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	<title>Events Archives - Celluloid Junkie</title>
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	<title>Events Archives - Celluloid Junkie</title>
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	<item>
		<title>CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: What’s Shaping the Cinema Business</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business</link>
					<comments>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:39:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences & Trade Shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon Product Preview]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=115609</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Each year, CinemaCon offers a snapshot of where the cinema business is headed next. But beyond the studio presentations, the trade show floor tells a broader story – one defined by the technologies, products, and services reshaping how cinemas operate, engage audiences, and generate revenue. But navigating the industry landscape, not to mention the trade<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: What’s Shaping the Cinema Business</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Each year, CinemaCon offers a snapshot of where the cinema business is headed next. But beyond the studio presentations, the trade show floor tells a broader story – one defined by the technologies, products, and services reshaping how cinemas operate, engage audiences, and generate revenue.</p>



<p>But navigating the industry landscape, not to mention the trade show floor, isn’t always straightforward.</p>



<p>With hundreds of manufacturers and service providers showcasing everything from projection systems and seating to concessions and software platforms, it can be difficult to separate what’s incremental from what’s actually meaningful for operators.</p>



<p>The Celluloid Junkie CinemaCon Product Preview 2026 is designed to cut through that noise.</p>



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<p><strong>Sponsored by Vista Group</strong><br><em>The CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview is sponsored by <a href="https://vista.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vista Group</a>, a global leader in cinema technology, providing solutions across cinema management software; loyalty, moviegoer engagement and marketing; film distribution software; box office reporting; creative studio solutions; as well as movie, cinema and streaming guides.</em></p>
</div></div>



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<p><strong>A Curated Look at What Matters</strong><br>In the lead-up to this year’s show, we reached out across the industry to identify the products and solutions exhibitors are bringing to Las Vegas. The result is a curated preview of the technologies shaping how cinemas operate, engage audiences, and evolve their business models.</p>



<p>Rather than presenting this as a single list, we’ve organized the preview into a series of focused categories—reflecting the different layers of the modern cinema business, from ticketing and concessions to presentation technology and in-theatre experience.</p>



<p><strong>How the Preview Is Structured</strong><br>Over the coming days, we’ll be publishing a series of category-based posts, each highlighting a different part of the cinema ecosystem:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong><a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/05/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-ticketing-point-of-sale-systems/">Ticketing &amp; Point of Sale Systems</a></strong></li>



<li><strong><a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-concessions-food-beverage/">Concessions, Food &amp; Beverage</a></strong></li>



<li><strong><a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/07/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-business-marketing-operational-platforms/">Business, Marketing &amp; Operational Platforms</a></strong></li>



<li><strong><a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-projection-sound-presentation-technology/">Projection, Sound &amp; Presentation Technology</a></strong></li>



<li><strong><a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-seating-auditorium-design/">Seating &amp; Auditorium Design</a></strong></li>



<li><strong><a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-attractions-arcade-alternative-revenue/">Attractions, Arcade &amp; Alternative Revenue</a></strong></li>
</ul>



<p>Each article focuses on what’s new, how these products work, and why they matter for exhibitors today.</p>



<p><strong>What It Says About the Industry</strong><br>Taken together, this year’s submissions point to several broader trends shaping the cinema business:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Greater system integration across ticketing, marketing, and operations</li>



<li>Increased focus on premium experiences, both inside and outside the auditorium</li>



<li>Operational efficiency and automation as key priorities</li>



<li>New approaches to driving revenue, from concessions to attractions</li>
</ul>



<p>These themes reflect an industry that continues to adapt, not just to changing audience expectations, but to the realities of running a more complex and diversified business.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: What’s Shaping the Cinema Business</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Attractions, Arcade &#038; Alternative Revenue</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-attractions-arcade-alternative-revenue/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cinemacon-2026-product-preview-attractions-arcade-alternative-revenue</link>
					<comments>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-attractions-arcade-alternative-revenue/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cinemas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conferences & Trade Shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[QubicaAMF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon 2026]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Intercard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon Product Preview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Betson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Betson Enterprises]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brunswick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brunswick Bowling Products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Delta Strike]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shaffer Distributing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=116001</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Even before the Covid pandemic shuttered cinemas for nearly two years, exhibitors had begun to expand beyond traditional auditorium models; attractions and location-based entertainment are playing an increasingly important role in driving attendance and revenue. At CinemaCon 2026, amusement companies are showcasing a range of experiences designed to complement the moviegoing journey — from arcade<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-attractions-arcade-alternative-revenue/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-attractions-arcade-alternative-revenue/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Attractions, Arcade &amp; Alternative Revenue</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Even before the Covid pandemic shuttered cinemas for nearly two years, exhibitors had begun to expand beyond traditional auditorium models; attractions and location-based entertainment are playing an increasingly important role in driving attendance and revenue.</p>



<p>At CinemaCon 2026, amusement companies are showcasing a range of experiences designed to complement the moviegoing journey — from arcade games and bowling concepts to immersive entertainment environments and interactive installations. These offerings are not only extending dwell time within cinema venues, but also creating new reasons for audiences to visit outside of peak film releases.</p>



<p>For operators, the focus is on flexibility and integration. Many of these systems are designed to fit within existing lobby or adjacent spaces, allowing cinemas to activate underutilized areas while introducing repeatable, social experiences that go beyond a single screening.</p>



<p>Together, these solutions highlight how cinemas are evolving into broader entertainment destinations, where film remains central but is increasingly supported by a wider mix of attractions and revenue streams.</p>



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<p><strong>Sponsored by Vista Group</strong><br><em><em>This post is part of Celluloid Junkie’s 2026 CinemaCon Product Preview series, sponsored by <a href="https://vista.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vista Group</a>.</em></em></p>
</div></div>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Betson Enterprises</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 715J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Top Gun: Maverick Arcade Cabinet (Raw Thrills &amp; Play Mechanix)</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="640" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204348/Betson-Top-Gun-Maverick-Four-Player-Cabinet-1024x640.jpg" alt="Betson - Top Gun Maverick - Four Player Cabinet" class="wp-image-116004" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204348/Betson-Top-Gun-Maverick-Four-Player-Cabinet-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204348/Betson-Top-Gun-Maverick-Four-Player-Cabinet-300x188.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204348/Betson-Top-Gun-Maverick-Four-Player-Cabinet-768x480.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204348/Betson-Top-Gun-Maverick-Four-Player-Cabinet-400x250.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204348/Betson-Top-Gun-Maverick-Four-Player-Cabinet.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.betson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Betson</a> is showcasing the <a href="https://www.betson.com/amusement-products/top-gun-maverick/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;Top Gun: Maverick&#8221; arcade system</a> from <a href="https://rawthrills.com/tag/play-mechanix/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raw Thrills and Play Mechanix</a>, bringing a large-format, motion-based flying experience tied to the well-known film franchise to cinema and entertainment venues.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The attraction is a flight-based arcade game featuring a motion platform, dual 65-inch displays, and a cockpit-style setup with flight stick and throttle controls. The system supports linked cabinets — up to four units — enabling multiplayer gameplay built around competitive missions and score-based progression.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:<br></strong>For cinema operators, large-format arcade attractions offer a way to increase dwell time and drive incremental spending in lobbies and adjacent spaces. Recognizable IP, particularly tied to theatrical releases, can further enhance visibility and engagement.With its combination of motion simulation, multiplayer capability, and familiar branding, &#8220;Top Gun: Maverick&#8221; is positioned as a high-impact attraction designed to draw attention and encourage repeat play, particularly in locations already incorporating family entertainment centers (FEC) or experiential elements.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Brunswick Bowling Products</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 920J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Spark Immersive Bowling &amp; Sync Platform</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="635" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204404/Brunswick-Spark-Immersive-Bowling.jpg" alt="Brunswick - Spark Immersive Bowling" class="wp-image-116007" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204404/Brunswick-Spark-Immersive-Bowling.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204404/Brunswick-Spark-Immersive-Bowling-300x159.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204404/Brunswick-Spark-Immersive-Bowling-1024x542.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204404/Brunswick-Spark-Immersive-Bowling-768x406.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204404/Brunswick-Spark-Immersive-Bowling-400x212.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://brunswickbowling.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brunswick</a> is highlighting ongoing updates to its <a href="https://brunswickbowling.com/bowling-centers/equipment-parts-supplies/center-operations/spark" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spark immersive bowling</a> experience and <a href="https://brunswickbowling.com/bowling-centers/equipment-parts-supplies/center-operations/sync" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sync operating platform</a> at CinemaCon, including new interactive content and continued refinements driven by operator feedback.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Spark adds projection-based gameplay and dynamic visuals to bowling lanes, turning them into interactive environments with themed experiences and social features. Sync is Brunswick’s integrated platform for scoring, POS, and venue management, incorporating tools such as mobile ordering and payments.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>For operators incorporating location-based entertainment alongside cinema, keeping attractions fresh while maintaining operational efficiency is an ongoing challenge. Content updates and interactive features help sustain repeat engagement, while integrated systems can simplify day-to-day management across attractions and food and beverage.</p>



<p>By combining an evolving experience layer with a unified operating platform, Brunswick is positioning its offering as a connected system that supports both guest engagement and backend operations.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Delta Strike</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 331J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Laser Tag &amp; Delta Matrix LED Game Floor</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="762" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204416/Delta-Strike-Delta-Matrix-Game-Floor-1024x762.jpg" alt="Delta Strike - Delta Matrix Game Floor" class="wp-image-116010" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204416/Delta-Strike-Delta-Matrix-Game-Floor-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204416/Delta-Strike-Delta-Matrix-Game-Floor-300x223.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204416/Delta-Strike-Delta-Matrix-Game-Floor-768x572.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204416/Delta-Strike-Delta-Matrix-Game-Floor-1250x930.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204416/Delta-Strike-Delta-Matrix-Game-Floor-400x298.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204416/Delta-Strike-Delta-Matrix-Game-Floor.jpg 1302w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.deltastrike.com/">Delta Strike</a> is showcasing its <a href="https://www.deltastrike.com/interactive-led-floor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delta Matrix LED</a> game floor, a recently introduced attraction, alongside the latest generation of its laser tag system at CinemaCon.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The Delta Matrix is an interactive LED floor featuring a library of games designed for both competitive and social play, suitable for a range of age groups and venue types. It is complemented by Delta Strike’s laser tag system, a scalable, arena-based attraction built for high-throughput gameplay with customizable formats and layouts.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>For operators exploring ways to expand beyond traditional exhibition, combining different types of attractions can help create a more flexible use of space. Open-format experiences like interactive floors can accommodate quick-turn play, while structured attractions such as laser tag support longer, group-based sessions.</p>



<p>Together, these formats allow venues to cater to different audience segments and visit patterns, offering a mix of experiences that can encourage repeat visits and broaden overall appeal.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Intercard</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 732J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Impulse Plus Hybrid Payment Reader</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="701" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204433/Intercard-Impulse-Plus-Hybrid-Payment-Reader-1024x701.jpg" alt="Intercard - Impulse Plus Hybrid Payment Reader" class="wp-image-116013" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204433/Intercard-Impulse-Plus-Hybrid-Payment-Reader-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204433/Intercard-Impulse-Plus-Hybrid-Payment-Reader-300x205.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204433/Intercard-Impulse-Plus-Hybrid-Payment-Reader-768x525.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204433/Intercard-Impulse-Plus-Hybrid-Payment-Reader-400x274.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204433/Intercard-Impulse-Plus-Hybrid-Payment-Reader.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.intercardinc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intercard</a> is introducing the <a href="https://www.intercardinc.com/products/ireaders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Impulse Plus, a hybrid payment reader</a> that allows arcade games to accept both traditional coin-based play and modern cashless payment methods, including credit cards.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/cinemacon-gets-first-look-at-hybrid-impulse-plus-reader-from-intercard/">Impulse Plus</a> is designed for entertainment venues operating a mix of legacy and updated systems, enabling operators to support multiple payment types within the same environment. It also provides real-time reporting on transactions, allowing operators to track performance across both cash and card-based activity.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As more cinemas incorporate arcade and location-based entertainment elements, payment flexibility becomes an important consideration. Many venues still operate coin-based equipment while also looking to accommodate card and mobile-first consumers.</p>



<p>Hybrid systems like the Impulse Plus offer a way to bridge that gap, allowing operators to modernize payment options without fully replacing existing equipment. This approach can help reduce friction at the point of play while giving operators better visibility into spending patterns across their entertainment offerings.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>QubicaAMF</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2504A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Fly’n Ducks Duckpin Bowling &amp; Neoverse Entertainment Environment</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204445/QubicaAMF-NeoVerse-1024x576.jpeg" alt="QubicaAMF - NeoVerse" class="wp-image-116016" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204445/QubicaAMF-NeoVerse-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204445/QubicaAMF-NeoVerse-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204445/QubicaAMF-NeoVerse-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204445/QubicaAMF-NeoVerse-400x225.jpeg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204445/QubicaAMF-NeoVerse.jpeg 1188w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.qubicaamfbowling.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">QubicaAMF</a> is showcasing a compact bowling and immersive entertainment setup at CinemaCon, combining its <a href="https://www.qubicaamfbowling.com/products/flyn-ducks-duckpin-bowling" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fly’n Ducks duckpin lanes</a> with the Neoverse digital environment.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Fly’n Ducks is a smaller-footprint duckpin bowling system designed for venues where traditional lanes are not practical. The format simplifies operations by removing requirements such as specialized footwear and lane conditioning, making it easier to integrate into mixed-use entertainment spaces.</p>



<p>Paired with it is <a href="https://www.qubicaamfbowling.com/products/scoring-entertainment/neoverse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neoverse</a>, a venue-wide visual system built around large-format LED displays, synchronized lighting, audio, and interactive content. The platform is designed to transform bowling areas into more dynamic environments, with the ability to display branded content and live video feeds alongside gameplay. The setup is supported by QubicaAMF’s BES NV system, which introduces a more intuitive, streaming-style interface for guests.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Cinemas continue to figure out ways to extend dwell time in their venues while diversifying revenue. Thus, compact attractions that fit within existing footprints are becoming more attractive. Bowling, particularly in smaller formats, offers a familiar, repeatable activity that can complement the cinema experience.</p>



<p>At the same time, the integration of large-scale visuals and digital content reflects a broader shift toward more immersive, multi-use entertainment spaces. Systems like this aim to bring together physical activity and visual engagement, aligning more closely with the expectations audiences have for premium, experience-driven venues.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Shaffer Distributing</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 226J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Arcade Game Portfolio &#8211; ICEE Slush Rush, Star Wars Coin Pusher, Smurfs Goal Champs</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="480" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204455/Shaffer-Distributing-2026-CinemaCon-Game-Portfolio-1024x480.jpg" alt="Shaffer Distributing - 2026 CinemaCon Game Portfolio" class="wp-image-116019" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204455/Shaffer-Distributing-2026-CinemaCon-Game-Portfolio-1024x480.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204455/Shaffer-Distributing-2026-CinemaCon-Game-Portfolio-300x141.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204455/Shaffer-Distributing-2026-CinemaCon-Game-Portfolio-768x360.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204455/Shaffer-Distributing-2026-CinemaCon-Game-Portfolio-400x188.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08204455/Shaffer-Distributing-2026-CinemaCon-Game-Portfolio.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.shafferdistributing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shaffer Distributing</a> is highlighting a selection of arcade and redemption games at CinemaCon, including licensed and brand-driven attractions designed for high-traffic entertainment environments.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The lineup includes <a href="https://www.shafferdistributing.com/products/icee-slush-rush-1-player/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICEE Slush Rush</a>, a multiplayer skill game where players race to fill cups under time pressure, as well as a <a href="https://www.shafferdistributing.com/products/andamiro-star-wars-coin-pusher/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Star Wars-themed coin pusher</a> developed with Lucasfilm and Disney. Also featured is <a href="https://www.shafferdistributing.com/products/bgi-smurfs-goal-champs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smurfs Goal Champs</a>, a soccer-based redemption game built around quick-play mechanics and repeat engagement .</p>



<p>Together, the portfolio reflects a mix of recognizable IP and simple, accessible gameplay formats commonly used in arcade and family entertainment settings.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>When it comes to cinema lobby entertainment and adjacent attractions, arcade games remain a straightforward way to increase dwell time and generate incremental revenue. Licensed content, in particular, can help draw attention and connect with audiences already engaged with theatrical brands.</p>



<p>Short-session, repeatable gameplay formats are also well suited to cinema environments, where guests may be looking for quick activities before or after a screening.</p>
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<p>Explore more in the <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">2026 CinemaCon Product Preview</a> series on Celluloid Junkie.</p>



