What's Happening: July 2004 - December 2004

December 23, 2004: IMAX Announces Russian Multiplex Theatre Deal
IMAX Corporation announced an agreement with Suvar-Kazan Company Ltd., the leading exhibitor in Kazan, Russia, to install an IMAX® MPX™ theatre system in a new multiplex in the city of Kazan. Expected to open in November 2005, the new Suvan Kazan IMAX theatre will be part of a four screen multiplex in a large entertainment center that will also include an aqua park and restaurants. The IMAX theatre will be capable of showing both 2D and IMAX® 3D films, as well as Hollywood event films that have been digitally re-mastered into IMAX's format with IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Click here to read the press release.

December 16, 2004: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to be Released in IMAX® Summer 2005
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, the highly anticipated film reuniting Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, will be simultaneously released to IMAX® and conventional 35mm theatres on July 15th, 2005. Director Tim Burton brings his vividly imaginative style to the Roald Dahl classic about eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) and Charlie (Freddie Highmore), a good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka's extraordinary factory. Long isolated from his own family, Wonka launches a worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children, including Charlie, draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in 15 years. Dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Charlie is drawn into Wonka's fantastic world. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an adaptation of the best-selling Roald Dahl novel and will be digitally re-mastered for large format screens using proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Click here to read the press release.

December 13, 2004: Polar Express Shatters IMAX B.O. Record for DMR Hollywood Release
THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Castle Rock Entertainment, continues to break box office records this holiday season, and in just five weeks, has become the highest grossing IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) release ever. The picture has now grossed an estimated total of $18 million in five weeks in IMAX® theatres, considerably surpassing the IMAX DMR box office record set by THE MATRIX RELOADED: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE, which grossed just over $14 million in twenty- two weeks. Click here to read the press release.

December 6, 2004: Cousteau, UNEP and 3D Ent. Join Forces to Protect Sharks with New Film
Jean-Michel Cousteau, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and 3D Entertainment join forces with the release of the new IMAX 3D film, SHARKS 3D. The film brings the viewer face to face with a multitude of the world’s great shark species, including the Great White, Whale Shark and Hammerhead. Audiences will experience them as they truly are in their natural habitat: not wicked man-eating creatures, but wild, fascinating, and highly endangered animals. Sharks 3D is currently playing at the Luxor IMAX theatre in Las Vegas, the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach, and the Audubon Institute's New Orleans Aquarium in New Orleans. The film is scheduled to open at select IMAX theatres in the USA in March 2005 before expanding into nine countries shortly thereafter. Click here to read the press release.

December 3, 2004: IMAX Targets India for Growth
IMAX Corporation is ramping up its international expansion efforts in India, based in part on the strong performance of multiplex-based IMAX® theatres in Hyderabad and Mumbai. IMAX theatres in Hyderabad and Mumbai have been among the top performing locations in the world for Hollywood films released in IMAX's format. Delhi and Kalkutta are scheduled to be the next Indian cities to open IMAX theatres, and with five more expected to open by 2008, India has joined China as one of IMAX's fastest growing markets in the world. Click here to read the press release.

November 24, 2004: Robots to be Released as IMAX® Film
IMAX Corporation and Twentieth Century Fox today announced that ROBOTS, an animated feature from the creators of the 2002 hit ICE AGE, will be simultaneously released to both IMAX® and conventional theatres on March 11, 2005. The film will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Click here to read the press release.

November 16, 2004: Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX's Polar Express a Run-Away Hit
THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE, the first-ever Hollywood feature film converted to IMAX® 3D, set the record for the highest opening weekend for a Hollywood simultaneous release with just over $2.1 million in box office in IMAX® theatres. In the first five days, the film grossed $3.0 million in 59 IMAX theatres in North America, with an impressive per screen average of $50,847. IMAX theatres in all regions of the country reported sold out shows, very strong advanced sales and an outstanding response from audiences to the IMAX 3D format. Click here to read the press release.

