Ymagis Group, the specialist in digital technologies for the film industry, and Chinese cinema systems integrator Great Ocean today announced the successful opening of the first EclairColor HDR (High Dynamic Range) auditorium in China as part of a new multiplex in the city of RuiAn with cinema exhibitor Bestar Cinemas. The EclairColor technology is a key component of a new premium large format (PLF) concept labeled STARX and boasts a 22-meter wide screen, 600 seats and a Sony Digital Cinema 4K SRX-R515QS quad-system projector.

“We’re very excited to bring this new HDR technology to our new multiplex at the Wuyue shopping mall, marking a first in China,” explains Jiang Yuanxin, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Bestar Cinemas Management Co., Ltd. “EclairColor powered by Sony Digital Cinema delivers superior image quality to our audiences and brings more emotion to the giant screen while improving satisfaction ratings. As part of our master development strategy, we aim to open 50 STARX PLF auditoriums with EclairColor technology by 2021 as part of both our existing and new cinema complexes located across China.”

For Zhang Liang, Technical Director of Chinese systems integrator Great Ocean, “We are very pleased to collaborate with the EclairColor team on this first venture in RuiAn. EclairColor’s color range is much richer and the gradients much more refined, achieving true black color on screen, which was clearly demonstrated by the EclairColor screenings of Dying to Survive. All types of cinemas, regardless of screen size, can be equipped with EclairColor HDR. The Sony Digital Cinema 4K equipment can be used to run EclairColor-mastered content as well as standard DCI content.”

“We are thrilled with this successful collaboration with Great Ocean and expect many more EclairColor installations to follow in the near future,” comments Simon Eyries, EclairColor Project Leader at Ymagis Group. “It’s an important milestone for both Chinese filmmakers and cinema exhibitors in the deployment of a powerful and affordable HDR technology across China. For this occasion, Ymagis Group’s content services arm, Eclair, produced their first EclairColor DCP of a Chinese-made feature film, Dying to Survive, directed by Wen Muye.”

About EclairColor
EclairColor is a revolutionary HDR solution that combines a mastering process with select display system technologies from Sony Digital Cinema 4K, Barco/Cinionic and Samsung Electronics. EclairColor provides cinemas with unparalleled image projection technology. All types of cinemas – independent movie theaters, regional chains and giant exhibition circuits -, regardless of their screen size, can be equipped with EclairColor HDR. EclairColor technology was praised by moviegoers in an audience survey conducted in France by an independent body, L’Observatoire de la Satisfaction, which revealed 97.3% of moviegoers that attended the screening of a film in EclairColor intend to repeat the experience and over two thirds will be recommending it to their family and friends. Audiences spontaneously mentioned the beauty of the images, stating they are of superior quality, more colorful and brighter in comparison with a standard image. More importantly, the projection in EclairColor significantly increased the level of appreciation of the film versus a screening in standard format. There are currently 149 cinema auditoriums equipped with the EclairColor solution in 15 countries including 57 in Germany, 55 in France and 21 in the USA. For more information, please connect to https://www.eclaircolor.com

About Ymagis Group
Founded in 2007 and managed by professionals from the motion picture and high-tech industries, Ymagis Group is a European leader in advanced digital technology services for the cinema industry. Through CinemaNext and Eclair, the Group provides smart, comprehensive solutions to movie exhibitors, distributors (feature films & event cinema), producers, rights holders, cinema/TV advertising networks, broadcasters, OTT channels and video publishers. Over the years, Ymagis Group has significantly expanded its portfolio of solutions & services and further developed its geographic footprint in Europe with permanent offices in 26 countries. The company’s core business is structured around three main units: CinemaNext (exhibitor services: sales and field services, software solutions, customer service/NOC), Eclair (content services: postproduction, theatrical delivery, digital distribution, versioning and accessibility, restoration and preservation) and Ymagis (VPF & financial services). A publicly-traded company listed on Euronext, Ymagis Group is headquartered in Paris (France) and has close to 800 employees. For more information, please connect to https://www.ymagis.com, https://www.cinemanext.com or https://www.eclair.digital

About Shanghai Bestar Cinemas management Co. Ltd.
Shanghai Bestar Cinemas Management Co. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Future Land Holdings Co. Ltd., (HK Code: 01030.HK), giving full play to abundant capital and project management capability. Relying on a sophisticated theater management team, the world’s most cutting-edge film equipment, and working with the best theater design team in Asia, it will construct and operate more than 50 high-end, innovative studios within three years. With an investment of 3 billion RMB within five years, it will construct and operate 100 high-end, innovative cinemas. More than half of its cinemas will be installed with IMAX theaters.

About Great Ocean
Great Ocean Media Science Co.Ltd is a leading cinema system integrator in China. The company is located in Beijing, and offers consulting, system sales, installation, training and service to Cinema Exhibitors. Great Ocean provides exhibitors with a wide range of products, including projectors, sound system, screen, TMS and Lobby solutions. In 2017, Great ocean integrated more than 40 cinemas and 250 auditoriums, and among which are serval top 10 cinema chains in China.