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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/09/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-attractions-arcade-alternative-revenue/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Attractions, Arcade &amp; Alternative Revenue</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Seating &#038; Auditorium Design</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-seating-auditorium-design/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cinemacon-2026-product-preview-seating-auditorium-design</link>
					<comments>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-seating-auditorium-design/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cinema Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conferences & Trade Shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lumma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ferco Seating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ATOM Seating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[4D E-Motion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ferco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eomac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon 2026]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon Product Preview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Encore Seating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Palliser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IMERSA Theaters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infinity Seating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irwin Seating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Light Tape]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mobiliario Seating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promenaid Handrails]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promenaid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Telescopic Seating Systems]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=115953</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>As cinemas continue to differentiate the in-theater experience, seating and auditorium design remain central to how audiences perceive value. At CinemaCon 2026, exhibitors are highlighting a range of seating solutions and structural upgrades designed to improve comfort, flexibility, and overall presentation quality. From premium recliners and boutique-style seating to retrofit systems that simplify renovations, the<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-seating-auditorium-design/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-seating-auditorium-design/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Seating &amp; Auditorium Design</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>As cinemas continue to differentiate the in-theater experience, seating and auditorium design remain central to how audiences perceive value.</p>



<p>At CinemaCon 2026, exhibitors are highlighting a range of seating solutions and structural upgrades designed to improve comfort, flexibility, and overall presentation quality. From premium recliners and boutique-style seating to retrofit systems that simplify renovations, the focus is on balancing guest experience with operational efficiency and return on investment.</p>



<p>At the same time, innovations in materials, modular design, and installation approaches are helping operators upgrade auditoriums more quickly and cost-effectively — allowing cinemas to modernize existing spaces without the need for full-scale rebuilds.</p>



<p>Together, these developments reflect an ongoing shift toward more intentional auditorium design, where comfort, aesthetics, and functionality work together to enhance the moviegoing experience.</p>



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<p><strong>Sponsored by Vista Group</strong><br><em><em>This post is part of Celluloid Junkie’s 2026 CinemaCon Product Preview series, sponsored by <a href="https://vista.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vista Group</a>.</em></em></p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Atom Seating</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 227J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Love Seat (Electron Shell)</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="556" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194524/Atom-Seating-Platinum-Love-Seat-1024x556.jpg" alt="Atom Seating - Platinum Love Seat" class="wp-image-115956" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194524/Atom-Seating-Platinum-Love-Seat-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194524/Atom-Seating-Platinum-Love-Seat-300x163.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194524/Atom-Seating-Platinum-Love-Seat-768x417.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194524/Atom-Seating-Platinum-Love-Seat-400x217.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194524/Atom-Seating-Platinum-Love-Seat.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.spacesandbetween.com/atom-seating" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atom Seating</a> is showcasing its Platinum Love Seat in the Electron Shell configuration at CinemaCon, highlighting new developments in smart seating integration and alternative materials aimed at improving sustainability.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.spacesandbetween.com/atom-seating/vip-recliners/platinum-cinema-recliner" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Platinum Love Seat</a> is a premium cinema recliner designed for luxury and dine-in auditoriums, featuring integrated tables, privacy panels, and a paired seating layout. The Electron Shell adds an enclosed structure intended to enhance comfort and reduce distractions within the auditorium environment.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:<br></strong>As cinemas continue to invest in premium formats, seating is increasingly expected to deliver more than comfort alone. Atom Seating’s approach combines physical design with operational considerations, including features that support maintenance, diagnostics, and overall seat management.</p>



<p>At the same time, the company is exploring alternative materials derived from natural fibers as a way to reduce reliance on traditional components such as PVC and foam. Together, these developments reflect a broader shift toward seating that balances guest experience, operational efficiency, and environmental considerations.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Encore (Palliser)</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 241J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>U-Series Recliner (Quantum Motor) &amp; Privacy Pod Configuration</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1642" height="506" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration.jpg" alt="Encore - U-Series Recliner with Quantum Motor and Privacy Pod Configuration" class="wp-image-115959" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration.jpg 1642w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration-300x92.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration-1024x316.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration-768x237.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration-1536x473.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration-1250x385.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194536/Encore-U-Series-Recliner-with-Quantum-Motor-and-Privacy-Pod-Configuration-400x123.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1642px) 100vw, 1642px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://encore.palliser.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Encore, part of Palliser</a>, is showcasing updates to its <a href="https://encore.palliser.com/products/u" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U-Series recliner platform</a> at CinemaCon, including a new Quantum Motor designed to improve retrofit flexibility, alongside a Privacy Pod seating configuration focused on more individualized viewing environments.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The U-Series recliner incorporates a motor system that increases egress space when fully extended, allowing existing auditoriums to be upgraded to recliner seating while maintaining aisle clearance requirements. The Privacy Pod configuration introduces a more enclosed, console-centered layout intended to create a lounge-style seating experience. Additional features include wireless charging, in-seat service controls, and integrated lighting elements.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>When installing premium seating, retrofit constraints, particularly around spacing and accessibility, remain a key consideration. Solutions that allow operators to upgrade seating without major structural changes can help accelerate adoption across existing auditoriums.</p>



<p>At the same time, seating design is evolving beyond comfort alone, with increased emphasis on privacy, personalization, and differentiated experiences within the same auditorium. Configurations like the Privacy Pod reflect a broader shift toward creating more tailored viewing environments that align with premium ticket offerings.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>EOMAC</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 721J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>KWIK Acoustic Pod</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="665" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194547/EOMAC-KWIK-Pod-Solo-1024x665.jpg" alt="EOMAC - KWIK Pod Solo" class="wp-image-115962" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194547/EOMAC-KWIK-Pod-Solo-1024x665.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194547/EOMAC-KWIK-Pod-Solo-300x195.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194547/EOMAC-KWIK-Pod-Solo-768x499.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194547/EOMAC-KWIK-Pod-Solo-400x260.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194547/EOMAC-KWIK-Pod-Solo.jpg 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://eomac.com/cinema/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EOMAC</a> is introducing its <a href="https://eomac.com/furniture/furniture-kwik-pods/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KWIK Acoustic Pod</a> to the North American market at CinemaCon, expanding a product already used in other regions into cinema and entertainment venues across the U.S.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>A self-contained acoustic pod designed to create a quiet, private space within high-traffic environments such as cinema lobbies and family entertainment centres.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:<br></strong>As cinemas evolve into broader entertainment destinations, not every guest interaction fits a high-energy environment. The KWIK Pod provides a practical way to offer privacy for phone calls, remote work, or short breaks without requiring guests to leave the venue. Its standalone design also makes it relatively easy to integrate into both new builds and existing locations.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Ferco Seating</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 927J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Verona Zero Wall Zero Gravity Recliners</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="668" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194557/Ferco-Verona-1024x668.jpg" alt="Ferco - Verona" class="wp-image-115965" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194557/Ferco-Verona-1024x668.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194557/Ferco-Verona-300x196.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194557/Ferco-Verona-768x501.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194557/Ferco-Verona-400x261.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194557/Ferco-Verona.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://fercoseating.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ferco Seating</a> is bringing the <a href="https://fercoseating.com/products/cinema/recliner/verona-zero-gravity-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Verona Zero Wall Zero Gravity</a> recliner to CinemaCon, combining space-saving motion with a comfort-focused seating position in a single integrated design.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The Verona recliner uses a Zero Wall mechanism that allows the seat to fully recline within its own footprint, making it suitable for auditoriums with limited row depth or wall-adjacent layouts. This movement is paired with a Zero Gravity position designed to distribute weight more evenly and support extended viewing comfort.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>For exhibitors upgrading to premium seating, balancing capacity with comfort remains a central challenge. Recliners typically require additional space, which can reduce seat count and impact overall layout efficiency.</p>



<p>By integrating a space-efficient reclining motion with an ergonomically focused seating position, designs like the Verona offer a way to introduce premium seating while maintaining tighter auditorium configurations. This approach allows operators to improve comfort without fully sacrificing capacity — a trade-off that continues to shape seating decisions across the industry.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>IMERSA Theaters</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Meetings by appointment</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>IMERSA Theaters Branding</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="476" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194605/Imersa-Theaters-ICE-Theaters-1024x476.jpg" alt="Imersa Theaters - ICE Theaters" class="wp-image-115968" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194605/Imersa-Theaters-ICE-Theaters-1024x476.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194605/Imersa-Theaters-ICE-Theaters-300x140.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194605/Imersa-Theaters-ICE-Theaters-768x357.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194605/Imersa-Theaters-ICE-Theaters-400x186.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194605/Imersa-Theaters-ICE-Theaters.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="http://imersatheaters.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IMERSA Theaters</a> is being introduced at CinemaCon as the new international branding for the ICE Theaters premium format, reflecting its broader rollout beyond its initial European deployments.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>IMERSA is a premium auditorium concept that extends the on-screen image into the theater environment using synchronized LED side panels and dynamic lighting. The system creates a wider field of peripheral vision while maintaining focus on the main screen. It is typically combined with laser projection or LED displays, immersive audio formats, and premium seating. The format currently offers a catalog of more than 300 titles created specifically for the immersive format.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:<br></strong>Differentiating premium cinema formats increasingly relies on how the auditorium environment itself enhances the presentation. Formats that extend visual elements beyond the screen aim to create a more immersive experience without requiring entirely new projection technologies or changes to existing projection infrastructure.</p>



<p>By combining lighting, screen technology, and content adaptation into a unified format, IMERSA represents one approach to expanding the scope of the cinematic experience, particularly for exhibitors looking to position select auditoriums as event-driven or premium destinations within their circuit.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Infinity Seating</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Roman 1 &amp; 2</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Storm Sofa</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="617" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194618/Infinity-Seating-Storm-Sofa-1024x617.jpg" alt="Infinity Seating - Storm Sofa" class="wp-image-115971" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194618/Infinity-Seating-Storm-Sofa-1024x617.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194618/Infinity-Seating-Storm-Sofa-300x181.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194618/Infinity-Seating-Storm-Sofa-768x463.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194618/Infinity-Seating-Storm-Sofa-400x241.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194618/Infinity-Seating-Storm-Sofa.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://infinityseating.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Infinity Seating</a> is introducing the Storm Sofa, a boutique-style seating option designed for premium and design-led cinema environments.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.infinityseating.co.uk/ranges/storm-range/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Storm Sofa</a> is a cinema seating solution that draws from residential furniture design, offering a more relaxed, lounge-style alternative to traditional recliners. Designed in the UK and manufactured in the United States, it features a clean, contemporary profile with a range of upholstery and finish options that allow operators to tailor installations to specific branding and interior concepts.</p>



<p>Built for extended viewing, the seating focuses on comfort and support, with cushioning and ergonomics suited to longer dwell times. The modular approach allows cinemas to configure layouts for boutique auditoriums, VIP screens, or smaller-format venues where design and differentiation are key.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:<br></strong>As cinemas continue to invest in premium formats, seating is increasingly part of the overall brand and experience rather than just a functional component. Options that move beyond traditional recliner formats can help operators create more distinctive environments, particularly in boutique or high-end auditoriums where atmosphere and design play a larger role in attracting audiences.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Irwin Seating Company</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 203J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Spectrum Aura Seating</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194631/Irwin-Seating-Aura-Seating-1024x576.jpg" alt="Irwin Seating - Aura Seating" class="wp-image-115974" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194631/Irwin-Seating-Aura-Seating-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194631/Irwin-Seating-Aura-Seating-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194631/Irwin-Seating-Aura-Seating-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194631/Irwin-Seating-Aura-Seating-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194631/Irwin-Seating-Aura-Seating.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://irwinseating.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Irwin Seating</a> is introducing Spectrum Aura at CinemaCon, a seating design focused on simplifying auditorium cleaning and maintenance.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong><a href="https://www.irwinseating.com/products/models/aura" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spectrum Aura</a> incorporates a motorized mechanism housed within the arm casing, allowing the area beneath the seat to remain clear of obstructions. This design reduces the need to clean around complex recliner components and helps eliminate hard-to-reach areas where debris typically accumulates.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>While much of the focus in cinema seating has been on comfort and premium features, day-to-day maintenance remains a significant operational consideration. Cleaning between shows — particularly in high-capacity auditoriums — can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.</p>



<p>Designs that simplify access to floor space and reduce hidden debris zones can help improve turnaround times and consistency of presentation. For operators managing staffing constraints and tight scheduling, even small efficiencies in cleaning workflows can have a meaningful impact over time.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Light Tape</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <em>Julius Ballroom — Booth 432J</em></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Climax Duo Profile with Light Tape</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="179" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos-1024x179.jpg" alt="Light Tape - Miscellaneous Product Photos" class="wp-image-115977" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos-1024x179.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos-300x52.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos-768x134.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos-1536x268.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos-1250x218.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos-400x70.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194645/Light-Tape-Miscellaneous-Product-Photos.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://lighttape.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Light Tape</a> is highlighting its Climax Duo stair-nosing profile at CinemaCon, combining its electroluminescent lighting technology with an updated dual-illumination design for step-edge visibility.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The Climax Duo integrates two lighting elements within a single aluminum profile: a top-edge light that clearly defines the step boundary, and an angled downlight that illuminates the tread surface. The system uses Light Tape’s electroluminescent technology to produce a uniform, low-glare line of light designed for direct viewing in dark environments .</p>



<p>Unlike traditional point-source lighting, the system delivers continuous illumination along the step edge, helping guide foot placement without casting light toward the screen or into the audience’s line of sight.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Step-edge visibility is a critical safety consideration in auditoriums, particularly in low-light conditions where slips and missteps are more likely. Lighting that clearly defines edges without introducing glare can help improve navigation while maintaining presentation quality.</p>



<p>Solutions that integrate both safety and low-light performance are especially relevant as cinemas continue to upgrade auditoriums without overhauling their entire lighting infrastructure. By combining edge delineation and tread illumination into a single system, products like the Climax Duo aim to simplify installation while addressing both safety and viewing environment concerns.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Lumma 4D E-Motion</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em><em>Location: <em>Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2204A</em></em></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>4D E-Motion Interconnectable Modules</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="278" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades-1024x278.jpg" alt="Lumma - 4DE-Motion Upgrades" class="wp-image-115980" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades-1024x278.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades-300x81.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades-768x208.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades-1536x416.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades-1250x339.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades-400x108.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194656/Lumma-4DE-Motion-Upgrades.jpg 1800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://lumma.com.ar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lumma</a> is introducing a new modular version of its <a href="https://4demotion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4D E-Motion</a> system at CinemaCon, designed to simplify installation and reduce the cost of converting auditoriums to 4D.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The updated system is built around interconnectable, self-contained modules that house all motion and environmental effects within each unit. These modules can be linked via daisy-chain connectivity, allowing for faster deployment and more flexible auditorium configurations .</p>



<p>The design reduces the need for complex pre-installation work and enables integration with both new and existing seating layouts, including recliner configurations without structural modifications. Lumma is marking the 10th anniversary of its 4D E-Motion platform, which is currently deployed in approximately 100 auditoriums across 18 countries.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>While 4D formats have been available for years, installation complexity and cost have limited broader adoption. Systems that reduce infrastructure requirements and simplify deployment can make these formats more accessible to a wider range of exhibitors.</p>



<p>By shifting toward a modular architecture, Lumma’s latest update reflects a broader trend in cinema technology: lowering the barrier to entry for premium experiences while improving operational efficiency and long-term maintenance.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Mobiliario Seating</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 303J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Cloud Riser &amp; Hypnos Riser</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="527" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194708/Mobiliario-Seating-Cloud-and-Hypnos-Riser-1024x527.jpg" alt="Mobiliario Seating - Cloud and Hypnos Riser" class="wp-image-115983" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194708/Mobiliario-Seating-Cloud-and-Hypnos-Riser-1024x527.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194708/Mobiliario-Seating-Cloud-and-Hypnos-Riser-300x154.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194708/Mobiliario-Seating-Cloud-and-Hypnos-Riser-768x395.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194708/Mobiliario-Seating-Cloud-and-Hypnos-Riser-400x206.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194708/Mobiliario-Seating-Cloud-and-Hypnos-Riser.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.mobiliario.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobiliario Seating</a> is showcasing its Cloud Riser and Hypnos Riser models at CinemaCon, designed to allow exhibitors to upgrade to premium recliner seating without requiring major structural changes to existing auditoriums.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The seating systems are engineered to fit within current auditorium layouts, enabling cinemas to retrofit existing spaces with recliner-style seating rather than undertaking full-scale renovations. Both models focus on ergonomic comfort and integrated tray-table functionality, aligning with premium and dine-in formats.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Upgrading to premium seating has become a key revenue driver for many exhibitors, but traditional retrofits can involve significant downtime, construction costs, and layout changes. Solutions like the Cloud and Hypnos Riser are aimed at reducing those barriers by allowing operators to modernize auditoriums more quickly, with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.</p>



<p>By lowering the complexity of installation while still delivering a higher-end seating experience, these systems offer a potential pathway for cinemas looking to introduce premium pricing tiers without committing to a full rebuild.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Promenaid Handrails</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 833J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Sprocketlock Pro Handrail System</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System-1024x576.jpg" alt="Promenaid - Sprocketlock Pro Handrail System" class="wp-image-115986" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System-1250x703.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194717/Promenaid-Sprocketlock-Pro-Handrail-System.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://promenaid.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Promenaid</a> is introducing Sprocketlock Pro at CinemaCon, an enhanced version of its <a href="https://promenaid.com/handrails/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modular handrail system </a>designed for higher load-bearing applications.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Sprocketlock Pro builds on Promenaid’s prefabricated handrail platform, using reinforced components to support use in high-demand areas such as auditorium aisles, guardrails in front of tiered seating, and elevated spaces within entertainment venues.</p>



