, the collective endeavor to end hunger,
ensure access to safe food supplies, improve nutrition, and promote
sustainable agriculture.
- Good Health and Well-Being, efforts to promote healthy
lifestyles and overall well-being for all – regardless of age or
domicile.
- Sustainable Cities and Communities, the quest to make
cities and other population centers inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable.
"We are honored to work with another group of talented and
deserving student filmmakers to help them unlock their creative
abilities and see, first-hand, the power that the big screen can
have in promoting positive change," said IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond. "We're proud to continue and
expand the In Focus program, and fulfill IMAX's commitment
to empowering the next generation of filmmakers."
Since starting the program last year, IMAX has worked with the
All-American High School Film Festival to identify exemplary
schools, with IMAX ultimately selecting the final five schools to
participate in the In Focus program.
"Our partnership with IMAX proves that the industry is invested
in the next generation of talented filmmakers," said All American
High School Film Festival Executive Director Tom Oliva. "This unparalleled opportunity offers
students real-world education, a chance to create content with
purpose and a platform to share their unique perspective with the
world."
In June, IMAX released five thought-provoking documentaries made
by the 2016 inaugural class of the In Focus program. The
students explored issues ranging from poor air quality in D.C. and
water pollution in the Everglades to the declining honeybee
population and angst in some U.S. cities over dwindling sources of
drinking water.
The young filmmakers deployed an array of film techniques,
including creatively interspersing interviews with officials from
the EPA, the National Parks Service, the NOAA, the Coastal
Watershed Institute, and state legislators. The full library is
available on the IMAX website.
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 theatres to connect with
audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is
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, 2017, there were 1,302 IMAX
theaters (1,203 commercial multiplexes, 11 commercial destinations
and 86 institutions) in 75 countries. On Oct. 8, 2015, shares of IMAX China, a subsidiary
of IMAX Corp., began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under
the stock code "HK.1970."
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D
Experience®, The IMAX Experience®, IMAX Is Believing® and IMAX
nXos® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about
the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with
IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter
(www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube
(www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
About All American High School Film Festival
The All
American High School Film Festival is the premiere destination for
talented high school filmmakers and media arts enthusiasts from
around the world. Our mission is to provide immersive education
with a profound impact, connecting the filmmakers of the future
with the rewards, respect and recognition they deserve.
Each year, in the heart of New York
City, we present the world's largest high school film
festival. We offer a grand stage for the next generation of
talented filmmakers where they can: screen their amazing creations,
learn from top industry professionals, connect with the latest
technology, explore myriad higher education opportunities, receive
scholarships and technology prizes, and, perhaps most importantly,
create a community of shared passions and lifelong
relationships.
We believe in the voices of our youth.
We invest in the stories they have to tell.
We empower young artists to share their stories and transform
their world through digital media.
This press release contains forward looking statements that
are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information
and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause
actual results to differ materially from future results expressed
or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
For additional information please contact:
Business
Media:
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Investors:
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IMAX
Corporation – New York
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IMAX
Corporation – New York
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Ann
Sommerlath
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Michael K.
Mougias
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212-821-0155
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212-821-0187
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asommerlath@imax.com
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mmougias@imax.com
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Entertainment
Media:
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Sloane &
Company– New York
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Principal
Communications Group – Los Angeles
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Whit Clay
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Melissa Zukerman/Paul
Pflug
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212-446-1864
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323-658-1555
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wclay@sloanepr.com
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melissa@pcommgroup.com
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paul@pcommgroup.com
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SOURCE IMAX Corporation