Paramount Pictures' Star Trek to be Released as IMAX(R) Movie MAY 8, 2009

J.J. Abrams' Vision of the Greatest Space Adventure of All Time to Run in Select IMAX Theatres




Paramount Pictures and IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced that Star Trek, directed by J.J. Abrams ("Mission: Impossible III", "Lost" and "Alias"), will be simultaneously released to both IMAX(R) and conventional theatres worldwide on May 8, 2009. Star Trek, which chronicles the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members, will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Paramount Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of the film to IMAX theatres worldwide.

Star Trek is one of the world's most successful science fiction entertainment series and media franchises. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the Star Trek phenomenon has lead to six television series, ten feature films, dozens of computer and video games, hundreds of novels and fan stories, as well as a themed attraction in Las Vegas. Star Trek has also inspired a following of millions of "Trekkies" of all ages that span across the globe.

"We're excited to share the enhanced IMAX version of this film with the millions of dedicated fans who have been anticipating this release since production began," said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman, Paramount Pictures. "The IMAX Experience adds that extra level of excitement to an already action-packed film, giving moviegoers a premium 'event' at the multiplex."

Added J.J. Abrams, "I'm thrilled that audiences will be able to experience this new, epic world of Star Trek - with an incredible cast and mind-blowing visual effects - on what is, obviously, the most remarkable film format in the world."

"Star Trek combines top Hollywood story-telling talent with space exploration, and each is very conducive to The IMAX Experience," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Expanding our relationship with Paramount Pictures to include this film strengthens our 2009 slate, and with the continuing rollout of digital IMAX theatre systems, we will be able to offer the fan-base more locations to experience the epic first journey of the USS Enterprise in the most immersive way."

"Both Star Trek and IMAX have taken audiences to far away places they would normally not be able to go, and in this case, it's space - the final frontier," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "J.J. Abrams has created a powerful movie that has fans worldwide feverishly anticipating its release. We are thrilled to partner with Paramount Pictures to bring J.J.'s exciting vision of this incredible space adventure to IMAX screens."

From director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci ("Transformers," "MI: III") comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, "Star Trek," featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before. Star Trek explores the early Starfleet careers of future Enterprise officers Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Amanda Grayson (Winona Ryder), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), McCoy (Karl Urban), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekhov (Anton Yelchin). A Romulan, Nero (Eric Bana), and a much older Spock (Leonard Nimoy) are influences, as well as Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood), the first captain of the USS Enterprise.
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Hoyts and Imax see the bigger picture

THE Hoyts cinema and global cinema group Imax have joined forces to open a series of large-format Imax screens in Hoyts locations.

Three new screens are being built at the Hoyts centres at Sydney's Moore Park, Maribyrnong in Melbourne and Cannington in Perth, with a fourth due to open in Melbourne next year.

The joint venture will officially launch on Boxing Day, when an iMax version of the remake of the 1951 science-fiction movie, The Day The Earth Stood Still, will open at all three locations.

The partnership is part of a global push for Imax, which is expanding in the US, Britain, Japan and Austria, as well as Australia, according to Larry O'Reilly, executive vice-president of theatre development for the New York and Toronto-based company.

Key to its immediate growth is a push to show more re-mastered Hollywood blockbusters in Imax and 3D formats, rather than the documentary-style films on which the business was built.

"We're moving to a new business model where we hope to have a major Hollywood blockbuster every four weeks," Mr O'Reilly said.

For Hoyts, the partnership represents a bid by private equity investor Pacific Equity Partners to increase the yield on the company's assets.

PEP bought Hoyts from West Australian Newspapers and James Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd a year ago for $440 million.

Hoyts chief executive Delfin Fernandez said the company was making a "considerable investment" to convert the theatres to Imax technology, including refurbishing the interiors.

Other Imax films Hoyts will screen this year include Monsters vs Aliens in 3D, Transformers 2 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

"Hoyts has invested heavily in all areas of the business over the last 12 months," Mr Fernandez said. "We recently launched our new website. Likewise mobile ticketing is a first for both Hoyts and the industry, so our consumers can not only view session times through their mobile phones, but can actually purchase Hoyts tickets through their handsets," he said.

The company has also launched thehalfpipe, which it is billing as the world's first bean bag cinema.