<p>The system is designed to assemble from modular parts without the need for on-site welding or finishing, allowing it to adapt to existing structures and installation conditions.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As cinemas renovate auditoriums or introduce new seating and layout configurations, structural elements such as handrails must meet both safety requirements and installation constraints. Systems that can be installed quickly and adjusted on-site can help reduce project complexity, particularly in retrofit scenarios.</p>



<p>By combining modular construction with higher load capacity, solutions like Sprocketlock Pro are positioned to support safety and compliance while simplifying the installation process for contractors and operators.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Telescopic Seating Systems</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 1015J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>ROAR – Recliner-On-A-Riser &amp; Knee Wall System</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08194728/Telescopic-Seating-ROAR-%E2%80%93-Recliner-On-A-Riser-Knee-Wall-System-1024x328.jpg" alt="Telescopic Seating - ROAR – Recliner-On-A-Riser &amp; Knee Wall System" class="wp-image-115989"/></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.telescopicseatingsystems.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Telescopic Seating Systems (TSS)</a> is showcasing its ROAR (Recliner-On-A-Riser) system, an integrated approach to auditorium retrofits designed to simplify installation and reduce renovation timelines.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>ROAR combines <a href="https://www.telescopicseatingsystems.com/products-services/recliner/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recliner seating</a>, riser structures, and knee wall systems into a single, factory-built solution for stadium-seating auditoriums. By consolidating multiple construction elements into one system, it reduces the number of trades required on-site and streamlines the retrofit process.</p>



<p>The platform is designed to accommodate a range of riser heights and can be deployed with pre-engineered components to support faster installation. Operational features include open-under-seat construction for easier access and cleaning, along with integrated lighting and system tracking designed to support maintenance workflows.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Auditorium renovations can be complex, time-consuming, and costly, particularly when multiple contractors and construction phases are involved. Integrated systems that reduce installation complexity and downtime can help exhibitors complete upgrades more quickly while minimizing disruption to operations.</p>



<p>With countless cinema operators continuing to transition to recliner seating, solutions that simplify retrofits — while maintaining flexibility across different auditorium configurations — are becoming increasingly relevant.</p>
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<p>Explore more in the <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">2026 CinemaCon Product Preview</a> series on Celluloid Junkie.</p>



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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-seating-auditorium-design/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Seating &amp; Auditorium Design</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Projection, Sound &#038; Presentation Technology</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-projection-sound-presentation-technology/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cinemacon-2026-product-preview-projection-sound-presentation-technology</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cinema Equipment]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>While much of the focus at CinemaCon is on the business of cinema, the core theatrical experience still depends on how a film looks and sounds on screen. At CinemaCon 2026, cinema equipment manufacturers and providers are highlighting advances across projection, LED cinema displays, immersive audio, and presentation monitoring — technologies designed to improve image<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-projection-sound-presentation-technology/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-projection-sound-presentation-technology/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Projection, Sound &amp; Presentation Technology</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>While much of the focus at CinemaCon is on the business of cinema, the core theatrical experience still depends on how a film looks and sounds on screen.</p>



<p>At CinemaCon 2026, cinema equipment manufacturers and providers are highlighting advances across projection, LED cinema displays, immersive audio, and presentation monitoring — technologies designed to improve image quality, enhance sound performance, and ensure consistent playback across auditoriums. Alongside premium large format systems, there is also a growing emphasis on tools that help operators maintain presentation standards through automation, diagnostics, and remote monitoring.</p>



<p>Together, these solutions reflect an ongoing shift toward more precise, data-informed control of the theatrical experience, where consistency and quality are as important as innovation.</p>



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<p><strong>Sponsored by Vista Group</strong><br><em><em>This post is part of Celluloid Junkie’s 2026 CinemaCon Product Preview series, sponsored by <a href="https://vista.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vista Group</a>.</em></em></p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Adaptive Technologies Group</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 138J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Pro-Lift Scissor Lifts &amp; Digital Controllers</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="597" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175643/Adaptive-Digital-Controllers-and-Prolift-Scissor-Lifts-1024x597.jpg" alt="Adaptive - Digital Controllers and Pro-Lift Scissor Lifts" class="wp-image-115896" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175643/Adaptive-Digital-Controllers-and-Prolift-Scissor-Lifts-1024x597.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175643/Adaptive-Digital-Controllers-and-Prolift-Scissor-Lifts-300x175.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175643/Adaptive-Digital-Controllers-and-Prolift-Scissor-Lifts-768x448.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175643/Adaptive-Digital-Controllers-and-Prolift-Scissor-Lifts-400x233.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175643/Adaptive-Digital-Controllers-and-Prolift-Scissor-Lifts.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://adaptivetechnologiesgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adaptive Technologies Group</a> has expanded its <a href="https://adaptivetechnologiesgroup.com/pro-lift-scissor-overhead-projector-scissor-lift/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pro-Lift scissor lift range</a> to support larger format projection setups, introducing additional lifting heights and controller options to accommodate evolving cinema and immersive auditorium designs.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The Pro-Lift system is a ceiling-mounted projector lift designed to safely position and service digital cinema projectors. Now available in field-adjustable lifting heights of 8, 16, and 24 feet, the system supports payloads up to 600 pounds and can be paired with Adaptive’s P-Box 15 hush box for enclosed installations.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As cinemas move toward larger screens, booth-less designs, and premium formats such as 4DX, projector installation and maintenance are becoming more complex. Lift systems like Pro-Lift are designed to simplify access while maintaining safety and minimizing disruption during servicing.</p>



<p>With options for multiple preset positions — including show, maintenance, and stow — as well as network-compatible controllers, the system allows operators and technicians to manage projection equipment more efficiently in increasingly technical environments.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>CES+</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Meetings by appointment</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Audio IQ</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="629" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175654/CES-Plus-Audio-IQ.jpg" alt="CES+ Audio IQ" class="wp-image-115899" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175654/CES-Plus-Audio-IQ.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175654/CES-Plus-Audio-IQ-300x184.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175654/CES-Plus-Audio-IQ-768x472.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175654/CES-Plus-Audio-IQ-400x246.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://ces.plus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CES+ Cinema</a> is introducing Audio IQ at CinemaCon, an automated audio monitoring system designed to detect and diagnose sound issues in real time.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Audio IQ is an AI-enabled system that continuously monitors in-auditorium audio performance, analyzing sound output across the full surround configuration without requiring manual checks. The platform identifies issues such as failing speakers, dead channels, or level inconsistencies and delivers alerts through a cloud-based dashboard.</p>



<p>Designed to integrate with existing cinema sound systems, Audio IQ provides remote diagnostics and ongoing performance monitoring, allowing technical teams to identify and address issues before they impact the audience experience.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Audio issues are often difficult to detect in real time and may only surface after impacting multiple screenings. Systems that provide continuous monitoring and early fault detection can help operators maintain consistent presentation quality while reducing reliance on manual testing and reactive troubleshooting.</p>



<p>As cinemas continue to invest in premium sound formats, maintaining audio performance across all auditoriums — not just flagship screens — is becoming an increasingly important part of the overall guest experience.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Christie</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Milano 1 &amp; Milano 5 (Offsite demonstrations available)</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>CP4410m-RGBH (CineLife+ Phazer Series)</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="227" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08181113/Christie-CD43502-Cinema-RGBH-Projector-1024x227.jpg" alt="Christie - CD43502 Cinema RGBH Projector" class="wp-image-115935" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08181113/Christie-CD43502-Cinema-RGBH-Projector-1024x227.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08181113/Christie-CD43502-Cinema-RGBH-Projector-300x67.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08181113/Christie-CD43502-Cinema-RGBH-Projector-768x170.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08181113/Christie-CD43502-Cinema-RGBH-Projector-400x89.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08181113/Christie-CD43502-Cinema-RGBH-Projector.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.christiedigital.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christie</a> is introducing the CP4410m-RGBH at CinemaCon, expanding its <a href="https://www.christiedigital.com/products/cinema/projection/cinelife-plus-series/">CineLife+ Phazer lineup</a> with a lower-lumen projector that incorporates RGB laser-phosphor hybrid illumination.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.christiedigital.com/en-gb/products/cinema/projection/cinelife-plus-series/christie-cp4415m-rgbh-faee8f32/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CP4410m-RGBH</a> is a 10,000-lumen projector designed for smaller screens, boutique cinemas, and boothless environments. It uses a hybrid RGB laser-phosphor light source intended to reduce speckle and color variation on high-gain screens while maintaining image clarity and color performance.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Exhibitors are transitioning from Xenon to laser projection, however cost and screen size have remained barriers for smaller auditoriums. Lower-lumen solutions can help make that transition more accessible without requiring the scale of premium large-format installations.</p>



<p>By introducing a hybrid illumination approach and positioning the unit for compact and boothless setups, Christie is targeting a segment of the market where flexibility, footprint, and upgrade pathways are increasingly important.</p>



<p><strong>VDR (Variable Dynamic Range)</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="660" height="285" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08182249/Christie-Variable-Dynamic-Range.jpg" alt="Christie - Variable Dynamic Range VDR" class="wp-image-115938" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08182249/Christie-Variable-Dynamic-Range.jpg 660w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08182249/Christie-Variable-Dynamic-Range-300x130.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08182249/Christie-Variable-Dynamic-Range-400x173.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>Christie is <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/come-to-the-darker-side-of-cinema-with-the-launch-of-christie-vdr/">officially launching VDR (Variable Dynamic Range) at CinemaCon</a>, a software-based upgrade designed to improve contrast and energy efficiency in existing RealLaser projection systems.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>VDR uses interframe analysis to dynamically adjust laser output based on the requirements of each scene, enhancing contrast while optimizing power usage. The feature is delivered as a software license and can be enabled on compatible CineLife+ RealLaser projectors without requiring new hardware.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>For exhibitors, improving image quality has traditionally required significant capital investment in new projection systems. Software-based upgrades offer an alternative path, allowing operators to enhance performance while extending the life of existing equipment.</p>



<p>In addition to increasing perceived contrast, tools like VDR also aim to reduce energy consumption and operational costs — two factors that are becoming increasingly important as cinemas manage long-term infrastructure investments.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>CinemaNext</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — 311J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>PAA40+ Automation Adapter</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="438" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter-1024x438.jpg" alt="CinemaNext - PAA40+ Automaton Adapter" class="wp-image-115902" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter-1024x438.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter-300x128.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter-768x329.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter-1536x657.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter-1250x535.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter-400x171.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175704/CinemaNext-PAA40-Automaton-Adapter.jpg 1711w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.cinemanext.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CinemaNext</a> is highlighting its <a href="https://www.cinemanext.com/paa40-automation-adapter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PAA40+ Automation Adapter</a> at CinemaCon, designed to expand automation and energy management capabilities within cinema projection booths.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The PAA40+ acts as a control layer that translates commands from cinema servers or TMS systems into automated actions for booth equipment, including projection, HVAC, and audio systems. It enables operators to schedule and manage when systems are powered on or off, while also monitoring energy usage across multiple circuits (including support for multiple relay outputs, programmable macros, and real-time reporting).</p>



<p>The system can also be deployed as a retrofit for existing installations, allowing cinemas to upgrade booth automation without replacing core infrastructure.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As energy costs rise and operational efficiency becomes more critical, managing when and how equipment is used inside the projection booth is gaining importance. Automation tools can help reduce unnecessary power consumption by aligning system usage more closely with actual show schedules.</p>



<p>Solutions like the PAA40+ are positioned to deliver a relatively short return on investment by reducing energy waste and minimizing manual intervention, while also giving operators greater visibility into booth performance — an area where small inefficiencies can add up over time.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Digital Light Sources (DLS)</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 433J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Cine LEDMAX Acoustically Transparent Cinema LED Screens</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="637" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175715/Digital-Light-Sources-CineLEDMAX-1024x637.jpg" alt="Digital Light Sources - CineLEDMAX" class="wp-image-115905" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175715/Digital-Light-Sources-CineLEDMAX-1024x637.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175715/Digital-Light-Sources-CineLEDMAX-300x187.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175715/Digital-Light-Sources-CineLEDMAX-768x478.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175715/Digital-Light-Sources-CineLEDMAX-400x249.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175715/Digital-Light-Sources-CineLEDMAX.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://dls.digital/">Digital Light Sources</a> is continuing to demonstrate its Cine LEDMAX acoustically transparent LED screens at CinemaCon, with a focus on sound transmission technology designed to address one of the key challenges of LED cinema installations.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.cineledmax.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cine LEDMAX</a> lineup consists of DCI-compliant direct-view LED screens available in a range of sizes, designed for both retrofit and new-build auditoriums. Developed in partnership with LED manufacturer LOPU Tech, the system incorporates a patented approach to sound transparency, allowing audio to pass through the screen without the need for traditional speaker placement compromises.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>While LED cinema screens have gained attention for their brightness, contrast, and long service life, audio integration has remained a limiting factor in wider adoption. Solutions that address sound transmission more effectively can help make LED a more viable option across a broader range of auditoriums.</p>



<p>By combining high dynamic range visuals with an acoustically transparent design, systems like Cine LEDMAX are aimed at reducing the trade-offs traditionally associated with LED installations, giving exhibitors another pathway to evaluate as the market continues to evolve beyond projection.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Dolby Laboratories</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Meetings by appointment</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos (Combined Premium Offering)</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="497" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175726/Dolby-Dolby-Vision-Projector-1024x497.jpg" alt="Dolby - Dolby Vision Projector" class="wp-image-115908" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175726/Dolby-Dolby-Vision-Projector-1024x497.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175726/Dolby-Dolby-Vision-Projector-300x146.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175726/Dolby-Dolby-Vision-Projector-768x373.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175726/Dolby-Dolby-Vision-Projector-400x194.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175726/Dolby-Dolby-Vision-Projector.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.dolby.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dolby</a> is expanding access to its combined <a href="https://www.dolby.com/technologies/vision-atmos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos</a> offering at CinemaCon, positioning the technologies as a more broadly available premium solution beyond traditional Dolby Cinema installations.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Dolby Vision is a high dynamic range projection system designed to deliver enhanced contrast, brightness, and color performance, while Dolby Atmos is an object-based audio format that places sound throughout the auditorium, including from the ceiling. Together, they form a premium presentation package that integrates image and sound technologies developed and refined through Dolby Cinema deployments.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Premium large-format experiences have become a key differentiator for exhibitors, but not all cinemas can accommodate fully branded, turnkey concepts. Offering Dolby Vision and Atmos as a more flexible combination gives operators another way to deliver a high-end presentation without adopting the full Dolby Cinema model.</p>



<p>By making this pairing more accessible, Dolby is effectively extending its premium ecosystem to a wider range of auditoriums, allowing exhibitors to align with filmmaker-preferred formats while tailoring implementation to their own spaces and business models.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>GDC Technology</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Milano 2</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Tricorne LED Screen &amp; HDR LED Media Server</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="915" height="333" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08184200/GDC-HDR-LED-Media-Server-Tricorne-LED-Screen.jpg" alt="GDC - HDR LED Media Server &amp; Tricorne LED Screen" class="wp-image-115941" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08184200/GDC-HDR-LED-Media-Server-Tricorne-LED-Screen.jpg 915w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08184200/GDC-HDR-LED-Media-Server-Tricorne-LED-Screen-300x109.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08184200/GDC-HDR-LED-Media-Server-Tricorne-LED-Screen-768x280.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08184200/GDC-HDR-LED-Media-Server-Tricorne-LED-Screen-400x146.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 915px) 100vw, 915px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.gdc-tech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GDC Technology</a> is showcasing its Tricorne LED cinema screen alongside its <a href="https://www.gdc-tech.com/cinema-solutions/cinema-media-servers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HDR LED Media Server</a> at CinemaCon, highlighting a fully acoustically transparent LED solution designed to improve both image and sound integration.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.tricorne.com.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tricorne LED</a> is a direct-view cinema screen featuring a perforated design that allows speakers to be positioned behind the display, addressing one of the key challenges associated with LED installations. It is paired with GDC’s HDR LED Media Server, a DCI-compliant system designed to support HDR and high frame rate playback for LED cinema environments.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As LED cinema screens continue to develop as an alternative to projection, integrating audio without compromising sound placement has remained a core limitation. Acoustically transparent designs aim to resolve this by restoring traditional speaker positioning while maintaining the visual benefits of LED.</p>



<p>By combining display technology with a dedicated media server, GDC is positioning its solution as a more complete LED ecosystem, giving exhibitors a way to evaluate both image and playback infrastructure as part of a single deployment strategy.</p>



