USA (CA) – Disney’s “Tomorrowland” is the first film to have screened to the public in Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range). Cnet is impressed. “In the Dolby Cinema presentation of Disney’s “Tomorrowland,” fiber-optic-fed laser light engines, 4K resolution, HDR contrast and Atmos sound combine to create a breathtaking cinema experience. Tomorrow’s theater experience can’t come home soon enough.” Although it also calls Dolby Cinema “sort of like “THX” or “IMAX.”” LINK

Ireland (Republic) – Kevin Anderson, the founder of Omniplex, celebrated his 100th birthday last Thursday. Instead of buying him typical presents, Omniplex celebrated him by acquiring smaller rival Gaiety Cinema Group for €8 million. “It adds another two cinemas to Omniplex’s stable, bringing its total to 22 – 11 in the Republic and 11 in Northern Ireland. The new cinemas are in Sligo and Antrim. Omniplex, which said it couldn’t comment on the deal, also recently opened two new cinemas in Carlow and Craigavon.” Omniplex has spent €44 million expanding and upgrading its chain over the past three years. LINK

India – Mini-theatres are being promoted as a way of expanding the cinema footprint in southern Indian states. “If things fall in place, both the States will soon have 2,000 mini theatres in residential colonies, bus depots, RDOs and mandal offices in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh which can accommodate 60 to 150 persons and will offer tickets at affordable ticket rates between Rs 30 [USD $0.47] and Rs 50 [USD $0.78]. ”  LINK

Accessibility

UK – Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford is the first cinema in the UK to launch dementia friendly cinema screenings. “Specially-adapted movies will hit the big screen once a month to help people with dementia feel less isolated and help them recall past memories… It comes after the 108-seat cinema teamed up with organisation Creative Dementia Arts Network (CDAN) to host the season of adapted screenings.”  LINK

Technology

Global – What are the Top Ten Android Apps for buying cinema tickets? An interesting list, but given that many are specific to a particular chain and all are country specific, there is not One App to Rule Them All. That said, some are interesting, such as the one that covers all of India. “With BookMyShow, you can buy tickets for most of the theater chains out there, including PVR Cinemas, BIG Cinemas, INOX, AGS Cinemas, Apna Cinema, CineMAX, City Gold, DT City Centre, E-SQUARE, Cinepolis, Fame Cinemas, Fun Cinemas, Glitz Cinemas, Gold Cinema, Gopalan Cinemas and many more! Additionally you can buy tickets for plays, which is something that these other apps don’t include, as they stick to just movies.” LINK

Health & Safety

Poland – A fire broke out in a Helios cinema in Opole when the oil filter in a popcorn machine caught fire at 9:30am. People waiting to go into the first screenings were evacuated and nobody was injured. The firefighter had to break down part of  the ceiling and the electrical wiring was burnt, so there won’t be any films screening for the foreseeable future.  LINK

Cinema Opening/Closings

France – Can the Eldorado cinema in Dijon be saved, France3 asks. “Eldorado’s debt is 80 000 euros . In response, Film Team has launched a call for donations and solicit communities. On May 20, 95 donors had helped raise 7,500 euros.”  LINK

India – Carnival Cinemas has opened a four-screen complex in  Sentrum Mall in Shristi Nagar, Burdwan in West Bengal. “Having the seating capacity of 1150 seats, the cinemas are equipped with world class 2K Digital Projection Technology, Dolby 7.1 surround sound, lavish interiors, luxurious seating arrangements, a wide array of F&B and the best-in-class services at pocket friendly prices.”  LINK

UK (Scotland) – Details have been revealed about Cineworld’s Silverburn 14-screen multiplex in Glasgow’s South Side, officially opening on June 26. “The new cinema will have the first ever Superscreen in Scotland, which includes a wall to wall screen reaching the ceiling, dual projectors giving a brighter 3D experience and breath-taking multidimensional sound with Dolby Atmos speakers, powered by 32 amplifiers.”  LINK

Finally

Two lovely short films look at the dying art of projectionists. “Temujin Doran told us: “I made this film while working as a projectionist at Screen on the Green. It was the first job I got when I moved to London, and really one of the best I’ve ever had. I made the film initially just to salute the job, but also because I knew that it could never last due to digitisation in cinemas.””  LINK