November 12, 2004: IMAX Signs Multiplex Theatre Deal in Russia
IMAX Corporation announced an agreement with Panorama Cinemas, a leading exhibitor in Perm, Russia, to install an IMAX® MPX(TM) theatre system in a new multiplex to be built in Perm, a city of just over 1 million people situated 800 miles east of Moscow. The new Panorama Cinemas IMAX theatre will be part of a four-screen multiplex expected to open in late 2005, and will be capable of showing both 2D and IMAX® 3D films. It will join the one other IMAX theatre already open in Russia, operated by leading exhibitor BFC Cinemas. Click here to read the press release.

November 1, 2004: Sky High Completes Financing for Dinosaurs Film
Sky High Entertainment announced that it has completed the financing of its next production DINOSAURS FROM PATAGONIA 3D. The 9 million budget film will be produced by Sky High Dinosaurs production a division of Sky High Entertainment. The film has a scheduled worldwide release for December 2006. Click here to read the press release.

November 1, 2004: Polar Express Upcoming Theaters Release List
Warner Bros. Pictures will release THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE, the first Hollywood full-length feature ever converted into IMAX® 3D, beginning Wednesday, November 10th. The highly anticipated film is the widest worldwide release ever for an IMAX digitally re-mastered movie, with more than 70 IMAX® Theatres opening the film simultaneously with the 35mm release. Click here to see the full list of theaters for scheduled release.

October 26, 2004: Jordan's to Open Second IMAX® Theatre
IMAX Corporation and Jordan's Furniture have teamed for the second time to build The Comcast IMAX® 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture in Reading. The decision was based on the success of the first Jordan's IMAX theatre, opened in August 2002 at its Natick, MA location, approximately 25 miles away. The first film to show at the theatre will be NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE. Click here to read the press release.

October 25, 2004: IMAX Signs First Theatre Deal in Pakistan
IMAX Corporation and the Government of Punjab Province, Pakistan announced an agreement to install the first ever IMAX theatre in Pakistan. The theatre will be located in Lahore, Pakistan, and be part of a multi-function shopping and entertainment park the Punjab Government is developing. The agreement was reached on September 28th, construction will begin soon and the park is expected to open by September 2005. Click here to read the press release.

October 15, 2004: Bugs! Wins 2004 Panda Award
BUGS! took home the prestigious Panda Award in the Large Format category at this year's International WildScreen Festival. The festival was held in Bristol and ran from October 10-15. Bugs! beat out five other large format documentaries to win the coveted prize joining the ranks of past winners OCEAN OASIS and ALASKA: SPIRIT OF THE WILD.

September 30, 2004: Six Docus Vie for Panda Award
Six documentaries have been chosen for the Large Format Category at this year's International WildScreen Festival. The festival will be held in Bristol and runs from October 10th to 15th. The docus in competition are CORAL REEF ADVENTURE, OCEAN WONDERLAND, ROAR: LIONS OF THE KALAHARI, VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP SEA, JANE GOODALL'S WILD CHIMPANZEES, and BUGS!. Past recipients of the award were OCEAN OASIS and ALASKA: SPIRIT OF THE WILD in 2002 and 2000 respectively. The winner will receive the Panda Award often called a "Green Oscar." The six films will be screened at At-Bristol's IMAX Theatre from October 10-31.

September 30, 2004: Large Format Films Submit to Oscar
Three large format films have been submitted for consideration for the 77th Annual Academy Awards. FORCES OF NATURE seeks an Oscar nomination in the Best Documentary (Short Subject) Category whereas NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE and VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP SEA have been submitted for the Best Documentary (Feature) Category. Several large format films have been nominated in past Academy Awards, the most recent being DOLPHINS which was nominated in the Documentary (Short Subject) Category in the 2000 Academy Awards. Only one large format film has ever won an Oscar: THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA won for Best Animated Short Film in 1999. The Oscar nomination announcement will be held on January 25, 2005 followed by the 77th Annual Academy Awards Ceremony on Sunday, February 27th, 2005.

September 28, 2004: COSI President/CEO Receives Presidential Nomination
President George W. Bush nominated COSI President and CEO, Kathryn D. Sullivan, to serve as a member of the National Science Board. The former astronaut and the first American woman to walk in space will serve for a six-year term on the 24-seat board. Sullivan is a 2004 inductee into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and a recent recipient of the National Science Board’s Public Service Award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to science education. Click here to read a corresponding article.