<p><strong>AIB-4000 DTS:X for IAB Cinema Processor</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="950" height="300" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08185002/GDC-AIB-4000-Audio-Processor.jpg" alt="GDC - AIB-4000 DTS:X for IAB Cinema Processor" class="wp-image-115944" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08185002/GDC-AIB-4000-Audio-Processor.jpg 950w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08185002/GDC-AIB-4000-Audio-Processor-300x95.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08185002/GDC-AIB-4000-Audio-Processor-768x243.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08185002/GDC-AIB-4000-Audio-Processor-400x126.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>GDC is introducing the <a href="https://www.gdc-tech.com/cinema-solutions/cinema-audio/dtsx-for-iab-cinema-processor-aib-4000/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AIB-4000</a>, a new immersive audio processor designed to support the SMPTE IAB standard at CinemaCon.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The AIB-4000 is a 64-channel audio processor that supports DTS:X for IAB and integrates with DCI media servers. It is compatible with networked audio protocols such as Dante and AES67, enabling flexible audio system configurations within modern cinema environments.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>With immersive audio formats continuing to evolve, standardization around IAB is becoming increasingly important for interoperability across cinema playback systems. Processors that support these standards can help simplify installation and integration while maintaining flexibility for future upgrades.</p>



<p>For exhibitors investing in next-generation audio, solutions like the AIB-4000 reflect a shift toward more scalable, network-based architectures that align with broader industry direction.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Harkness Screens</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <em>Salerno Room</em></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>HSG Labs QA Monitoring System</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="161" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-1024x161.jpg" alt="Harkness - HSG Labs QA Monitoring System" class="wp-image-115911" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-1024x161.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-300x47.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-768x121.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-1536x242.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-2048x323.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-1250x197.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175738/Harkness-HSG-Labs-QA-Monitoring-System-400x63.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.harkness-screens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harkness Screens</a> is introducing its HSG Labs quality assurance monitoring devices at CinemaCon, designed to provide continuous remote oversight of image and audio performance across auditoriums.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.hsg-labs.com/for-monitoring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HSG Labs</a> range includes monitoring tools that track presentation parameters such as brightness, focus, image alignment, and sound. The system can deliver alerts via email, text, or integration with theatre management systems, allowing operators to identify and address issues without requiring manual inspection.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Maintaining consistent presentation quality across multiple screens can be challenging, particularly for circuits operating at scale. Issues such as brightness drift or sound imbalance can go unnoticed until they impact the audience experience.</p>



<p>Monitoring systems that provide real-time feedback and alerts offer a more proactive approach, helping operators identify problems earlier and reduce the need for reactive maintenance. As expectations around presentation quality remain high, tools like these reflect a broader shift toward continuous performance monitoring rather than periodic checks.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>MAG Cinema</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location:<a href="mailto:info@showtimeanalytics.com"> </a>Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2304A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>ERA SUB 321 Cardioid Subwoofer</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="451" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321-1024x451.jpg" alt="MAG Cinema - ERA Subwoofer - 321" class="wp-image-115914" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321-1024x451.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321-300x132.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321-768x338.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321-1536x677.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321-1250x551.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321-400x176.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175749/MAG-Cinema-ERA-Subwoofer-321.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://mag-cinema.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MAG Cinema</a> is introducing the ERA SUB 321, a cardioid subwoofer designed to improve low-frequency control within cinema auditoriums.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://mag-cinema.com/new-era/era-sub-321" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ERA SUB 321</a> features a three-driver (21-inch) configuration built around passive cardioid technology, allowing the system to direct bass energy toward the audience while reducing rearward output. The design is intended as a drop-in replacement for conventional subwoofers, requiring no additional processing or amplifier channels to achieve directional performance .</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Low-frequency sound bleed between adjacent auditoriums has long been a challenge in cinema design, particularly in multiplex environments. Controlling bass energy, rather than simply increasing output, is becoming an increasingly important consideration as sound systems evolve.</p>



<p>Solutions that improve directionality and reduce unwanted spill can help maintain audio clarity within each auditorium while minimizing interference between screens. For exhibitors and integrators, this shifts the focus from raw power to precision, supporting more consistent sound experiences across the circuit.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Meyer Sound</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2104A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>USW-121P Self-Powered Cinema Subwoofer</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="668" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175802/Meyer-Sound-USW-121P-High-Power-Subwoofer-1024x668.jpg" alt="Meyer Sound - USW-121P High-Power Subwoofer" class="wp-image-115917" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175802/Meyer-Sound-USW-121P-High-Power-Subwoofer-1024x668.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175802/Meyer-Sound-USW-121P-High-Power-Subwoofer-300x196.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175802/Meyer-Sound-USW-121P-High-Power-Subwoofer-768x501.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175802/Meyer-Sound-USW-121P-High-Power-Subwoofer-400x261.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175802/Meyer-Sound-USW-121P-High-Power-Subwoofer.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://meyersound.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meyer Sound</a> is introducing the USW-121P, a self-powered subwoofer that brings networked audio and onboard processing into a single cinema sound component.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://meyersound.com/product/usw-121p/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USW-121P</a> is a compact, high-power subwoofer built around a 21-inch driver, designed to deliver extended low-frequency performance while minimizing system complexity. It integrates amplification, digital signal processor (DSP), and networked audio (including AES67 connectivity) directly within the enclosure, reducing the need for external processors and additional hardware.</p>



<p>Its cabinet design supports flexible installation in space-constrained environments — including behind screens and along walls — while maintaining airflow and acoustic performance.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>With cinema sound systems now more advanced than ever, system design and integration are becoming increasingly complex. Solutions that consolidate amplification, processing, and networking into fewer components can simplify installation, reduce rack space, and streamline ongoing maintenance.</p>



<p>For exhibitors and integrators, this reflects a broader shift toward fully networked, self-powered audio systems, where more of the signal chain is handled within the speaker itself — potentially improving efficiency while maintaining consistent performance across auditoriums.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Moving iMage Technologies</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 427J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>DCS Digital Cinema Series Loudspeakers</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="687" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175813/Moving-Image-Technologies-DCS-Digital-Cinema-Series-Loudspeakers-1024x687.jpg" alt="Moving Image Technologies - DCS Digital Cinema Series Loudspeakers" class="wp-image-115920" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175813/Moving-Image-Technologies-DCS-Digital-Cinema-Series-Loudspeakers-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175813/Moving-Image-Technologies-DCS-Digital-Cinema-Series-Loudspeakers-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175813/Moving-Image-Technologies-DCS-Digital-Cinema-Series-Loudspeakers-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175813/Moving-Image-Technologies-DCS-Digital-Cinema-Series-Loudspeakers-400x268.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175813/Moving-Image-Technologies-DCS-Digital-Cinema-Series-Loudspeakers.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.movingimagetech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moving iMage Technologies (MiT)</a> is showcasing the <a href="https://www.dcsreference.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DCS (Digital Cinema Series) loudspeaker platform</a> at CinemaCon following its recent acquisition of the long-established cinema audio brand from QSC.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The DCS platform is a full-range cinema audio solution, including screen channels, surrounds, subwoofers, and monitoring systems, designed to support configurations from traditional 5.1 and 7.1 setups through to immersive audio environments. Originally developed over more than two decades and deployed in thousands of auditoriums worldwide, the system is positioned as a scalable, cinema-focused solution.</p>



<p>With the acquisition, MiT has taken over manufacturing relationships, inventory, and global distribution, while positioning DCS as an open platform available through integrators and partners across multiple markets.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As exhibitors continue to invest in premium presentation formats, control over key technology components — such as the DCS loudspeaker platform — is becoming increasingly strategic. For integrators, expanding into owned or managed product lines can help ensure supply continuity and provide greater flexibility in system design.</p>



<p>MiT’s move into cinema audio reflects a broader trend toward vertical integration within the exhibition technology ecosystem, where companies are looking to offer more complete solutions across projection, sound, and installation.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Samsung Electronics</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Roman Ballrooms 1–2</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Spatial Signage (Glasses-Free 3D Display)</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="546" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175825/Samsung-Spatial-Signage-1024x546.jpg" alt="Samsung - Spatial Signage" class="wp-image-115923" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175825/Samsung-Spatial-Signage-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175825/Samsung-Spatial-Signage-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175825/Samsung-Spatial-Signage-768x410.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175825/Samsung-Spatial-Signage-400x213.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175825/Samsung-Spatial-Signage.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>Beyond the latest generation of <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/business/led-signage/cinema-led/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Onyx Cinema LED</a> screens, Samsung is introducing its Spatial Signage at CinemaCon, a glasses-free 3D display designed for use in cinema lobbies and other high-traffic areas.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong><a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/business/spatial-display/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spatial Signage</a> uses a patented optical layer to create the perception of depth directly within the display, allowing content to appear three-dimensional without requiring special glasses. The system is designed for commercial environments and can be used to present film marketing, showtimes, and promotional content in a more visually dynamic format.</p>



<p>The 85-inch display features 4K resolution in a portrait configuration, making it suited for poster-style content and digital signage applications within cinema spaces.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As exhibitors and studios look to extend engagement beyond the auditorium, attention-grabbing displays in lobbies and concession areas are becoming increasingly important. Technologies that add depth and motion to traditional signage can help differentiate promotional content in busy environments.</p>



<p>Glasses-free 3D displays like Spatial Signage represent one approach to enhancing pre-show engagement, offering a way to bring elements of cinematic storytelling into the broader venue without requiring changes to projection systems.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Severtson Screens</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2310A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>SēVision 3D GX Giant Electric Motorized Screen</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="626" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175837/Severtson-Giant-Electric-Motorized-Screen-1024x626.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-115926" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175837/Severtson-Giant-Electric-Motorized-Screen-1024x626.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175837/Severtson-Giant-Electric-Motorized-Screen-300x184.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175837/Severtson-Giant-Electric-Motorized-Screen-768x470.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175837/Severtson-Giant-Electric-Motorized-Screen-400x245.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175837/Severtson-Giant-Electric-Motorized-Screen.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://severtsonscreens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Severtson</a> is introducing its <a href="https://severtsonscreens.com/tag/sevision-3d-gx/">SēVision 3D GX Giant Electric</a> motorized projection screen at CinemaCon, designed for large-format venues that require retractable screen solutions.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The system is a large-scale motorized cinema screen that can be raised and lowered, making it suitable for multi-purpose auditoriums where the screen cannot remain permanently deployed. It is available in a range of materials, including acoustically perforated options that allow for speaker placement behind the screen.</p>



<p>Severtson’s folded screen technology and coating system are designed to withstand repeated rolling without damaging the projection surface, enabling use in applications where large-format screens need to be deployed frequently .</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>While most cinema screens are fixed installations, some venues — including multi-use auditoriums, event spaces, and certain premium formats — require greater flexibility. Motorized large-format screens address this need by allowing spaces to transition between different uses without permanent structural changes.</p>



<p>As cinemas and adjacent venues explore more flexible programming and shared-use environments, solutions that support adaptable screen configurations may become more relevant, particularly outside traditional multiplex settings.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Sharp</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Neapolitan 1</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Projector Lineup Refresh</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="323" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175847/Sharp-NC-1424-and-NC-2424M-1024x323.jpg" alt="Sharp - NC-1424 and NC-2424M" class="wp-image-115929" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175847/Sharp-NC-1424-and-NC-2424M-1024x323.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175847/Sharp-NC-1424-and-NC-2424M-300x95.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175847/Sharp-NC-1424-and-NC-2424M-768x243.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175847/Sharp-NC-1424-and-NC-2424M-400x126.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175847/Sharp-NC-1424-and-NC-2424M.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://business.sharpusa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sharp</a> is marking the final phase of its transition from the NEC brand during this year’s CinemaCon, with plans to begin selling its first Sharp-branded digital cinema projectors later this year.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>At CinemaCon, the company is previewing <a href="https://business.sharpusa.com/digital-cinema-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">updates to its cinema projection lineup</a>, including a refreshed 4K range and a new 2K projector featuring enhanced dynamic range (EDR) and a 12,000-lumen brightness option. Sharp also indicated that a smaller, low-noise projector is in development, aimed at environments where footprint and acoustics are key considerations.</p>



<p>Alongside its cinema projection roadmap, Sharp will showcase a broader portfolio of display technologies, including large-format displays, ePaper solutions, and dvLED screens, reflecting its wider positioning across commercial display applications.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>The transition from NEC to Sharp represents a notable shift in one of the industry’s long-standing projection technology providers. For cinema operators, continuity in product development and support is critical, particularly as the market continues to evolve toward laser projection and alternative display technologies.</p>



<p>The introduction of Sharp-branded projectors signals an effort to maintain that continuity while positioning the company for the next phase of cinema technology development.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Timewaying (HeyLED</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong>)</h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2226A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Front-Access DCI HDR LED Cinema Screen</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="526" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175858/Timewaying-HeyLED-Front-Maintenance-and-Acoustically-Transparent-LED-Screens-1024x526.jpg" alt="Timewaying HeyLED - Front Maintenance and Acoustically Transparent LED Screens" class="wp-image-115932" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175858/Timewaying-HeyLED-Front-Maintenance-and-Acoustically-Transparent-LED-Screens-1024x526.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175858/Timewaying-HeyLED-Front-Maintenance-and-Acoustically-Transparent-LED-Screens-300x154.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175858/Timewaying-HeyLED-Front-Maintenance-and-Acoustically-Transparent-LED-Screens-768x394.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175858/Timewaying-HeyLED-Front-Maintenance-and-Acoustically-Transparent-LED-Screens-400x205.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/08175858/Timewaying-HeyLED-Front-Maintenance-and-Acoustically-Transparent-LED-Screens.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://timewaying.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Timewaying (HeyLED)</a> is introducing a front-access <a href="https://timewaying.com/heyled-cinema-screen/">LED cinema screen</a> at CinemaCon, designed for wall-mounted installation in space-constrained environments.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The screen features a structural design that enables both installation and maintenance from the front, eliminating the need for rear access. Available in sizes ranging from 4 to 10 meters, it is positioned for smaller auditoriums, private cinemas, and specialty installations. The system supports DCI-compliant HDR presentation and uses advanced panel packaging to improve surface uniformity and durability .</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>One of the practical challenges with LED cinema installations is the space required for access and servicing. Designs that allow front-only installation can make LED a more viable option in locations where depth is limited or retrofitting is required.</p>



<p>By focusing on compact formats and simplified installation, solutions like this open up LED deployment to a broader range of venues, including premium small-screen environments where space efficiency is critical.</p>
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<p>Explore more in the <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">2026 CinemaCon Product Preview</a> series on Celluloid Junkie.</p>



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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/08/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-projection-sound-presentation-technology/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Projection, Sound &amp; Presentation Technology</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Business, Marketing &#038; Operational Platforms</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/07/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-business-marketing-operational-platforms/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cinemacon-2026-product-preview-business-marketing-operational-platforms</link>
					<comments>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/07/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-business-marketing-operational-platforms/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cinema Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cinema Service Providers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conferences & Trade Shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arts Alliance Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Qube Cinema]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RosettaBridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Showtime Analytics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Screenwriter TMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gofilex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaNext]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Qube Wire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unique X]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[usheru]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Theater Toolkit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mobile Moviegoing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OneCinema]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon Product Preview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CINEsync]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Venue Valet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Qube Slate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iCount]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WireTAP]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=115731</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Beyond ticketing and concessions, a growing layer of systems is shaping how cinemas operate, connect with audiences, and make decisions. At CinemaCon 2026, numerous companies are showcasing platforms that sit behind the scenes of the moviegoing experience; spanning theatre management, content delivery, marketing, data analytics, and customer engagement. While these systems are less visible to<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/07/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-business-marketing-operational-platforms/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/07/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-business-marketing-operational-platforms/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Business, Marketing &amp; Operational Platforms</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Beyond ticketing and concessions, a growing layer of systems is shaping how cinemas operate, connect with audiences, and make decisions.</p>



<p>At CinemaCon 2026, numerous companies are showcasing platforms that sit behind the scenes of the moviegoing experience; spanning theatre management, content delivery, marketing, data analytics, and customer engagement. While these systems are less visible to audiences, they play a critical role in how cinemas run day to day, from managing content and workflows to driving attendance and optimizing performance.</p>



<p>Increasingly, these functions are no longer handled by separate tools. Instead, exhibitors are moving toward a more connected approach, where operational systems, marketing platforms, and data layers work together to provide a more complete view of the business. This shift reflects the growing complexity of cinema workflows as operators look to improve efficiency, respond more quickly to changing demand, and better understand their audiences.</p>



<p>The companies in this section highlight how cinemas are building that connected infrastructure — bringing together content, operations, and customer data into systems designed to support a more flexible and data-driven approach to exhibition.</p>



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<p><strong>Sponsored by Vista Group</strong><br><em><em>This post is part of Celluloid Junkie’s 2026 CinemaCon Product Preview series, sponsored by <a href="https://vista.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vista Group</a>.</em></em></p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Arts Alliance Media <em>— </em>A Qube Cinema Company</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Meetings by appointment</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Screenwriter TMS &amp; Trailer Exchange 1.5 Upgrades</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="608" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140853/Arts-Alliance-Media-Screenwriter-TMS-1024x608.jpg" alt="Arts Alliance Media - Screenwriter TMS" class="wp-image-115734" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140853/Arts-Alliance-Media-Screenwriter-TMS-1024x608.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140853/Arts-Alliance-Media-Screenwriter-TMS-300x178.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140853/Arts-Alliance-Media-Screenwriter-TMS-768x456.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140853/Arts-Alliance-Media-Screenwriter-TMS-400x238.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140853/Arts-Alliance-Media-Screenwriter-TMS.jpg 1244w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.artsalliancemedia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arts Alliance Media</a> is introducing updates to its <a href="https://www.artsalliancemedia.com/product?id=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Screenwriter TMS</a> and Trailer Exchange 1.5 platform, with enhancements focused on compatibility, scheduling precision, and pre-show optimization.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Screenwriter is a theatre management system (TMS) designed to manage scheduling, content synchronization, and playback across cinema circuits. Recent updates expand support for newer operating systems and a wider range of projection hardware, while improving scheduling workflows and synchronization performance.</p>