In Australia, the box office is on track for another year of growth, with takings tracking 2 per cent ahead of 2007 for the year to October.

Advertising revenues rose 3.4 per cent in the six months to June.

But the industry's conversion to digital, which will reduce film print costs, is progressing slowly.

"Imax cinemas are all digital," Mr Fernandez said. "Hoyts have a number of digital projectors but the large majority are still 35 mm projectors."

The Hoyts partnership is expected to boost Imax's advertising revenues, helping it to move from a movie sponsorship arrangement to more traditional advertising.

The launch of 3D films has been a large part of Imax's growth since The Polar Express was released in 2004 in Imax 3D at the same time as the 2D version.

"3D is really big in Imax," Mr O'Reilly said.

"We have done equally well with major 2D titles because the filmmakers have worked with us to make the 2D version really special."

Source:The Australian
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The Day The Earth Stood Still IMAX result

LOS ANGELES, Dec 15, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) and Twentieth Century Fox today announced that The Day The Earth Stood Still, which opened number one at the domestic box office, generated an estimated $31 million, with 123 IMAX theatres contributing approximately $3.7 million to http://ecmisapp:9090/editor/blockedit.HTM#the domestic total. From Friday, December 12, through Sunday December 14, the IMAX release generated an impressive per screen average of approximately $30,000. Included in the weekend's performance were 38 locations equipped with IMAX's new digital projection technology. The film also had a strong international opening, grossing $532,000 from 20 IMAX screens, and it will ultimately play on 26 international IMAX screens in the weeks to come.

"We're very happy with the film's overall performance for the weekend and, with 19 of the top 20 engagements having IMAX screens, its clear that more moviegoers are taking advantage of The IMAX Experience(R: 34.65, +1.96, +6.00%) to make the film an extra special event," said Bruce Snyder, President, Domestic Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox. "We look forward to its continued success in both conventional and IMAX theatres throughout the holiday season."

"This strong opening demonstrates that people are still going to the movies and are willing to pay a premium ticket price for The IMAX Experience, despite the economic downturn," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Twentieth Century Fox has once again delivered a box office winner during the holiday season, and we're very pleased with the initial results at IMAX theatres. We're particularly happy with the performance of our new joint venture digital locations, which are gaining a lot of traction, given the rapid pace of the rollout."

"The exciting action and stunning visual effects in The Day the Earth Stood Still are very conducive to The IMAX Experience and, as a result, Twentieth Century Fox has enabled the IMAX network to be part of another number-one debuting movie at the box office," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The combination of the studio's well-executed marketing and distribution plan,, the film's appeal to the tech-savvy 15-30 year-old demographic and the larger footprint of IMAX theatres is proving to be an effective draw, which we believe bodes well for the IMAX network as we head into 2009."

In THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, a contemporary reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic, renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis. When forces beyond Helen's control treat the extraterrestrial as a hostile and deny his request to address the world's leaders, she and her estranged stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith) quickly discover the deadly ramifications of Klaatu's claim that he is "a friend to the Earth." Now Helen must find a way to convince the entity who was sent to destroy us that mankind is worth saving - but it may be too late. The process has begun.
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The Dark Knight Returns to the Big Screen on January 23rd

Warner Bros. Pictures is bringing “The Dark Knight” back for a return engagement in theatres and IMAX on January 23, 2009, giving audiences one more chance to see the film on the big screen. The film will re-open nationwide, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “‘The Dark Knight’ is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word. We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.”

One of the most celebrated and successful films of this or any year, “The Dark Knight” has been hailed by both critics and audiences since its original release last July. The film garnered widespread acclaim for its artistic and technical achievements, including the work of its outstanding cast and its director, Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Christopher Nolan (“Memento”).

Led by Christian Bale, reprising his role from “Batman Begins,” and Academy Award® nominee Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”), the ensemble cast also includes Academy Award® winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”), Gary Oldman (the “Harry Potter” films), Aaron Eckhart (“Thank You for Smoking”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Stranger than Fiction”), and Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”).

In addition, critics and moviegoers alike applauded Nolan’s revolutionary use of IMAX cameras to film some of the most challenging action sequences ever created—a first for a major feature film.

