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August 21, 2017—Filmmaker Taran Davies (Journey to Mecca, Jerusalem) has written an op-ed about the decision to tear down the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History Johnson IMAX Theater and replace it with cafeteria space: "The Johnson IMAX Theater is a national gem that fulfills the Smithsonian’s educational mission about our rare and beautiful world, and the irony now is that it, too, needs saving. Without it, there will be no other theater of any kind–let alone one with the impact of IMAX–in our nation’s [...]

August 18, 2017—Giant Screen Films is pleased to announce a collaboration with the Giant Dome Theater Consortium (GDTC) on the upcoming release of Cuba, a groundbreaking giant screen documentary set for worldwide release on May 18, 2018. The GDTC is comprised of seven leading museums across the United States: the Science Museum of Minnesota; the Cincinnati Museum Center; Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago; Discovery Place, Inc., Charlotte; Museum of Science, Boston; Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego; and the St. Louis Science Center. Cuba, [...]

August 2, 2017—Included below is a tribute to George Casey written by LF Examiner Editor James Hyder, who has generously allowed us to reprint it from the Summer 2017 issue. Following the LF Examiner article is a piece by Mike Day, Executive Vice President at the Science Museum of Minnesota, who shares memories of working with George on the film Ring of Fire. In Memoriam: George Casey Published in the Summer 2017 issue of LF Examiner © 2017 by Cinergetics, LLC. Veteran giant-screen filmmaker George Casey died on [...]

August 2, 2017—On Aug. 21, the total solar eclipse will cross the continental United States for the first time in 39 years, and IMAX cameras will be there to capture the historic event in all its glory. Daniel Ferguson, a documentary filmmaker with Cosmic Picture, will direct the documentary Einstein’s Incredible Universe (working title). According to Ferguson, the effort will include multiple crews in seven states, including aerial footage shot in Wyoming. Additionally, the film will include footage from specialist eclipse chasers and photographers from around the world to provide [...]

July 28, 2017—IMAX on Wednesday said it will play more digital 2D versions of Hollywood movies domestically, given a "clear preference" from consumers for 2D in North America, according to CEO Richard Gelfond. Read the full article from The Hollywood Reporter here. 

HIGHLIGHTS Dunkirk kicked off Q3 with a robust $19 million in Global Box Office across 634 theaters in its opening weekend.. Domestically, IMAX represented a record 23% of the opening weekend box office and laid claim to 18 of the top 20 locations Signed agreements for 92 new theaters in the second quarter, bringing year-to-date signings to 130 systems across 24 countries including the U.S., China, India, Germany and the Netherlands Backlog of 580 systems represents an all-time high, facilitating a sustained level of installations Announced [...]

July 24, 2017—The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History wants to replace the Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater with an expanded cafeteria. A group of prominent giant screen industry veterans has started a petition to save this iconic theater: http://www.saveourimax.org/

July 5, 2017—We're so very sorry to share that legendary, Oscar-nominated director/producer George Casey has died. Mr. Casey’s films include Africa: The Serengeti, Alaska: Spirit of the Wild, Amazing Journeys, Eruption of Mount St. Helens, The Great Barrier Reef, Ring of Fire, Darwin on the Galapagos, and Genesis. Our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues. Mr. Casey's memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of San Diego, located in Mission Valley, on July 17, at 4pm. Read his full obituary here. 

June 19, 2017—Australian-based December Media has announced the establishment of December Media Distribution (DMD), a new arm to handle distribution of films made for IMAX and giant screen theatres. The new distribution unit will be headed up by IMAX and giant screen industry veteran Mark Bretherton. DMD will distribute films made by December Media, as well as those made by other producers. The first film to be distributed will be December’s Earth Story, which is already in production. “We have been producing films for IMAX and [...]

June 13, 2017—IMAX will lay off roughly 100 full-time employees as part of a company-wide effort to rein in costs, Variety reports. The layoffs will take place across nearly every division, including its finance, marketing, and entertainment arms, as well as staffers in its China joint venture. The layoffs took  place on Monday and are expected to result in a one-time impairment charge of approximately $15 million related to severance packages and other costs associated with the job cuts. Read the full report from Variety here.