<p>Trailer Exchange 1.5 extends this capability into pre-show management, enabling more advanced scheduling of trailers and advertising, with new tools for content targeting and reporting.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>TMS platforms are deployed in ever more complex cinema environments today, requiring support for a broader range of cinema hardware while maintaining reliability and control. Improvements in scheduling visibility and synchronization can help reduce operational delays and ensure consistent playback across sites.</p>



<p>At the same time, greater control over pre-show programming reflects the growing importance of advertising and commercial optimization within the cinema business.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>CinemaNext</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 311J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>CinemaNext TMS Upgrades</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="940" height="642" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06162612/CinemaNext-Theater-Management-System.jpg" alt="CinemaNext - Theater Management System" class="wp-image-115770" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06162612/CinemaNext-Theater-Management-System.jpg 940w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06162612/CinemaNext-Theater-Management-System-300x205.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06162612/CinemaNext-Theater-Management-System-768x525.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06162612/CinemaNext-Theater-Management-System-400x273.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="http://cinemanext.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CinemaNext</a> will be featuring updates to its TMS with enhancements focused on energy management, expanded device integration (including with IMAX), and improved scheduling precision.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>CinemaNext TMS is a web-based platform designed to centralize content management, scheduling, and booth control across cinema operations. Installed on a dedicated server such as the CinemaNext BOX, the system enables operators to ingest and manage DCPs, manage KDMs, automate playlist creation, and synchronize everything across multiple auditoriums.</p>



<p>Recent updates include deeper integration with the CinemaNext EcoBooth system, allowing power usage in the booth to be aligned with show schedules. The platform also expands support for a wider range of projection and audio systems, alongside features such as start markers for more precise show timing, improved handling of live events, and enhanced integration with premium formats.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>With technology environments inside cinemas becoming far more complex, TMS platforms are evolving beyond scheduling tools into broader operational control systems. The ability to coordinate playback, monitor equipment, and manage energy usage from a single interface can help reduce manual intervention while improving consistency across sites.</p>



<p>For operators balancing rising energy costs and increasingly diverse programming, tighter integration between scheduling, equipment, and power management is becoming an important part of day-to-day operations.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Gofilex</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Meetings by appointment</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>E-delivery &amp; Live Events &#8211; Portal 2.0 Update</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="427" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140907/Gofilex-System-Screenshot-1024x427.jpg" alt="Gofilex - System Screenshot" class="wp-image-115737" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140907/Gofilex-System-Screenshot-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140907/Gofilex-System-Screenshot-300x125.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140907/Gofilex-System-Screenshot-768x320.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140907/Gofilex-System-Screenshot-400x167.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140907/Gofilex-System-Screenshot.jpg 1193w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.gofilex.nl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gofilex</a> is preparing to roll out updates to its E-delivery and live events platform at CinemaCon, including a redesigned web-based portal and companion app aimed at improving visibility and control over delivered content.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Gofilex operates a global network for electronic film delivery and live event distribution, supporting approximately 12,000 cinemas worldwide. The upcoming Portal 2.0 and updated mobile app are designed to provide exhibitors with a centralized interface to track incoming content, manage orders, and access live event workflows.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Cinemas are handling an increasing mix of feature films, alternative content, and live events, making managing delivery and scheduling across multiple sources more complex. Tools that provide clearer oversight of what content has been delivered, and what is scheduled to arrive, can help reduce operational friction and improve coordination between distributors and exhibitors.</p>



<p>By focusing on workflow visibility and centralized access, updates like Gofilex’s Portal 2.0 reflect a broader shift toward more transparent and trackable content delivery systems within the exhibition ecosystem.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>CINEsync</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2516A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>AI-Driven Cinema Operations Upgrades</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-1024x576.jpg" alt="Cinesync - AI-Driven Cinema Operations Upgrades" class="wp-image-115669" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.cinesync.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CINEsync</a> is emphasizing its AI-driven capabilities at CinemaCon, alongside an expanded restaurant module designed to better support dine-in cinema operations.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>A cloud-based platform that integrates ticketing, concessions, marketing, loyalty, and analytics into a single system for cinema operators.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Many exhibitors still operate across multiple disconnected systems, particularly when managing both ticketing and food and beverage. By consolidating these functions — and layering in AI tools for scheduling, pricing, and recommendations — platforms like CINEsync aim to improve operational efficiency while helping cinemas better respond to audience demand and maximize revenue.</p>



<p>The platform also integrates with third-party providers including comScore, Numero, and MACCSBOX, as well as payment and ticketing partners, positioning it as a central operating layer for cinemas looking to streamline workflows and expand food and beverage offerings.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Mobile Moviegoing</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 726J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Website Platform 3.0 &amp; TeleTimes</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="371" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes--1024x371.jpg" alt="MobileMoviegoing - Website Platform 3.0 and TeleTimes" class="wp-image-115740" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes--1024x371.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes--300x109.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes--768x278.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes--1536x556.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes--1250x452.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes--400x145.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140920/MobileMoviegoing-Website-Platform-3.0-and-TeleTimes-.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.mobilemoviegoing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobile Moviegoing</a> is introducing Version 3.0 of its website platform at CinemaCon, alongside new tools including TeleTimes, a phone-based showtime service, and a network monitoring system for cinema operations.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The updated platform focuses on improving the path from movie discovery to ticket purchase, with a redesigned interface built around user behavior and performance optimization. TeleTimes extends access to showtime information through a voice-based system, allowing moviegoers to retrieve listings without using an app or website.</p>



<p>On the operational side, Mobile Moviegoing is also rolling out a monitoring system designed to track on-site equipment, connectivity, and POS performance in real time, helping operators identify and address issues proactively.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As cinema operations become increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, both the customer-facing experience and back-end reliability play a critical role in overall performance. Improvements to website usability can directly impact conversion, while monitoring tools help ensure that systems supporting ticketing and concessions remain operational.</p>



<p>By expanding beyond traditional web services into a broader platform that includes access, engagement, and system oversight, providers like Mobile Moviegoing are positioning themselves as more integrated partners in day-to-day cinema operations.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>OneCinema</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2109A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>OneCinema Enterprise Signage Platform</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="544" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140932/OneCinema-Enterprise-Signage-Platform-1024x544.jpg" alt="OneCinema - Enterprise Signage Platform" class="wp-image-115743" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140932/OneCinema-Enterprise-Signage-Platform-1024x544.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140932/OneCinema-Enterprise-Signage-Platform-300x159.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140932/OneCinema-Enterprise-Signage-Platform-768x408.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140932/OneCinema-Enterprise-Signage-Platform-400x212.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140932/OneCinema-Enterprise-Signage-Platform.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://onecinema.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OneCinema</a> is introducing <a href="https://onecinema.de/en/produkte/onecinema-signage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enterprise Signage</a> at CinemaCon, a cloud-managed digital signage platform designed to extend its existing cinema operations ecosystem.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Enterprise Signage is a cloud-managed platform that allows cinema operators to centrally control digital displays across their circuit, from lobby screens to concessions and wayfinding.</p>



<p>Built into the OneCinema Enterprise Cloud interface, it operates alongside TMS and automation tools within a single environment, sharing film, content, and trailer workflows. This enables signage content to be dynamically generated from live programming data, automatically aligning messaging with the films and genres playing at each location.</p>



<p>Content can be scheduled and deployed across one site or an entire circuit within minutes, while still allowing local flexibility for events and promotions.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Most exhibitors operate across multiple locations, which makes maintaining consistent and accurate messaging across digital displays a real challenge. Systems that connect operational data with customer-facing displays help reduce manual processes while ensuring that information remains up to date.</p>



<p>By linking signage directly to cinema systems, platforms like OneCinema’s Enterprise Signage reflect a broader move toward more connected environments, where operational data can be surfaced across the guest journey in real time.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Qube Cinema</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Meetings by appointment</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Slate &amp; iCount</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="503" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-1024x503.jpg" alt="Qube Cinema - Slate and iCount" class="wp-image-115746" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-1024x503.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-300x147.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-768x377.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-1536x754.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-2048x1005.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-1250x614.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140944/Qube-Cinema-Slate-and-iCount-400x196.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.qubecinema.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qube Cinema</a> is highlighting recent enhancements to its <a href="https://qubeslate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Slate</a> campaign management platform and iCount audience measurement system, with updates focused on greater control over pre-show programming and improved real-time attendance visibility.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Slate is a centralized platform for managing advertising and pre-show content across cinema circuits. Recent updates introduce greater control over playlist boundaries at the theatre level, allowing operators to define maximum durations for pre-show and intermission segments while maintaining consistency across sites.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.qubecinema.com/products/icount" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iCount</a> is Qube’s real-time audience measurement system, designed to track attendance at the screen level with automated reporting. The platform enables operators to compare ticket sales with actual headcount, identify discrepancies, and monitor performance across locations through a unified dashboard, while incorporating privacy features such as real-time anonymization.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Pre-show advertising and alternative content have long been important revenue streams for exhibitors who are now looking for better control over scheduling and more transparency in campaign delivery. At the same time, reliable audience measurement remains a longstanding challenge in cinema, particularly for validating advertising performance.</p>



<p>Tools that combine scheduling control with verified attendance data can help operators manage inventory more effectively, improve reporting to partners, and strengthen the commercial case for cinema as an advertising medium.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Qube Wire</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <em>Meetings by appointment</em></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Qube Wire Platform &amp; WireTAP Upgrades</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="316" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140958/Qube-Wire-WireTAP-1024x316.jpg" alt="Qube Wire - WireTAP" class="wp-image-115749" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140958/Qube-Wire-WireTAP-1024x316.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140958/Qube-Wire-WireTAP-300x93.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140958/Qube-Wire-WireTAP-768x237.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140958/Qube-Wire-WireTAP-1250x386.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140958/Qube-Wire-WireTAP-400x123.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06140958/Qube-Wire-WireTAP.jpg 1464w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>Qube Cinema is highlighting enhancements to its <a href="https://www.qubewire.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qube Wire</a> platform, including expanded deployment, automated Key Delivery Messages (KDMs) workflows, and new browser-based delivery capabilities, as well as upgrades to its WireTAP hardware.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Qube Wire is a scalable electronic content delivery platform that manages content distribution and KDM workflows across cinema networks. Recent updates introduce features such as direct holdover KDM requests and the Qube Wire network of connected theatres has grown to nearly 1,300 sites in North America alone.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.jupiter.staging.qubewire.com/wiretap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WireTAP</a>, Qube’s on-premise delivery device, has also been updated with deeper integration into TMS and playback systems, enabling more automated ingest workflows and improved real-time visibility into content status.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Content delivery remains a critical operational layer, particularly as cinemas manage higher volumes of digital distribution across multiple locations. Improvements in automation and visibility can reduce reliance on manual processes while ensuring content is delivered, verified, and ready for playback.</p>



<p>As distribution continues to shift toward fully networked workflows, platforms that support both centralized and flexible delivery options are becoming increasingly important.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Showtime Analytics</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <a href="mailto:info@showtimeanalytics.com">Meetings by appointment</a></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>AI-Enabled Data Platform for Cinema Operations</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="562" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141008/Showtime-Analytics-AI-Enabled-Data-Platform-1024x562.jpg" alt="Showtime Analytics - AI Enabled Data Platform" class="wp-image-115752" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141008/Showtime-Analytics-AI-Enabled-Data-Platform-1024x562.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141008/Showtime-Analytics-AI-Enabled-Data-Platform-300x165.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141008/Showtime-Analytics-AI-Enabled-Data-Platform-768x421.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141008/Showtime-Analytics-AI-Enabled-Data-Platform-1250x686.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141008/Showtime-Analytics-AI-Enabled-Data-Platform-400x219.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141008/Showtime-Analytics-AI-Enabled-Data-Platform.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.showtimeanalytics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Showtime Analytics</a> is introducing an expanded AI-enabled data platform at CinemaCon, focused on unifying cinema data and making it accessible for real-time analysis and decision-making.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The platform connects data from across cinema operations — including ticketing, concessions, loyalty programs, and online transactions — into a single, structured system. This unified data layer is designed to support analytics, forecasting, marketing, and operational insights without requiring manual data aggregation.</p>



<p>Building on its existing product suite — including tools such as Insights, <a href="https://www.showtimeanalytics.com/customer-engagement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Engage</a>, <a href="https://www.showtimeanalytics.com/realtime-analytics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forecasting</a>, and <a href="https://www.showtimeanalytics.com/survai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SurvAi</a> — Showtime is adding AI-driven capabilities that allow operators to query performance, generate reports, and identify trends more dynamically. This includes tools for campaign creation, scheduling optimization, and customer analysis, all operating on live, connected datasets rather than static exports.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Many cinema operators continue to work with fragmented data across multiple systems, limiting their ability to generate timely insights. Platforms that consolidate and structure this data can improve visibility into performance and support faster, more informed decision-making.</p>



<p>As AI tools become more widely adopted, the ability to access clean, connected data is becoming a prerequisite. Solutions that focus on data organization as much as AI functionality may play a key role in how exhibitors translate data into practical business outcomes.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Theater Toolkit</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 1011J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Integrated Ordering, Web, and Affiliate Marketing Platform</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="284" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform-1024x284.jpg" alt="Theater Toolkit - Affiliate Marketing Platform" class="wp-image-115755" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform-1024x284.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform-300x83.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform-768x213.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform-1536x425.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform-1250x346.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform-400x111.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141020/Theater-Toolkit-Affiliate-Marketing-Platform.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.theatertoolkit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Theater Toolkit</a> is introducing expanded capabilities across its digital platform at CinemaCon, including a new affiliate marketing feature alongside enhancements to its <a href="https://www.theatertoolkit.com/food-and-beverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food and beverage</a> ordering and mobile commerce tools.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The <a href="https://www.theatertoolkit.com/benefits-and-features/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">upgraded platform</a> combines in-seat ordering, ticketing, and digital engagement into a unified system designed to streamline both operations and the customer journey. Its F&amp;B module enables guests to order directly from their seats via QR code, with integrated payment and real-time POS connectivity. This reduces manual order-taking and allows staff to manage larger seating areas more efficiently while maintaining service quality.</p>



<p>Theater Toolkit also offers a mobile-first website and app platform focused on improving ticket conversion. Features such as simplified checkout, integrated loyalty, and built-in upsell opportunities for concessions.</p>



<p>A new addition is affiliate program support, which enables cinemas to partner with influencers and third-party promoters through trackable links, incentives, and rewards. The feature allows operators to experiment with referral-driven marketing strategies while maintaining visibility into performance and customer acquisition.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Cinema operators are always looking to increase per-cap spending and improve conversion across digital channels, thus platforms that connect ordering, ticketing, and marketing into a single ecosystem are gaining traction in the market.</p>



<p>The addition of affiliate and influencer-driven marketing introduces a newer approach to audience acquisition, reflecting broader trends in how consumers discover and engage with entertainment. For exhibitors, this opens up additional channels to drive attendance beyond traditional email and loyalty programs.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Unique X</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <a href="mailto:sales@uniquex.com">Meetings by appointment</a></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>RosettaBridge TMS Upgrades</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="349" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141031/Unique-X-Rosetta-Bridge-Upgrades-1024x349.jpg" alt="Unique X - Rosetta Bridge Upgrades" class="wp-image-115758" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141031/Unique-X-Rosetta-Bridge-Upgrades-1024x349.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141031/Unique-X-Rosetta-Bridge-Upgrades-300x102.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141031/Unique-X-Rosetta-Bridge-Upgrades-768x262.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141031/Unique-X-Rosetta-Bridge-Upgrades-1250x426.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141031/Unique-X-Rosetta-Bridge-Upgrades-400x136.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141031/Unique-X-Rosetta-Bridge-Upgrades.jpg 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://uniquex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unique X</a> is highlighting ongoing enhancements to its <a href="https://uniquex.com/exhibitor-services/rosettabridge-tms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RosettaBridge Theatre Management System (TMS),</a> with recent updates focused on automation, energy management, and expanded integration with advertising and device control systems.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>RosettaBridge TMS is a theatre management platform designed to centralize cinema operations, including scheduling, playlist creation, and device monitoring. Integrated with <a href="https://uniquex.com/exhibitor-services/rosettanet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RosettaNet CMS</a>, it enables automated show and playlist workflows that reduce reliance on manual intervention.</p>



<p>Recent updates include support for programmatic advertising through real-time bidding (RTB) integrations, alongside expanded operational tools such as Eco power control, live energy monitoring, remote firmware updates, and automated issue detection during playback. Additional features provide improved visibility across sites, including device-level reporting, maintenance tracking, and enhanced integration with premium formats such as IMAX.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>For exhibitors operating at scale in multiple sites and formats, reducing manual workflows and improving system visibility have become key priorities. Platforms that automate scheduling, monitor equipment performance, and centralize control can help operators maintain consistency while reducing the risk of errors that impact presentation or uptime.</p>