Nolan directed “The Dark Knight” from a screenplay written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. Charles Roven, Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan produced the film, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull serving as executive producers.

Collaborating with Nolan behind the scenes were two-time Oscar®-nominated director of photography Wally Pfister (“The Prestige,” “Batman Begins”), Oscar®-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley (“The Prestige”), Oscar®-nominated editor Lee Smith (“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”) and Oscar®-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”). The music is by Oscar® winner and multiple Oscar® nominee Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King,” “Gladiator”) and seven-time Oscar® nominee James Newton Howard (“Michael Clayton,” “The Fugitive”), who previously collaborated on the score for “Batman Begins.”

Originally released on July 18, 2008, “The Dark Knight” broke virtually every possible box office record to become the top-grossing film of 2008 and the second-highest grossing movie (domestically) of all time.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a Christopher Nolan film. “The Dark Knight,” is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.

“The Dark Knight” is distributed worldwide in theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film has been rated PG-13 for “intense sequences of violence and some menace.”
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Disney's New Five-Picture Deal With IMAX To Begin With "A Christmas Carol"

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 -- Disney’s “A Christmas Carol,” the spectacular 3D 2009 holiday release from director Robert Zemeckis and starring Jim Carrey, will be the first film from The Walt Disney Studios slated for IMAX ® theatres under a new five-picture arrangement the studio reached with IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX), it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group. Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” will lead off an impressive slate of upcoming films from the Studio and a roster of top filmmakers that may include director Tim Burton as well as producer Jerry Bruckheimer. This arrangement makes some of the Studio’s most highly anticipated theatrical releases from November 2009 and beyond available to IMAX venues across the country and around the world.

Commenting on the announcement, Zoradi said, “Experiencing great motion pictures in IMAX takes moviegoing to a whole new level of excitement, and we’re thrilled to be working with the pioneers at IMAX in this venture. We can’t think of a better way to launch than with Robert Zemeckis’ fantastic new approach to the Dickens’ classic, ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Following that, we have an incredible slate of new Disney Digital 3D™ motion pictures from some of the industry’s most accomplished and innovative filmmakers, and we know audiences are going to love being immersed in these great fantasies and adventures in IMAX’s format.”

“Entering into a five-picture agreement with Walt Disney Studios helps us ensure that our network has an outstanding slate of movies going forward,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “We’re delighted to enter this new partnership with one of the greatest brands in the industry, especially at a time when we’re expanding to reach even more IMAX moviegoers.”

Chuck Viane, president of distribution, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures added, “IMAX has a great track record and a loyal following when it comes to presenting epic entertainment, and we believe we have a unique and exciting slate of films that lend themselves to the IMAX format. With the introduction of IMAX's digital projection system, and the addition of new venues across the country, this is a great time to be working with IMAX to bring the ultimate moviegoing experience to audiences everywhere.”

"Disney's commitment to 3D is great for IMAX moviegoers and dovetails ideally with our strategy to build a slate of top-quality movies from the best filmmakers and studios," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We look forward to releasing "A Christmas Carol" as the first of many great Disney titles and working with them to provide IMAX theatres with more outstanding 3D content in the years ahead."

Robert Zemeckis’ takes the art of performance capture to the next level with the November 6, 2009 release of Disney’s ’A Christmas Carol.’ This multi-sensory 3D motion picture captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking motion picture event. Ebeneezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (Gary Oldman), and his cheery nephew (Colin Firth). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come (all played by Carrey) take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late.

Release dates for additional titles will be announced in the near future.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International are the global marketing and distribution arms of The Walt Disney Studios. They are responsible for all aspects of marketing, publicity, advertising, promotion, and distribution for motion pictures released under the Walt Disney Pictures (including Walt Disney Animation and Pixar), Touchstone Pictures, and Hollywood Pictures banners. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures oversees all domestic marketing and distribution activities, and generated a Studio gross of more than $1.35 billion in 2007, giving the Studio its 11th billion dollar year in the past 14 years, a feat unmatched by any other Studio. At the overseas box office, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International helped propel the Studio to a gross exceeding $1.7 billion in 2007, leading the division to an unprecedented 13 consecutive years of surpassing the $1 billion mark at the international box office.

Imax Press
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