September 27, 2004: Academy/UCLA Documentary Series to Screen Coral & Ghosts
MacGillivray Freeman's CORAL REEF ADVENTURE and James Cameron's GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS have been selected to be a part of this year's Academy/UCLA Documentary series. The two large format films will be screened on December 15 at the California Science Center's IMAX Theater. Eleven short and feature-length documentaries comprise the series this year and will kick off October 6, at 7:30 p.m., at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Click here for more information on this event.

September 20, 2004: Trinity Films to Develop Ride With Cowboys
Trinity Films, a Texas-based company, will begin production on its new large format film, RIDE WITH COWBOYS. The film explores modern-day cowboys and cowgirls who continue to live and work as their ancestors did, hundreds and even thousands of years ago. Director Harry Lynch is set to helm the film with Jeff Fraley and Brady Dial producing. Large Format veteran Reed Smoot will handle cinematography while horse expert Jasper Winn will serve as story consultant and co-writer. The film has anticipated release in Spring 2006.

September 20, 2004: IMAX Signs Theatre Deal with Cinepolis
IMAX Corporation and Cinepolis, the largest exhibitor in Latin America and eighth largest in the world with more than 1,100 screens, announced an agreement to install three IMAX® theatre systems at Cinepolis multiplexes throughout Mexico. The first theatre will be located in Mexico City at Cinepolis Perisur, the highest grossing multiplex in the country, and is expected to open in time for the highly-anticipated November release of Warner Bros. Pictures' THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE. This brings the total number of recently signed IMAX theatres scheduled to open for the film's release to five. Click here to read the press release.

September 20, 2004: MFF Partners with A.G. Spanos for Greece Film
Large format film producers MacGillivray Freeman Films and A.G. S. Communications, LLC, a division of A.G. Spanos Companies, have signed a deal to develop and produce a large format film for IMAX® theatres that celebrates the illustrious history of Greece and its role as the birthplace of modern civilization. Under the terms of the deal, AGSC will provide major funding for the production, tentatively titled GREECE: SECRETS OF THE PAST, which is being produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films for release in 2006. Click here to read the press release.

September 20, 2004: MFF to Produce Film on Wetlands/Hurricanes
MacGillivray Freeman Films announced at the GSTA conference in Montreal last week plans to develop and produce a 40-minute large format film focused on the nation's wetlands, in particular the wetlands of Louisiana, and the enormous impact of hurricanes on these delicate ecosystems. Major funding will be provided by the State of Louisiana and Audubon Nature Institute, a private, not-for-profit organization based in New Orleans. MFF will begin production in spring 2005 with a release date scheduled for June 2006. Click here to read the press release.

September 16, 2004: Beavers Inducted into IMAX Hall of Fame
IMAX Corporation has announced the induction of BEAVERS into the IMAX Hall of Fame. Beavers was originally released in 1988 and was written, produced and directed by Stephen Low. Other inductees to the Hall of Fame include the 1985 classic film THE DREAM IS ALIVE and MacGillivray Freeman's TO FLY!

September 15, 2004: Koster Tapped as GSTA President
President and CEO of the Liberty Science Center, Emlyn Koster, will serve as GSTA's new President replacing the outgoing David Mosena of the Museum of Science & Industry of Chicago. Koster's appointment will last through 2006; he previously served as the Association's Vice-President and Chair of the Global Affairs and Member Services Committee as well as the co-Chair of the Executive Committee for 2003/2004.

September 14, 2004: 2004 GSTA Award Winners
PULSE: A STOMP ODYSSEY took home Best Film at this year's GSTA International Conference & Trade Show which was held in Montreal from September 9 to 12. Other winners from the confab include NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE for Best Sound, CORAL REEF ADVENTURE for Best Cinematography, and BUGS! in the Best Lifelong Learning Category. Click here for a list of the winners and nominees.

September 13, 2004: IMAX, Warner Bros. Embark on Denizens of the Deep
IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. announced that they will jointly produce their second original IMAX® 3D film, DENIZENS OF THE DEEP (working title). The film, directed by Howard Hall, seeks to bring audiences up-close to some of the world's most exotic undersea creatures. Denizens of the Deep is scheduled for worldwide release to IMAX theatres in 2006 and production will begin on September 18, 2004, in the Sea of Cortez. Click here to read the press release.