<p>The addition of programmatic advertising integration also reflects a broader shift toward connecting cinema inventory with digital advertising channels, offering exhibitors new ways to manage and potentially monetize on-screen advertising within existing workflows.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Usheru</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <a href="https://usheru.com/meet-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meetings by appointment</a></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>MovieSite Campaign Platform</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="609" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite-1024x609.jpg" alt="Usheru - MovieSite" class="wp-image-115761" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite-1024x609.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite-300x178.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite-768x456.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite-1536x913.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite-1250x743.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite-400x238.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141043/Usheru-MovieSite.jpg 1617w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://usheru.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Usheru</a> is highlighting MovieSite at CinemaCon, a campaign platform designed to improve conversion from marketing engagement to ticket purchase.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong><a href="https://usheru.com/moviesite/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MovieSite</a> functions as a dedicated campaign destination that evolves alongside a film’s release cycle. In the lead-up to opening, it supports awareness and audience capture through trailers, content, and sign-ups. Once tickets are available, the experience shifts to prioritize showtimes and direct users to exhibitor ticketing sites, aligning with increased purchase intent.</p>



<p>The platform is supported by integrated analytics that track engagement and conversion in real time, providing studios and distributors with visibility into campaign performance. MovieSite can operate as a standalone destination or as part of Usheru’s broader Connect platform.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As theatrical marketing spans more channels and touchpoints, converting audience interest into ticket sales remains a persistent challenge. Tools that focus on the final step of the journey — connecting intent with purchase — can help improve the efficiency of marketing spend.</p>



<p>By adapting to audience behavior across the campaign lifecycle, platforms like MovieSite reflect a shift toward more performance-driven theatrical marketing, where success is measured not just by reach, but by conversion.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Venue Valet</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <a href="mailto:contact@venue-valet.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meetings by appointment</a></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>CallConnect Operations Management Platform with New Guest Experience Tools</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="672" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager-1024x672.jpg" alt="Venue Valet - VIP Budget Manager" class="wp-image-115764" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager-1024x672.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager-300x197.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager-768x504.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager-1536x1008.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager-1250x820.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager-400x262.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06141056/Venue-Valet-VIP-Budget-Manager.jpg 1800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://venue-valet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Venue Valet</a> is introducing several new features within its <a href="https://venue-valet.com/our-products/call-button-samples/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CallConnect</a> platform, including Seat Inventory tracking, Real-Time Survey Processing and VIP Budget Manager, all designed to enhance the guest experience by improving service responsiveness and operational visibility.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>CallConnect is an operations management platform that combines in-seat call buttons, mobile F&amp;B ordering and service requests, and real-time reporting into a single system for managing guest service. It aggregates data from ticketing POS, food and beverage POS, employee time management systems and staff activity to provide live visibility into service performance and areas of operational efficiency and focus.&nbsp;</p>



<p>New features extend this capability. Seat Inventory tracking allows staff to log and prioritize maintenance issues at the individual seat level to ensure the ideal guest experience at the seat, while real-time survey processing surfaces guest feedback as it is submitted as they exit the venue. A new VIP budgeting and guest reward tool enables operators to manage service-based compensation, such as concessions or return visits, within defined parameters, helping standardize how guests are rewarded for being loyal customers to ensure more repeat and satisfied guests.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As cinemas continue to invest in dine-in and premium formats, maintaining service quality at scale has become increasingly complex. Platforms that combine service requests, operational data, and guest feedback into a single system can help operators respond more quickly and consistently.The ability to identify issues at the seat level, act on guest feedback in real time, and standardize real-time VIP guest rewards reflects a broader shift toward more data-driven guest experience management — particularly in environments where service is a key part of the overall value proposition.</p>
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<p>Explore more in the <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">2026 CinemaCon Product Preview</a> series on Celluloid Junkie.</p>



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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/07/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-business-marketing-operational-platforms/">CinemaCon 2026 Product Preview: Business, Marketing &amp; Operational Platforms</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>CinemaCon Product Preview 2026: Concessions, Food &#038; Beverage</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-concessions-food-beverage/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cinemacon-product-preview-2026-concessions-food-beverage</link>
					<comments>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-concessions-food-beverage/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Concessions & Dining]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conferences & Trade Shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Concessions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food & beverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C. Cretors & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gold Medal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gold Medal Products Co.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon Product Preview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Licorice Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Frazil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freezing Point]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hershey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Hershey Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[J&J Snack Foods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mars Snacking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Bar USA]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=115696</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Concessions remain one of the most important drivers of revenue for cinema operators — [referring to my comment on the previous piece, maybe em-dash is just house style?]and one of the areas seeing the most visible evolution. At CinemaCon 2026, exhibitors are showcasing a mix of new products, formats, and service models designed to increase<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-concessions-food-beverage/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-concessions-food-beverage/">CinemaCon Product Preview 2026: Concessions, Food &amp; Beverage</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Concessions remain one of the most important drivers of revenue for cinema operators — [referring to my comment on the previous piece, maybe em-dash is just house style?]and one of the areas seeing the most visible evolution.</p>



<p>At CinemaCon 2026, exhibitors are showcasing a mix of new products, formats, and service models designed to increase per-cap spending while improving speed, consistency, and ease of execution. From limited-time offerings and brand partnerships to equipment and self-serve concepts, the focus is on creating compelling food and beverage experiences that align with changing consumer expectations.</p>



<p>The products in this section highlight how cinemas are expanding beyond traditional concession stands, introducing new menu options, flexible service models, and operational efficiencies that help maximize both revenue and guest satisfaction.</p>



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<p><strong>Sponsored by Vista Group</strong><br><em><em>This post is part of Celluloid Junkie’s 2026 CinemaCon Product Preview series, sponsored by <a href="https://vista.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vista Group</a>.</em></em></p>
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<div class="wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>American Licorice Company</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 320J</em></p>



<p><strong>Sour Punch Filled Straws — Blue Raz Lemonade (5oz Hanging Bag)</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="547" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124724/American-Licorice-Company-Sour-Punch-Straws-1024x547.jpg" alt="American Licorice Company - Sour Punch Straws" class="wp-image-115707" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124724/American-Licorice-Company-Sour-Punch-Straws-1024x547.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124724/American-Licorice-Company-Sour-Punch-Straws-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124724/American-Licorice-Company-Sour-Punch-Straws-768x410.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124724/American-Licorice-Company-Sour-Punch-Straws-1250x668.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124724/American-Licorice-Company-Sour-Punch-Straws-400x214.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124724/American-Licorice-Company-Sour-Punch-Straws.jpg 1449w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://americanlicorice.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Licorice Company</a> is introducing <a href="https://americanlicorice.com/our-brands/#sour-punch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sour Punch Filled Straws</a> in a Blue Raz Lemonade flavor, adding a filled format to its existing Sour Punch lineup.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The product combines a sour-coated straw candy with a flavored filling, packaged in a 5oz hanging bag designed for concession display and grab-and-go purchases.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>For exhibitors, novelty and flavor extensions remain key drivers of impulse concession sales. Products that build on familiar brands while introducing new formats can help refresh the candy mix without requiring major changes to merchandising.</p>



<p>The combination of a recognizable Sour Punch profile with a filled center offers a variation on a well-known product, giving cinemas an additional option to capture attention at the point of sale.</p>



<p><strong><strong>Sour Punch Sip-N-Chew — Blue Raspberry (Individually Wrapped)</strong></strong></p>



<p><strong>What’s New:</strong><strong><br></strong>American Licorice Company is also showcasing Sour Punch Sip-N-Chew, a new individually wrapped format designed for portability and portion control.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The product features blue raspberry Sour Punch straws packaged as individually wrapped pieces within a multi-pack format, allowing for easier distribution and on-the-go consumption.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Individually wrapped formats can provide exhibitors with more flexibility in how products are sold and bundled, particularly in environments where portability and sharing are factors. They also support alternative merchandising approaches, including combo integration or secondary placement outside traditional candy racks.</p>



<p>By adapting an established product into a more flexible format, Sip-N-Chew reflects a broader trend toward packaging that aligns with evolving consumption habits inside and outside the auditorium.</p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>C. Cretors &amp; Company</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 315J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Self-Serve Poppers &amp; Warmers (2 ft. &amp; 4 ft.)</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="532" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-1024x532.jpg" alt="Cretors - Self-Serve Poppers and Warmers" class="wp-image-115710" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-1024x532.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-300x156.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-768x399.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-1536x798.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-2048x1063.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-1250x649.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124742/Cretors-Self-Serve-Poppers-and-Warmers-400x208.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>As <a href="https://www.cretors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">C. Cretors and Company</a> marks its 140th year, the company is introducing new 2 ft. and 4 ft. self-serve poppers and warmers designed to support customer-led concessions while improving efficiency and sanitation in high-traffic environments.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong>The units feature a customer-controlled conveyor system that dispenses popcorn directly into containers, reducing the need for staff handling. An integrated recirculating conditioning system maintains consistent temperature and airflow to preserve freshness throughout the day. The poppers are available in multiple sizes, including <a href="https://www.cretors.com/product/12oz-t-3000-2ft-self-serve-popper/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">12 oz.</a> and <a href="https://www.cretors.com/product/32-oz-diplomat-4ft-self-serve-popper/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">32 oz.</a> kettle configurations, with warmer-only options also offered.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As operators look for ways to manage labor costs while maintaining service speed, self-serve formats are becoming a more viable option in concession areas. Systems that allow customers to serve themselves can help reduce staffing pressure while keeping lines moving during peak periods.</p>



<p>At the same time, limiting direct contact with food aligns with ongoing expectations around hygiene and cleanliness. For cinemas offering refills or high-volume popcorn sales, self-serve solutions provide a potential way to streamline operations without sacrificing product consistency.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Frazil (Freezing Point)</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 114J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Café Tango Frozen Coffee Program</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="432" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124611/Freezing-Point-Frazil-CafeTango-1024x432.jpg" alt="Freezing Point (Frazil) - CafeTango" class="wp-image-115702" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124611/Freezing-Point-Frazil-CafeTango-1024x432.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124611/Freezing-Point-Frazil-CafeTango-300x127.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124611/Freezing-Point-Frazil-CafeTango-768x324.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124611/Freezing-Point-Frazil-CafeTango-400x169.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124611/Freezing-Point-Frazil-CafeTango.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://frazil.com/frazil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frazil</a> is highlighting <a href="https://cafetangocoffee.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Café Tango</a>, a newer frozen coffee program and brand extension, at CinemaCon, expanding its beverage offering beyond traditional slush products into coffee-based drinks.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Café Tango is a frozen coffee platform featuring a range of flavors such as espresso, caramel macchiato, mocha, and seasonal varieties. The program is designed as a turnkey solution, with equipment, service, and product bundled together, allowing cinemas to introduce the offering without upfront capital investment. The beverages are dairy-free and designed for both concession and bar applications, including use in frozen cocktails.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As concession strategies evolve, exhibitors are looking beyond traditional soda and popcorn to higher-margin, specialty beverages. At the same time, consumer preferences, particularly among younger audiences, are shifting toward cold and frozen coffee drinks served throughout the day rather than limited to morning occasions .</p>



<p>Programs like Café Tango are positioned to address both trends, offering a category that can sit alongside existing concessions while also opening up opportunities in dine-in and bar environments. With a bundled deployment model and existing installations across multiple circuits, the approach lowers the barrier to entry for exhibitors looking to test and expand premium beverage offerings.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Gold Medal</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 709J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Dual Zone Elite Merchandiser</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="894" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124626/Gold-Medal-Dual-Zone-Elite-Merchandiser-1024x894.jpg" alt="Gold Medal - Dual Zone Elite Merchandiser" class="wp-image-115704" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124626/Gold-Medal-Dual-Zone-Elite-Merchandiser-1024x894.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124626/Gold-Medal-Dual-Zone-Elite-Merchandiser-300x262.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124626/Gold-Medal-Dual-Zone-Elite-Merchandiser-768x671.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124626/Gold-Medal-Dual-Zone-Elite-Merchandiser-400x349.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124626/Gold-Medal-Dual-Zone-Elite-Merchandiser.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.gmpopcorn.com/">Gold Medal</a> is introducing the Dual Zone Elite Merchandiser at CinemaCon, a concession display unit designed to hold and showcase multiple types of hot food within a single footprint.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The Dual Zone Elite Merchandiser is a glass-front display unit with two independently controlled temperature zones, allowing cinemas to hold different food items — such as popcorn, pizza, and hot sandwiches — in the same unit. The design supports both front-facing merchandising and rear access for restocking, making it suitable for high-traffic concession areas.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Grab-and-go food offerings are becoming more common at movie theatres, particularly in locations looking to increase throughput during peak periods. Equipment that can both hold and visually present a wider range of items can help support that shift.</p>



<p>By combining dual temperature control with a high-visibility display format, units like the Dual Zone Elite Merchandiser are positioned to help operators streamline service while encouraging impulse purchases, particularly in busy lobby environments where speed and visibility are closely linked.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>The Hershey Company</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 727J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Movie Exclusive Product Assortment</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="225" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124844/Hershey-Movie-Exclusive-Product-Assortment-1024x225.jpg" alt="Hershey - Movie Exclusive Product Assortment" class="wp-image-115713" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124844/Hershey-Movie-Exclusive-Product-Assortment-1024x225.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124844/Hershey-Movie-Exclusive-Product-Assortment-300x66.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124844/Hershey-Movie-Exclusive-Product-Assortment-768x169.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124844/Hershey-Movie-Exclusive-Product-Assortment-1250x274.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124844/Hershey-Movie-Exclusive-Product-Assortment-400x88.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124844/Hershey-Movie-Exclusive-Product-Assortment.jpg 1340w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="http://hersheyland.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hershey Company</a> is introducing a Movie Exclusive confectionery assortment at CinemaCon, timed to support an upcoming 2026 theatrical release of “<a href="https://stories.hersheypa.com/hershey-and-dandelion-media-to-unwrap-founders-story-in-upcoming-major-motion-picture-hershey-set-for-2026-release/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hershey</a>,” a major motion picture celebrating the authentic origin story and enduring legacy of one of America’s most iconic brands.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The offering brings together Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and Hershey’s Kisses in movie-exclusive packaging. The assortment is positioned as a cross-promotional product, linking established confectionery brands with a film centered on the company’s origin story.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Studios and concession partners continue to look for ways to extend film marketing into the theater environment. Themed or co-branded products allow operators to refresh well-known items without adding operational complexity, while creating promotional touchpoints that align with the release calendar and encourage incremental purchases.</p>



<p><strong>Sour Strips Rainbow Candy Peg Bag, 3.4oz</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="546" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124855/Hershey-Sour-Strips-Rainbow-1024x546.jpg" alt="Hershey - Sour Strips Rainbow" class="wp-image-115716" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124855/Hershey-Sour-Strips-Rainbow-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124855/Hershey-Sour-Strips-Rainbow-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124855/Hershey-Sour-Strips-Rainbow-768x410.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124855/Hershey-Sour-Strips-Rainbow-400x213.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124855/Hershey-Sour-Strips-Rainbow.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>Hershey is showcasing <a href="https://sourstrips.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sour Strips Rainbow Candy</a> in a 3.4oz peg bag format at CinemaCon, expanding its presence within cinema concession offerings.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The product features multi-flavored sour candy strips coated for a high-intensity sour profile, packaged in a peg bag format suitable for retail-style display and grab-and-go purchase.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Sour candy continues to perform strongly among younger audiences, particularly in formats that emphasize bold flavor and shareability. For cinemas, adding or rotating recognizable sour brands can help diversify confectionery offerings beyond traditional chocolate and support impulse purchases at the concession stand.</p>



<p>Products like Sour Strips reflect a broader trend toward more flavor-forward snack options that appeal to evolving consumer preferences.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>J&amp;J Snack Foods</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 418J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Limited Time Offer Concessions &amp; Branded Collaborations (ICEE, Dippin’ Dots)</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="267" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro-1024x267.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-115719" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro-1024x267.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro-300x78.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro-768x200.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro-1536x400.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro-1250x326.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro-400x104.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124911/J-and-J-Snack-Foods-LTO-Concessions-Mario-Bros.-ICEE-Sour-Patch-ICEE-Birthday-Cake-Churro.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.jjsnack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">J&amp;J Snack Foods</a> is showcasing a range of limited-time offerings (LTOs), branded collaborations, and new menu concepts at CinemaCon, spanning its ICEE, Dippin’ Dots, and foodservice snack portfolios.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The lineup includes cross-brand collaborations such as a Dippin’ Dots flavor developed with Dr Pepper, as well as movie-themed LTOs tied to upcoming releases, including Dippin’ Dots Galaxy Pop and ICEE “Star Powered” flavors inspired by the Super Mario franchise. Additional beverage concepts include customization options such as candy mix-ins and cream-based variations.</p>



