DIGITAL CINEMA TAKES A BIG STEP FORWARD IN THE UK
ARTS ALLIANCE MEDIA LAUNCHES THE UK'S FIRST DIGITAL CINEMA CIRCUIT WITH THE UK PREMIERE OF PETER GREENAWAY'S THE TULSE LUPER SUITCASES: PART 1 THE MOAB STORY
On Friday 11th July at the 23rd CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL
(In association with Saab)
10th - 20th July 2003, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse
Arts Alliance Media is proud to announce the launch of the first digital cinema circuit in the UK, with the first ever HD digital screening in the UK of a film by a UK director, Peter Greenaway’s The Tulse Luper Suitcases. The screening is also the first HD digital screening of a UK production and is taking place at the Arts Picturehouse on Friday 11th July as part of the 23rd Cambridge Film Festival.
The Cambridge Arts Picturehouse is the first cinema to be equipped by Arts Alliance Media with a digital server and projector. Arts Alliance Media will be equipping further art-house screens in the next few months as part of a commercial trial.
Peter Greenaway said, "I welcome this initiative and am proud to have directed the first film to be shown in this new circuit. Digital cinema has great potential to revive independent and foreign film."
Digital projection increases the quality experienced by the cinemagoer, who sees a pristine version of the film whether it is the first or fiftieth time the film is screened. Distribution costs are reduced as expensive 35mm prints are not required, particularly benefiting smaller art house films for which this is a significant expense. Since one physical print does not need to travel to multiple locations, the film can be launched in a wider number of sites simultaneously. Exhibitors will also have more flexibility to holdover films and optimise capacity.
Thomas Hoegh, Chairman of Arts Alliance Media said, “We are all very encouraged by the promise of digital cinema. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and demonstrate the benefits for distributors, exhibitors and cinemagoers.”
The digitised film is stored on and played out from an EVS CineStore Solo server. The digital image is projected onto the screen using a Digital Projection IS10 projector with a Texas Instruments DLPTM 1280 x 1024 DMD chip.
The digital projector will be used throughout the festival and on an ongoing basis to show films in other formats including HDD5, digibeta and DV. All Tomorrow’s Parties, directed by Yu Lik-wai will also be shown digitally at the festival on Weds16th at 9.00pm.
Tony Jones, Director of the Cambridge Film Festival and Founder of City Screen said "This is a huge step forward for independent film in the UK and will allow us to show an even greater range of films in our cinemas"
Notes to Editors
About Arts Alliance Media
Arts Alliance Media launched its digital cinema circuit in July 2003 at the Cambridge Film Festival and shortly thereafter provided digital services to the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It has installed six permanent digital cinema sites throughout the UK. To date, Arts Alliance Media have shown eleven feature films in their digital cinema circuit.
Arts Alliance Media (AAM) - is a builder and operator of services in the film industry, with an emphasis on the independent film space. AAM focuses on the development and deployment of new technologies in order to improve service to independent film consumers and the industry. AAM is part of the Arts Alliance group, which specialises in media and technology investments.
For more information see www.artsalliancemedia.com