September 6, 2004: ASTC to Hold Conference in San Jose
The Association of Science-Technology Centers will hold its annual conference at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose. This year's theme explores "Sustaining Innovation in an Era of Rapid Change" through 150 workshops, speakers, and other sessions. The conference will be held September 18-21, 2004.

September 6, 2004: Digital Synthesis Symposium Panelist Lineup
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival’s Digital Synthesis Symposium has tapped for its panel several large format experts and tech pioneers. Included in the lineup are GALAPAGOS executive producer Barry Clark, GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS director of photography Vince Pace, MacGillivray Freeman's VP Special Projects Chris Palmer and Cobalt Entertainment's Steve Schklair. The symposium will be held at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort September 30 through October 2 and will include special HD3D screenings as well as educational workshops.

September 3, 2004: Peter O' Toole to Narrate Mystic India
Sir Peter O'Toole, best known for his portrayal of the titular role in Lawrence of Arabia, is set to narrate the upcoming film MYSTIC INDIA. The film tells the story of Neelkanth Varni, an enlightened young man, who at the age of 11 leaves his village and family in 1793 on a spritual journey across India. O'Toole's narration is currently being integrated into the final mix of the film with a release date set for October 2004.

September 1, 2004: MFF Names Palmer VP of Special Projects
Chris Palmer joins MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) as Vice President of Special Projects, a newly created position at the company. Palmer was also named Director of the MFF Educational Foundation. As Vice President of Special Projects, Palmer will work with General Manager Harrison Smith to raise MFF's company profile within the conservation community and within a network of foundations and government agencies. Palmer will also serve as the Director of the MFF Educational Foundation where he will advance the educational mission of the Foundation. He is also charged with seeking out new large format film projects for the company and for developing production partnerships. Click here to read the press release.

August 30, 2004: Japan Releases Ghosts of the Abyss 3D DVD
The Asian market has recently released a limited edition premium edition 3-D version of GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS. The Japanese version of GOTA is in ColorCode 3-D (purple/yellow anaglyph), comes with one pair of glasses and is restricted to playing on DVD-2 machines (or all-region DVD players). The default language for the DVD is Japanese, but the English soundtrack is a menu option. The DVD was released July 23, 2004 and includes the original Ghosts of the Abyss 3-D Version (approximately 61 minutes) as well as its Extended Version that offers you around 30 Extra minutes. Also available on the DVD are Making-of specials, interviews and 3-D glasses. This Japanese version is available through YesAsia.com.

August 25, 2004: Stephen Hawking Film Begins Production
Starting October 2004 in Cambridge, England, crews will begin shooting script sequences for the new large format film, STEPHEN HAWKING'S BEYOND THE UNIVERSE. The film, driven by world-renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, has an anticipated fall 2005 release. Blending a fictional storyline with real science, the movie will incorporate computer-generated imagery based upon Professor Hawking’s latest theories about the universe, its origins and eventual fate. Click here to read the press release.

August 24, 2004: Cameron to Present Aliens of the Deep at GSTA
James Cameron will present his new documentary, ALIENS OF THE DEEP, at this year's GSTA conference. The conference will be held in Montreal from September 9 to 12, 2004. Cameron will present 30 minutes of the 45-minute film with screenings held at the Montreal Science Center's IMAX Theatre in the Old Port. The film, which explores deep-sea hydrothermal vent marine life and ecosystems, was filmed using the HD3D reality camera system and has an expected release date of January 14, 2005.

August 23, 2004: WGBH Enterprises to Distribute Virtual Actors
WGBH Enterprises, Boston, Massachusetts, will handle worldwide distribution (excluding Canada) of TFX Animation's premiere giant-screen 3D film Virtual Actors (Editor's note: The film's title has recently been changed to ADVENTURES IN ANIMATION 3D). Featuring state-of-the-art 3D animation, Virtual Actors introduces the "stars" of tomorrow, by taking viewers on a journey through the world of computer-generated virtual actors. The film will be shown at the Giant Screen Theater Association's (GSTA's) International Conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the Famous Players IMAX Theatre on Saturday, September 11, at 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Click here to read the press release.