<p>On the food side, J&amp;J is introducing new snackable items designed for concession environments, including Birthday Cake Flavored Filled Churro Bites and the SuperPretzel Protein Pretzel, alongside a cookie program that allows operators to bake fresh products on site.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Concession strategies are increasingly focused on creating novelty and variety through limited-time offerings and recognizable brand partnerships. These types of promotions can generate repeat visits and provide exhibitors with opportunities to refresh menus without permanently expanding SKU counts.</p>



<p>Customization and fresh-prepared options also reflect a broader shift toward more flexible, experience-driven concession programs, where variety and visual appeal play a larger role in driving guest engagement and incremental spend.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Mars Snacking</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 727J</em></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Skittles Gummies Fuego, Twix Bits &amp; M&amp;M’S Caramel POP’d</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="383" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124925/Mars-Snacking-MMS-Caramel-POPd-Twix-Bits-Skittles-Gummies-Fuego-1024x383.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-115722" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124925/Mars-Snacking-MMS-Caramel-POPd-Twix-Bits-Skittles-Gummies-Fuego-1024x383.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124925/Mars-Snacking-MMS-Caramel-POPd-Twix-Bits-Skittles-Gummies-Fuego-300x112.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124925/Mars-Snacking-MMS-Caramel-POPd-Twix-Bits-Skittles-Gummies-Fuego-768x287.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124925/Mars-Snacking-MMS-Caramel-POPd-Twix-Bits-Skittles-Gummies-Fuego-1250x468.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124925/Mars-Snacking-MMS-Caramel-POPd-Twix-Bits-Skittles-Gummies-Fuego-400x150.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06124925/Mars-Snacking-MMS-Caramel-POPd-Twix-Bits-Skittles-Gummies-Fuego.jpg 1500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.mars.com/">Mars</a> is bringing a range of new confectionery formats at CinemaCon, including <a href="https://www.skittles.com/skittles-gummies-fuego" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Skittles Gummies Fuego</a>, Twix Bits, and M&amp;M’S Caramel POP’d, each designed around evolving snacking preferences in theaters.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The lineup reflects a shift toward alternative textures and formats beyond traditional boxed candy. Skittles Gummies Fuego combines fruit flavors with a sweet-and-spicy profile, while Twix Bits reimagines the brand’s cookie-and-caramel structure in a smaller, poppable format. M&amp;M’S Caramel POP’d introduces a freeze-dried variation of the brand, creating a lighter, airy texture compared to standard offerings .</p>



<p>Together, these products emphasize portability, shareability, and varied textures, aligning with how audiences increasingly consume snacks during a cinema visit.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Concession trends continue to move toward formats that are easier to handle, share, and consume throughout a film. Bite-sized and lightweight products can reduce mess, improve convenience, and encourage repeat purchasing during a single visit.</p>



<p>By expanding beyond traditional formats, manufacturers are giving exhibitors more flexibility in how products are merchandised and positioned, particularly in grab-and-go environments where variety and visual differentiation can influence impulse decisions.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Smart Bar USA</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <a href="https://calendly.com/wc-smartbar/30min" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meetings by appointment</a></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Self-Serve Cocktail System with DraftServ Integration</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="687" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06132108/Smart-Bar-USA-DraftServ-1024x687.jpg" alt="Smart Bar USA - DraftServ" class="wp-image-115725" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06132108/Smart-Bar-USA-DraftServ-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06132108/Smart-Bar-USA-DraftServ-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06132108/Smart-Bar-USA-DraftServ-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06132108/Smart-Bar-USA-DraftServ-400x268.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06132108/Smart-Bar-USA-DraftServ.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.smartbarusa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smart Bar</a> is introducing a self-serve cocktail system at CinemaCon, developed in partnership with <a href="https://www.smartbarusa.com/draftserv" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DraftServ</a>, that allows cinemas to offer automated beverage service with controlled access and tracking.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The system enables guests to purchase drinks in advance — either online, at the concession stand, or through in-seat ordering — and access them at a self-serve station using a QR code, RFID, or barcode. Each transaction is tied to a predefined number of pours, allowing the system to track and limit usage based on what has been purchased.</p>



<p>By integrating with existing ordering workflows, the platform supports bundled offers (such as tickets combined with food and beverage), while also allowing staff to direct orders to self-service stations instead of preparing drinks manually.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Alcohol service in cinemas can be operationally complex, requiring staffing, infrastructure, and compliance controls. Systems that automate dispensing while maintaining oversight of each transaction offer a way to expand beverage programs without significantly increasing labor or buildout requirements.</p>



<p>Pre-purchasing and bundled offers also shift revenue earlier in the customer journey, while self-service options can help reduce peak-time congestion and improve throughput in high-traffic environments.</p>
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<p>Explore more in the <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">2026 CinemaCon Product Preview</a> series on Celluloid Junkie.</p>



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<p></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-concessions-food-beverage/">CinemaCon Product Preview 2026: Concessions, Food &amp; Beverage</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>CinemaCon Product Preview 2026: Ticketing &#038; Point of Sale Systems</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/05/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-ticketing-point-of-sale-systems/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=cinemacon-product-preview-2026-ticketing-point-of-sale-systems</link>
					<comments>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/05/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-ticketing-point-of-sale-systems/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:28:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences & Trade Shows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fandango]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Veezi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INDY Cinema Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[POSitive Cinema]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tapos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Agile Ticketing Solutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaCon Product Preview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CINEsync]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fandango1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Frank Mayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Omniterm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CinemaONE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ready Credit Corporation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=115633</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>At the center of every cinema operation is the transaction. From ticket sales and concessions to loyalty programs and subscriptions, point of sale systems have evolved far beyond their original role. Today’s platforms are increasingly cloud-based, integrated, filled with artificial intelligence and designed to support a wider range of business models — from traditional multiplexes<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/05/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-ticketing-point-of-sale-systems/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/05/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-ticketing-point-of-sale-systems/">CinemaCon Product Preview 2026: Ticketing &amp; Point of Sale Systems</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>At the center of every cinema operation is the transaction.</p>



<p>From ticket sales and concessions to loyalty programs and subscriptions, point of sale systems have evolved far beyond their original role. Today’s platforms are increasingly cloud-based, integrated, filled with artificial intelligence and designed to support a wider range of business models — from traditional multiplexes to dine-in cinemas and hybrid entertainment venues.</p>



<p>At CinemaCon 2026, exhibitors are showcasing systems that go beyond processing transactions, offering tools to manage customer relationships, streamline operations, and unlock new revenue opportunities.</p>



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<p><strong>Sponsored by Vista Group</strong><br><em><em>This post is part of Celluloid Junkie’s 2026 CinemaCon Product Preview series, sponsored by <a href="https://vista.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vista Group</a>.</em></em></p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Vista</strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Messina Suite — Vista Group Experience Room</em></p>



<p><strong>React</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="625" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React-1024x625.jpg" alt="Vista - React" class="wp-image-115636" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React-1024x625.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React-300x183.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React-768x469.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React-1536x938.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React-1250x763.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React-400x244.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06113318/Vista-React.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>Vista is showing off <a href="https://vista.co/cloud/digital-enablement/react">React</a>, its new pulse survey tool designed to capture real-time audience sentiment and intent, with an upcoming expansion into operational feedback covering areas such as facilities, service, and food and beverage.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>React collects feedback from moviegoers immediately after a screening, combining film ratings with forward-looking intent data based on upcoming releases. Feedback is captured through multiple touchpoints, including digital ticketing, email, and API integrations, and feeds directly into Vista’s cloud ecosystem.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>While exhibitors have access to large amounts of transactional data, understanding <em>why</em> audiences respond the way they do — and what they plan to see next — has been harder to capture in a structured, actionable way. React aims to close that gap by turning post-visit feedback into decision-making inputs, from scheduling and marketing to on-site operations.</p>



<p>Because it is integrated with Vista’s broader platform, including Movio EQ, the data can be activated quickly — allowing exhibitors to adjust campaigns, programming, and guest experience strategies based on real-time sentiment rather than historical reporting.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Veezi</strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 110J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Movie Mailer, Oneview &amp; Veezi Payments</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="546" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06114537/Veezi-Movie-Mailer-1024x546.jpg" alt="Veezi Movie Mailer" class="wp-image-115660" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06114537/Veezi-Movie-Mailer-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06114537/Veezi-Movie-Mailer-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06114537/Veezi-Movie-Mailer-768x410.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06114537/Veezi-Movie-Mailer-400x213.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06114537/Veezi-Movie-Mailer.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>Veezi is highlighting two recently released modules — <a href="https://www.veezi.com/features/movie-mailer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Movie Mailer</a> and <a href="https://www.veezi.com/features/reporting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oneview</a> — alongside its new embedded payments solution, Veezi Payments, as it expands its toolkit for independent exhibitors.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Movie Mailer is an automated showtime marketing tool designed to reduce manual workload, enabling cinemas to send branded weekly schedules directly to their mailing lists, integrated with Veezi’s programming system. Oneview, developed by parent company Vista Group, is a mobile app providing real-time visibility into key performance metrics such as admissions and revenue across one or multiple sites. Veezi Payments adds an embedded payments layer designed to handle transactions within the platform.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Independent cinemas often operate with limited staff and rely on tools that simplify operations while improving visibility over performance. Features like automated showtime marketing and real-time reporting support faster decision-making without adding complexity.</p>



<p>By combining these tools with an integrated payments solution, Veezi is positioning itself as a more complete, all-in-one platform for independents looking to manage both customer engagement and operational workflows within a single system.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Agile Ticketing Solutions</strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 1007J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong>Agile Platform Upgrades &#8211; iOS App &amp; VisualVenue Digital Signage</strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="670" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115422/Agile-Ticketing-iOS-and-Digital-Signage-1024x670.jpg" alt="Agile Ticketing - iOS and VisualVenue Digital Signage" class="wp-image-115666" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115422/Agile-Ticketing-iOS-and-Digital-Signage-1024x670.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115422/Agile-Ticketing-iOS-and-Digital-Signage-300x196.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115422/Agile-Ticketing-iOS-and-Digital-Signage-768x503.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115422/Agile-Ticketing-iOS-and-Digital-Signage-400x262.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115422/Agile-Ticketing-iOS-and-Digital-Signage.jpg 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.agiletix.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Agile Ticketing Solutions</a> is highlighting updates across its platform at CinemaCon, with a focus on its iOS app and VisualVenue digital signage tools as part of a broader push to strengthen direct audience engagement.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The Agile platform combines ticketing, digital engagement, and on-site experience tools. The iOS app extends the box office experience to mobile, allowing exhibitors to maintain a direct connection with ticket buyers, while VisualVenue uses digital signage to deliver targeted, visually driven content within the cinema environment.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As cinemas look to build stronger relationships with audiences beyond individual transactions, tools that connect pre-visit, on-site, and post-visit touchpoints are becoming increasingly important. Mobile apps and digital signage play complementary roles in that ecosystem — one enabling direct communication and purchasing, the other influencing behavior within the venue.</p>



<p>By bringing these elements together under a single platform, Agile is positioning itself around a more continuous view of the customer journey, with the goal of improving engagement, loyalty, and revenue opportunities over time.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>CINEsync</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Augustus Ballroom — Booth 2516A</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>AI-Driven Cinema Operations Upgrades</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-1024x576.jpg" alt="Cinesync - AI-Driven Cinema Operations Upgrades" class="wp-image-115669" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115432/Cinesync-AI-Driven-Cinema-Operations-Upgrades.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.cinesync.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CINEsync</a> is emphasizing its AI-driven capabilities at CinemaCon, alongside an expanded restaurant module designed to better support dine-in cinema operations.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>A cloud-based platform that integrates ticketing, concessions, marketing, loyalty, and analytics into a single system for cinema operators.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Many exhibitors still operate across multiple disconnected systems, particularly when managing both ticketing and food and beverage. By consolidating these functions — and layering in AI tools for scheduling, pricing, and recommendations — platforms like CINEsync aim to improve operational efficiency while helping cinemas better respond to audience demand and maximize revenue.</p>



<p>The platform also integrates with third-party providers including comScore, Numero, and MACCSBOX, as well as payment and ticketing partners, positioning it as a central operating layer for cinemas looking to streamline workflows and expand food and beverage offerings.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Fandango</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 935J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Fandango1</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="155" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-1024x155.jpg" alt="Fandango - Fandango1" class="wp-image-115663" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-1024x155.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-300x45.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-768x116.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-1536x233.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-2048x310.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-1250x189.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115406/Fandango-Fandango1-Screenshot-400x61.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong>Following its <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/fandango-to-operate-indy-cinema-group-following-versant-acquisition/">acquisition of INDY Cinema Group</a> in late 2025, Fandango is introducing <a href="https://indycinemagroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fandango1</a>, a rebranded and expanded operating platform that brings exhibitor tools under the broader Fandango ecosystem.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Fandango1 is a cloud-based system designed to manage core cinema operations, including ticketing, concessions, loyalty, marketing, and analytics. Built on INDY’s existing platform, it replaces multiple standalone systems with a unified infrastructure intended to support both independent cinemas and larger circuits. The platform is already in use across nearly 300 locations globally.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Cinema operators continue to look for ways to simplify increasingly complex technology stacks, thus platforms that consolidate operations into a single system are gaining traction. Meanwhile, access to audience data and direct consumer touchpoints is becoming more valuable.</p>



<p>By combining an exhibitor-focused platform with its existing consumer-facing business, Fandango is positioning itself at both ends of the moviegoing journey — from discovery and ticket purchase through to in-theater operations and post-visit engagement. That integration could offer exhibitors new ways to connect marketing, transactions, and customer data within a single ecosystem.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Frank Mayer</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 832J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong>Self-Service Cinema Kiosk Enhancements</strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="626" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115443/Frank-Mayer-Self-Service-Ticketing-Kiosk-1024x626.jpg" alt="Frank Mayer - Self Service Ticketing Kiosk" class="wp-image-115672" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115443/Frank-Mayer-Self-Service-Ticketing-Kiosk-1024x626.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115443/Frank-Mayer-Self-Service-Ticketing-Kiosk-300x184.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115443/Frank-Mayer-Self-Service-Ticketing-Kiosk-768x470.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115443/Frank-Mayer-Self-Service-Ticketing-Kiosk-400x245.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115443/Frank-Mayer-Self-Service-Ticketing-Kiosk.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.frankmayer.com/">Frank Mayer</a> is highlighting their custom self-service cinema kiosk solutions at CinemaCon, with a focus on flexible configurations and integrations designed to support a range of theater operations.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The kiosks are available in floor-standing, counter, and wall-mounted formats and can be customized to integrate with ticketing systems, POS platforms, payment devices, and loyalty programs. They support functions such as ticket purchasing, seat selection, mobile ticket pickup, and concessions ordering within a single interface.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Self-service continues to play a growing role in how cinemas manage peak traffic and staffing demands. Moving routine transactions out of the box office and concession counter can help reduce wait times while allowing staff to focus on guest-facing interactions.</p>



<p>For operators managing multiple locations, hardware that can be standardized while still adapting to different system configurations is also an important consideration. Solutions like Frank Mayer’s kiosks are designed to support that balance, combining deployment consistency with the flexibility to work across varied technology environments.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Omniterm</strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: <em>Julius Ballroom — Booth 426J</em></em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>AI Reporting &amp; Subscription Tools</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="338" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard-1024x338.jpg" alt="Omniterm - AI Dashboard" class="wp-image-115833" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard-1024x338.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard-300x99.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard-768x253.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard-1250x412.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard-400x132.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07104346/Omniterm-AI-Dashboard.jpg 1796w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://omniterm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Omniterm</a> is introducing new AI-driven reporting tools and subscription capabilities at CinemaCon, reflecting ongoing updates to its point-of-sale platform.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The platform now includes a natural language reporting feature within its cloud-based Online Sales Monitor, allowing users to generate reports, dashboards, and visualizations using conversational prompts. The system provides real-time visibility into ticketing and concession performance across locations, with customizable dashboards tailored to individual users.</p>



<p>Additional updates include subscription management tools designed to support recurring revenue programs across POS, kiosk, and online channels, as well as configurable rounding options for cash transactions and charitable donations.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Because cinemas are generating more operational data, the ability to access and interpret that information quickly is becoming increasingly important. Tools that simplify reporting, particularly those that reduce reliance on predefined reports, can help operators respond more effectively to changing demand.</p>



<p>At the same time, subscription models are gaining traction as exhibitors look for more predictable revenue streams and deeper customer relationships. Together, these updates reflect a broader shift toward POS platforms that support both data-driven decision-making and new forms of audience engagement.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>POSitive Cinema</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 127J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>CinemaONE Platform</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="242" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform-1024x242.jpg" alt="POSitive - CinemaONE Platform" class="wp-image-115678" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform-1024x242.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform-300x71.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform-768x182.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform-1536x364.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform-1250x296.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform-400x95.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115505/POSitive-CinemaONE-Platform.jpg 1800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://positivecinema.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">POSitive Cinema</a> is introducing CinemaONE at CinemaCon, a cloud-based cinema management platform designed specifically for independent and single-site operators.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:<br></strong><a href="https://cinemaone.app/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CinemaONE</a> brings together core cinema operations — including ticketing, concessions, scheduling, and reporting — within a single web-based interface. The platform is designed to be deployed quickly without the need for on-premise infrastructure, allowing operators to access real-time data and manage their business from any location.</p>



