J.J. Abrams will be honored with the “Showman of the Year” Award, it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), will be held April 11 – 14, 2016, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Abrams will receive this special honor during the opening night festivites, taking place on Monday, April 11, 2016.

“A true showman in every sense of the word J.J. Abrams has created, produced, written and directed some of the biggest films of our time,” noted Neuhauser. “From bringing ‘Star Wars’ back to the big screen with ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ and reintroducing the world to the ‘Star Trek’ franchise, Abrams continues to entertain audiences with films that show a true passion and love for filmmaking and the subjects he brings to the big screen.”

Releasing July 22, 2016 via Paramount Pictures and Skydance and produced by Abrams’ Bad Robot, “Star Trek Beyond,” the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In “ Star Trek Beyond,” the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

J.J. Abrams is a writer, producer and director who founded Bad Robot Productions in 2001. His work includes TV series such as Lost, Alias, Fringe, Person of Interest, and Felicity, and feature films including Star Trek, Super 8, Cloverfield, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and most recently Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Katie McGrath, and their three children.

About CinemaCon
CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry–from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the movie-going experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.

CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. CinemaCon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies.

About NATO
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 32,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 81 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.

Additional information on CinemaCon can be found at www.cinemacon.com.