August 18, 2004: Nine Titles to Be Shown at GSTA
The GSTA 2004 International Conference and Trade Show has confirmed this year's film program of nine titles. The films, which will be presented at either the Famous Players IMAX Theater or the Montreal Science Center IMAX Theater, include Jean-Jacques Mantello's SHARKS 3D, VIKINGS, MYSTIC INDIA, JAMES CAMERON'S ALIENS OF THE DEEP, FORCES OF NATURE, NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE, ADVENTURES IN ANIMATION 3D (formerly VIRTUAL ACTORS), and two IMAX DMR films: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE and SPIDER-MAN 2: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE. Additional films will present short sequences and trailers during the conference's films-in-progress session. These include the 3D version of THE POLAR EXPRESS, FIGHTER PILOT: OPERATION RED FLAG, and MYSTERY OF THE NILE. The confab will be held in Montreal from September 9 to 12, 2004 with an expected 700 to 800 delegates attending.

August 9, 2004: IMAX® Reports 2nd Quarter 2004 Financial Results
IMAX Corporation delivered on-target financial results for the second quarter of 2004 and presented strong evidence that its commercial strategy is taking hold. IMAX announced that it has signed agreements with two of the top ten North American exhibitors for installations of between eight and twenty IMAX® MPX(TM) systems. In addition, early results for SPIDER-MAN 2: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE, released by Sony Inc.'s Columbia Pictures, the fourth and latest studio to release an IMAX DMR® film to the worldwide IMAX network, show that the Company's newest DMR release is performing well at the box office.

Highlighted results include:

• Company signs multi-theatre deals with two of the top ten North American exhibitors, boosting commercial growth strategy; deals to increase total number of domestic multiplexes with an IMAX theatre by over 20%.
• National Amusements signs six-theatre deal with option to expand to as many as eighteen.
• Cinemark USA signs contract for two IMAX® MPX(TM) theatre installations.
• Current IMAX DMR® releases of Warner Bros. Pictures' HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and Columbia Pictures' SPIDER-MAN 2 have strong box office performances.
• Company reports earnings of $0.04 per share, in-line with management guidance.
  
  Click here to read the press release.

July 29, 2004: LFCA 2004/2005 Board of Directors and Officers Elected
The Large Format Cinema Association has added new members to its Board of Directors and appointed new officers to help guide the organization in the coming 12 months. At the July board meeting, Andy Gellis President and CEO of Cinevest was elected to serve a two-year term as President of the LFCA. Paul Holliman of Buena Vista Distribution was approved as the association’s new Vice-President, along with Paul Giguere of Pulseworks as its new Secretary. Click here to read the press release.

July 26, 2004: Desert IMAX Theatre Attendance Up 30%
The Desert IMAX Theatre in Cathedral City announced that its dramatic turnaround over that last few years is continuing as its annual attendance for the year ending June 30 is up 35 percent over the previous year. Total gross receipts are even more phenomenal with a 94 percent increase in annual revenues over the last two years. Dramatic increases are nothing new to the theatre as two years ago the theatre posted the biggest percentage increase of any IMAX and large film format theatre in North America and the third highest in the world. Click here to read the press release.

July 7, 2004: Spider-Man 2 Spins into IMAX
IMAX Corporation and Columbia Pictures have announced that SPIDER-MAN 2 will be distributed to IMAX® theatres worldwide this month. This widely-anticipated film will be released to the IMAX network beginning on July 23, 2004. The film is being digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Click here to read the press release.

July 2, 2004: Pacific Title Hires "Heart and Soul" of Imagica USA
The "Heart & Soul" of Imagica USA is beating strong at Pacific Title & Art Studio as Alan Markowitz, former Imagica USA's Senior Effects Supervisor, has taken a new position as Pacific Title's Executive Director of Large Format Production & Sales. Click here to read the press release.

July 1, 2004: MFF Releases Nine Hi-Def DVDs
MacGillivray Freeman Films, Image Entertainment, and Microsoft have teamed up to release 9 new high definition DVD releases now available in stores and through online merchants in North America. This series of hi def releases features MFF's most popular giant screen releases originally created for exhibition in IMAX theatres. Click here for more information.

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