Australian filmmaker Mark Simpfendorfer, 45, died Friday, September 4, after suffering a massive heart attack. His company, Mark Simpfendorfer Productions, produced over 500 hours of film and TV, from network series to special venue 3D films. Mark was nearing completion of his giant screen film Red Crabs: Australia’s Christmas Island, which is scheduled for release later this year.
September, 4, 2009--National Geographic Entertainment (NGE) has acquired The Wildest Dream for distribution in both 35mm and IMAX in the United States as well as for IMAX and giant screen theaters throughout the world. The Wildest Dream is the third major acquisition for NGE this year, following Cherien Dabis’ Sundance comedy hit Amreeka, which opens in New York and Los Angeles on September 4 and other cities soon afterward, and City of Life and Death, which screens at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival and will be released under the National Geographic World Films label in North America in early 2010.
September 3, 2009--The IMAX at Rivercenter San Antonio has announced that it has retained Destination Cinema, Inc. (DCI), to consult on theater film selection and buying, marketing, sales, and operations. The San Antonio theater opened in 1988 with its own destination film, ALAMO…The Price of Freedom. In 2003 it added a second screen for 3D films at the same location. The theater is located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, in Rivercenter mall next to The Alamo. The Alamo is the leading tourist attraction in the state of Texas and the site of the historic battle fought during the war for Texas Independence in 1836.
September 3, 2009--D Entertainment proudly announced today its acquisition of the worldwide distribution rights for Sea Rex 3D, directed and written by Pascal Vuong and Ronan Chapalain. 3D Entertainment is also co-producing the action-packed 40-minute motion picture with Paris-based N3D LAND Productions, which initiated the project four years ago. The film is slated for release in 3D and 2D at IMAX theaters in the U.S. in spring 2010.
September 2, 2009--Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk,which won Best Cinematography and a Special Achievement in Filmmaking Award at the 2008 GSCA Film Awards, has crossed the $20 million mark in worldwide ticket sales after only 17 months in giant screen theaters, it was announced today by MacGillivray Freeman Films.
August 31, 2009--IMAX Corporation announced today that it closed the sale of an additional 882,353 of its common shares at the public offering price of $8.50 per share pursuant to the over-allotment option exercised in full by the underwriter of its recently completed public offering. The exercise of the over-allotment option brings the total number of common shares sold by IMAX in the offering to 6,764,706. Including proceeds from the exercise of the over-allotment option, gross proceeds for the offering were approximately $57.5 million.
August 27, 2009--3D Entertainment, a leading company focusing on the production and distribution of high-quality documentary films for IMAX theaters and digital 3D Cinemas, is pleased to announce that Julien Bollee has been named Chief Operating Officer of its distribution company. The announcement was made today by Francois Mantello, chairman of 3D Entertainment.
August 27, 2009--MacGillivray Freeman Films is proud to announce a partnership with the prominent Canadian Museum of Civilization for To The Arctic, the company’s timely 3D giant screen film that documents the dramatic changes occurring in the Arctic due to climate change. The museum is supporting the project with production funding and serving as scientific advisor on the film’s script and educational outreach program. MacGillivray Freeman Films and the Museum previously partnered on the 2005 production of Greece: Secrets of the Past.
August 24, 2009--Janine Baker, Vice President, Film Distribution and Development at nWave Pictures Distribution, has been selected as a judge for the special venue category at the 2009 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. nWave is also sponsoring the special venue category and will present the award at the ceremony and gala dinner on Thursday, October 1.
August 17, 2009--IMAX Corporation announced today the closing of the public offering of 5,882,353 of its common shares at a public offering price of $8.50 per share. Gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $50 million. IMAX has granted the underwriter the option to purchase up to an additional 882,353 common shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting commission, within 30 days following pricing.