June 23, 2008--Derek Threinen has left his position as Director, Film Marketing, Outreach, Corporate, at National Geographic in order to explore some interesting new opportunities as a theatrical and attractions consultant. He will continue to be based in Washington, D.C. Threinen has signed a contract with Smithsonian Business Ventures to assist in planning and building a digital theater and simulation attraction at the National Museum of American History, a theater technology review and upgrade at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, a renovation of the National Museum of Natural History's IMAX theater, and will also be providing marketing consultation with regards to upcoming film launches and the Smithsonian Institution theaters' web presence, among other duties.

June 23, 2008--Filmmakers Jean-Jacques and Francois Mantello (the Mantello Brothers) are pleased to announce their first feature-length film, Oceans 3D: Voyage of a Turtle (working title). The film entered the digital 3D post-production phase last week. The 85-minute long feature is expected to be completed this September for an anticipated domestic release during the first half of 2009.

June 19, 2008--To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets, National Geographic will distribute the classic film in 3D to giant screen and digital 3D theaters worldwide, it was announced today by Mark Katz, president, distribution, for National Geographic Cinema Ventures, and Bob Perkins, chief executive officer, Destination Cinema Inc. (DCI). Release is slated for the first half of 2009. National Geographic will sell the film to theaters through Cinema Ventures' film distribution arm. DCI will oversee updates to the script and musical score and the conversion of the film to 3D. The film will be housed permanently at the Grand Canyon IMAX Theater at the National Geographic Visitors Center in Grand Canyon, Arizona.

June 18, 2008--IMAX Corporation today announced it has signed an agreement with Meydan LLC, a sports and entertainment property developer in Dubai, UAE, to install an IMAX theater as part of a multi-billion development at the world-famous Nad Al Sheba, Dubai's premier thoroughbred horse racing track. Nad Al Sheba is home to the Dubai World Cup, one of the world's most prestigious horse racing events. Expected to be installed by the end of 2009, the new theater brings the total number of IMAX locations in the Middle East to 12 by 2010.

June 17, 2008--The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum held its second Science Film Week on May 17-June 1. During the event, 21 films, including 12 giant screen films, were shown at the museum’s IMAX Giant Screen Theatre, IMAX Dome Theatre, Iwerks 4D Theatre, and Digistar Space Theatre. The festival’s opening ceremony was attended by 250 people from 64 organizations, and over 26,000 people viewed films during the two-week festival. Awards based on audience surveys and online voting were announced at the end of the festival, with seven different giant screen films receiving honors in six categories.

June 16, 2008--Dr. Brian Tonner, President and CEO of the Orlando Science Center, has announced his resignation effective August 1, 2008. Since 2003, Tonner has led the Science Center through major changes, including a revitalization of the organization. He is planning to return to research and education in the field of physics. Current Chief Operating Officer, JoAnn Newman, will serve as interim president while the board of trustees conducts a national search.

June 12, 2008--Spanish actress and singer Leonor Watling has joined the cast of Orbita Max’s The Magic Tale, playing the role of a wise and exotic fairy. The Magic Tale is the first Spanish feature film in 3D for giant screen theaters, digital theaters, and conventional 35mm theaters. Watling has worked in more than 40 film and television titles and became especially known after being nominated for the Goya award (Spain’s national film awards) for best actress in 1998. She’s worked in films such as Talk to Her by Pedro Almodovar and My Life Without Me by Isabel Coixet. Watling is also the lead voice and lyricist of the Spanish band Marlango.

June 11, 2008--About 40 Euromax delegates met June 1-3 at the Cinecittà Multiplex Center in Nuremberg, Germany. In addition to screenings of eight new giant screen films, the schedule included various sessions on digital projection and marketing and sponsoring.

June 11, 2008--MacGillivray Freeman Films and its Chinese distributor, ST Giant Films, donated Y20,000 yuan ($3,000 USD) to Chinese earthquake relief efforts following the 7.9 earthquake in central China. The donation was announced on May 17 during the opening luncheon of the Shanghai Science and Technology Center’s giant screen Science Week Film Festival. As luncheon co-hosts, MacGillivray Freeman Films and ST Giant Films donated funds originally intended to pay for luncheon beverages. Representatives from MacGillivray Freeman Films and ST Giant Films traveled to a Beijing Red Cross collection center on May 20 to donate Y10,000. The donation was deposited by Kick Kennedy, who was in China to introduce MacGillivray Freeman’s new giant screen film Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk 3D, which opened the film festival.

June 10, 2008--IMAX Corporation and DreamWorks Animation SKG have announced that Kung Fu Panda: The IMAX Experience opened with strong box office results at IMAX theaters over the three-day weekend from Friday June 6, through Sunday June 8. The film grossed $2.3 million on 89 domestic IMAX screens and six international IMAX screens, for a per screen average of approximately $24,000. The film will continue to open in international locations in the weeks ahead, ultimately playing on 36 international IMAX screens.