<p>It also includes integrated tools for websites, kiosks, and digital signage, enabling independent cinemas to maintain a consistent digital presence while managing both operations and customer touchpoints within one system.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>Independent cinemas often face the challenge of balancing limited resources with the need to operate modern, connected systems. Platforms that reduce setup complexity and consolidate essential functions can lower the barrier to adopting more advanced tools.</p>



<p>By focusing on speed of deployment and ease of use, solutions like CinemaONE reflect a broader shift toward more accessible technology for smaller operators — allowing them to implement capabilities that were previously limited to larger circuits.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Ready Credit Corporation</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 232J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Cash-to-Card Kiosk Enhancements</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="825" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115518/Ready-Credit-Kiosk-1024x825.jpg" alt="Ready Credit Corporation - Kiosk" class="wp-image-115681" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115518/Ready-Credit-Kiosk-1024x825.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115518/Ready-Credit-Kiosk-300x242.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115518/Ready-Credit-Kiosk-768x619.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115518/Ready-Credit-Kiosk-400x322.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115518/Ready-Credit-Kiosk.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://www.readycreditcorp.com/industries/cinema/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ready Credit</a> is highlighting incremental updates to its cash-to-card kiosk platform at CinemaCon, including SMS-based receipts, expanded language support, and increased cash-handling capacity.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>Ready Credit’s kiosks convert cash into prepaid debit cards that can be used throughout a cinema, allowing operators to reduce or eliminate cash handling at points of sale while still accommodating cash-paying guests.</p>



<p>Recent updates include text-based receipt and balance-check options, touchscreen enhancements with additional language support, and hardware upgrades that increase bill acceptance capacity within each kiosk.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>As cinemas continue to move toward cashless operations, maintaining accessibility for cash-paying guests remains an important consideration. Cash-to-card systems offer a transitional approach, enabling operators to reduce the operational complexity and security risks associated with handling cash while still supporting a broader range of payment preferences.</p>



<p>Incremental improvements to these systems — particularly around usability and capacity — can help streamline the guest experience while further reducing back-of-house workload for theatre staff.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong><strong>TAPOS</strong></strong></strong></strong></h3>



<p><em>Location: Julius Ballroom — Booth 821J</em></p>



<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Expanded F&amp;B and CRM Platform</strong></strong></strong></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="215" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115526/Tapos-Expanded-FB-and-CRM-Platform-1024x215.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-115684" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115526/Tapos-Expanded-FB-and-CRM-Platform-1024x215.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115526/Tapos-Expanded-FB-and-CRM-Platform-300x63.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115526/Tapos-Expanded-FB-and-CRM-Platform-768x161.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115526/Tapos-Expanded-FB-and-CRM-Platform-400x84.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06115526/Tapos-Expanded-FB-and-CRM-Platform.jpg 1099w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What’s New:<br></strong><a href="https://taposapp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TAPOS</a> is expanding its platform with enhanced <a href="https://taposapp.com/cinema-solutions/cinema-operations/cinema-pos-food-beverage-fb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food and beverage (F&amp;B)</a> and <a href="https://taposapp.com/cinema-solutions/cinema-operations/marketing-crm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">customer relationship management (CRM)</a> capabilities, reflecting a shift toward more complex dine-in operations and data-driven marketing strategies.</p>



<p><strong>What It Is:</strong><strong><br></strong>The updated F&amp;B module extends beyond traditional concessions to support full-service restaurant and bar operations within cinemas. Features such as split checks, tipping workflows, and complex menu configurations are now built directly into the system, alongside QR code ordering from seats, text notifications for order pickup, and integrated online and kiosk ordering. These capabilities are supported by a unified inventory system, allowing operators to manage both concessions and full-service dining without relying on separate third-party platforms.</p>



<p>On the marketing side, TAPOS has introduced a more advanced segmentation approach through its CRM tools. Using what the company describes as a “Waterfall” model, operators can target specific customer groups based on behavior, preferences, and visit history. Campaigns can be tailored dynamically — for example, sending different promotions to frequent guests, genre-specific audiences, or lapsed customers — enabling more precise outreach than traditional mass messaging.</p>



<p><strong>Why It Matters:</strong><strong><br></strong>More and more, POS systems are evolving into broader operational platforms that support both F&amp;B complexity and customer engagement. Solutions that combine transaction management with integrated marketing tools can help cinemas better monetize dine-in offerings while improving the effectiveness of promotional efforts.</p>



<p>By consolidating these capabilities into a single system, platforms like TAPOS aim to reduce operational friction while giving operators more control over both the guest experience and repeat visitation.</p>
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<p>Explore more in the <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/06/cinemacon-2026-product-preview-whats-shaping-the-cinema-business/">2026 CinemaCon Product Preview</a> series on Celluloid Junkie.</p>



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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/04/05/cinemacon-product-preview-2026-ticketing-point-of-sale-systems/">CinemaCon Product Preview 2026: Ticketing &amp; Point of Sale Systems</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>Berlinale 2026: Political Strife, Homegrown Success Stories and An Uncertain Future</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/02/25/berlinale-2026-political-strife-homegrown-success-stories-and-an-uncertain-future/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=berlinale-2026-political-strife-homegrown-success-stories-and-an-uncertain-future</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Mottram]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:40:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Film Festivals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Berlinale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EFM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[European Film Market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tricia Tuttle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[berlinale 2026]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[76th berlinale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[İlker Çatak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Loneliest Man in Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sandra Hüller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Golden Bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Silver Bear]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=114946</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>With near Arctic conditions leaving Berlin covered in a blanket of snow and ice, the 76th Berlin Film Festival took place between 12th and 22nd February. But the chill winds really came from another direction, as a controversy-tinged festival saw organisers plunged into geopolitical debates. As festival head Tricia Tuttle delivered her second full line-up,<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/02/25/berlinale-2026-political-strife-homegrown-success-stories-and-an-uncertain-future/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/02/25/berlinale-2026-political-strife-homegrown-success-stories-and-an-uncertain-future/">Berlinale 2026: Political Strife, Homegrown Success Stories and An Uncertain Future</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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<p>With near Arctic conditions leaving Berlin covered in a blanket of snow and ice, the 76<sup>th</sup> Berlin Film Festival took place between 12th and 22nd February. But the chill winds really came from another direction, as a controversy-tinged festival saw organisers plunged into geopolitical debates. As festival head Tricia Tuttle delivered her second full line-up, an engaging selection that spanned the main competition and multiple sidebars, we reflect on five hot topics from this year’s Berlinale.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>The Calendar’s Most Political Festival Heated Up</strong><br>Berlin has always been known for its passionate selection of politically-oriented movies. Yet things all blew up on the first day at the jury press conference, when a journalist asked a question about the festival’s stance on Gaza. Jury president, filmmaker Wim Wenders, replied that filmmakers “have to stay out of politics because if we make movies that are dedicatedly political, we enter the field of politics.”</p>



<p>It was a triggering statement for Booker Prize-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy, who was due to present the 1989 campus comedy “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,” which she wrote and was set to be screened as part of the Classics section. Pulling out of the festival, Roy called the “unconscionable” statements “jaw-dropping,” adding, “What has happened in Gaza, what continues to happen, is a genocide of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel.”</p>



<p>It left the festival with a firefight on its hands, as Tuttle was forced to come out with a statement, remarking “artists should not be expected to speak on every political issue raised to them”. As a result, more than 100 former Berlin alumni, including Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem, signed an open letter accusing the Berlinale of “censoring artists who oppose Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the German state’s key role in enabling it.”</p>



<p>Two years ago, the festival was accused of censoring filmmakers who took to the stage to voice opinions about Palestine. Evidently distressed by this furore overriding her team’s tireless work, Tuttle later pointed out to The Hollywood Reporter: “There has also been, for two years, a campaign that takes truths, or half-truths, about the Berlinale and weaponizes these half-truths to try to make a point and provoke conversation and statements.” You can expect this to rumble on.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>German and Austrian Films Had a Strong Showing</strong><br>All hail the German revolution. This year saw the return of German director İlker Çatak, who premiered his film “The Teacher’s Lounge” at the festival three years ago, before it went on to gain an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature in 2024. This time, he delivered “Yellow Letters” – and walked away with the Golden Bear, marking the first time a German film had taken the top prize since Fatih Akin’s “Head-On” in 2004. The story of a left-of-centre Turkish couple living in Ankara, whose lives come under scrutiny from the state, “Yellow Letters” certainly struck a chord with the jury. “We saw your film as a terrifying premonition, a look into the near future that could happen in our countries as well,” noted jury head Wenders.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While “Yellow Letters” was warmly accepted by reviewers, the critical favourite was surely “Rose,” which was top of the grid in Screen International’s grading of the competition films, as voted for by a selection of key critics. The film comes directed by Markus Schleinzer, who first came to attention with his 2011 debut “Michael,” inspired by the real story of a child molester. Likewise, the black-and-white historical drama “Rose” is a story built out from reality – based on several accounts of 17<sup>th</sup> century women who passed themselves off as men. Sandra Hüller, who starred in two of the great films of 2023, “The Zone of Interest” and “Anatomy of a Fall,” was superb as the title character – and duly won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance, playing a woman who disguises herself as a man and returns to a village to lay claim to a dilapidated farmstead.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Towards the end of the second week arrived “The Loneliest Man in Town,” a Vienna-set story co-directed by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel. A droll comedy-drama, it told the story of an aging man living alone in a building that is in the process of being demolished. Played by real blues guitarist Alois Koch (stage name Al Cook), who is effectively playing a version of himself, in a story that cunningly skates between documentary and fiction, our hero is forced to reassess his life – and reaffirms his dream of playing the blues in the Mississippi Delta.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>The only disappointment was “Home Stories”, by Eva Trobisch (“All Is Well”). Set in the southeastern town of Greiz in the Thuringia region of Germany, this multi-generational family portrait was somewhat scattershot. Largely focused on 16-year-old Lea (Frida Hornemann) who wins a place on a national TV show – something similar to “America’s Got Talent” – it never kept audience interest in the other strands of the story. </p>


<div id="aesop-gallery-115135-1"  class="aesop-component aesop-gallery-component alignfull aesop-thumbnail-gallery-wrap    " ><div id="aesop-thumb-gallery-115135" class="fotorama" 	data-transition="slide"
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																			data-nav=thumbs																			data-allow-full-screen="native"
																			data-click="true"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/25063243/Yellow-Letters.jpg" data-caption="Ilker Çatak&#039;s &quot;Yellow Letters&quot; (&quot;Gelbe Briefe&quot;) won the Golden Bear award for best film at Berlinale 2026. (Photo credit: © Ella Knorz_ifProductions_Alamode Film)" alt="Yellow Letters (Gelbe Briefe)"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/25063252/Rose.jpg" data-caption="Sandra Hüller won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for her role in &quot;Rose&quot;.  (Photo credit: © 2026_Schubert, ROW Pictures, Walker+Worm Film, Gerald Kerkletz)" alt="Sandra Hüller in &quot;Rose&quot;"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/25063302/The-Loneliest-Man-in-Town.jpg" data-caption="Alois Koch (aka Al Cook) plays a fictionalised version of himself in &quot;The Loneliest Man in Town&quot;, in which a blues musician is forced to leave his home (Photo credit: © Vento Film)" alt="The Loneliest Man in Town, starring Al Cook as a fictionalized version of himself."><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/25063311/Home-stories.jpg" data-caption="&quot;Home Stories&quot; (Etwas ganz Besonderes) was one of the festival&#039;s disappointments. (Photo credit: © Adrian Campean / Trimafilm)" alt="Home Stories, which played at Berlinale 2026"></div></div>



<p>Beyond the main competition, the annual Face to Face event, held at the Ritz Carlton hotel, introduced new stars of German cinema. Among them, cinematographer Lotta Kilian, who shot the excellent Far Right legal drama “Prosecution” and Anna Roller, the director of “Allegro Pastell,” the story of a long-distance relationship, with both films screening in Panorama. In a festival where German movies often feel like they’re making up the numbers, this year was a good showing.</p>



<p><strong>Sundance Shone</strong><br>It can’t be easy programming a major film festival that arrives in February. Most directors, producers or production companies would, presumably, like to keep their powder dry in the hope they get selected for Cannes. And then the Berlinale often loses any American world premieres to Sundance, which unfurled in late January. Still this year, Berlin wisely didn’t ignore Sundance and was much stronger for it.</p>



<p>In competition, Beth de Araújo brought her wonderful drama “Josephine,” starring Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan as parents of the titular 8-year-old girl, who witnesses a sexual assault whilst out running in a park with her father. Scooping up two major awards in Sundance – the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award – the jury left it alone here, but it surely will re-appear in the awards season that kicks off next autumn.</p>



<p>In the Berlinale Special Gala section, Padraic McKinley’s “The Weight” also screened after its Sundance unveiling, bringing Ethan Hawke back to the festival for the second year in a row after his (now Oscar-nominated) turn in “Blue Moon.” A scorching Oregon-set survivalist drama, “The Weight” casts Hawke as a father sent to a labour camp who undertakes a perilous journey to reunite with his daughter. In the same strand, Noah Segan’s faultless indie “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” was also selected, starring John Turturro as a light-fingered thief who works the streets to keep him, and his gravely ill wife, afloat.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And Berlin didn’t miss out on the chance to bring British musician Charli XCX to the festival with her mock-documentary “The Moment,” directed by Aidan Zamiri. Playing in Panorama after the film first screened in Sundance, this swipe at Charli’s own success with her “Brat” album was undeniably one of the festival’s hot tickets. The queue to get into the press conference alone ran the length of the Hyatt hotel, where much of the festival’s activities take place.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>EFM Activity, As Buyers Remained Bullish</strong><br>Just a few hundred metres from the Berlinale Palast, the European Film Market got underway between 12<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> February. Situated in the enormous Gropius Bau, Tuttle called this hive of activity “a must-attend market [that brings] tens of thousands of professionals from over 130 countries to Berlin during the festival each year.” Insiders predicted this could be the busiest market since the Covid pandemic, with a 5% increase in participants, as more than 12,500 film professionals attended and 606 films were screened. As the buyers pitched up early, hot titles included StudioCanal’s “The Custom Of The Country,” starring Sydney Sweeney, and mk2’s “Fonda,” starring Mia Goth and Andrew Scott – which marks the new film from “Anatomy of a Fall” writer/director Justine Triet.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This year also included several innovations, including the first edition of EFM Animation Days, a three-day programme designed to bring together creatives, producers, financiers and studios from the animation universe to pitch and network. Meanwhile, EFM Beyond was established to bring together film, animation, gaming and other sectors for workshops and networking. The inaugural Berlinale Film School Summit was also launched, bringing together producers and directors from the top international film schools for a summit that allowed them to exchange ideas and meet peers from around the globe.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>The Future Remains Uncertain</strong><br>Despite all of the positives in the EFM and the official selection, there was a cloud hovering. Before this year’s Berlinale began, Tuttle sounded a warning bell. Speaking to the Berlin Senate’s committee for Federal and European Affairs, she suggested that while the budget was in good shape for the 2026, next year and beyond was more muddied. “We will almost certainly have to think about cost-cutting in 2027 and 2028,” she stated. Like any good festival, the Berlinale has been seeking sponsorship and partners to stem any chance of future budget cuts. As Tuttle told the Berlin Senate, “We are not sitting back and waiting for you to hand us money.” But, of course, in this fragile time for cinemas, it would be disheartening if one of the major festivals in the calendar was forced to cut back.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/02/25/berlinale-2026-political-strife-homegrown-success-stories-and-an-uncertain-future/">Berlinale 2026: Political Strife, Homegrown Success Stories and An Uncertain Future</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>As Sundance Says Goodbye to Park City, Its Films Look Forward</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/01/21/as-sundance-says-goodbye-to-park-city-its-films-look-forward/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=as-sundance-says-goodbye-to-park-city-its-films-look-forward</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[J. Sperling Reich]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:48:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Film Festivals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sundance Film Festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Park City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robert Redford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Colorado]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Utah]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kogonada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boulder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salt Lake City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethan Hawke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sentient]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Levitating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ha-chan Shake Your Booty!]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Wain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Macon Blair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Shitheads]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Gallerist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cathy Yan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charli XCX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Moment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Duplass]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gregg Araki]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[I Want Your Sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[See You When I See You]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Lake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Abby Ellis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The History of Concrete]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Wilson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dawn Porter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Give Me the Ball!]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Once Upon a Time in Harlem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Access]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=114436</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>There’s a particular rhythm to January in Park City that only Sundance people really understand. The crunch of snow under boots that aren’t meant for ice. The quiet panic of realizing you’ve misjudged travel time between venues by at least fifteen minutes. The oddly comforting sight of volunteers in parkas, radiating a kind of calm<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/01/21/as-sundance-says-goodbye-to-park-city-its-films-look-forward/">Read More</a></p>
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<p>There’s a particular rhythm to January in Park City that only <a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/tag/sundance-film-festival/?post_type=wire">Sundance</a> people really understand. The crunch of snow under boots that aren’t meant for ice. The quiet panic of realizing you’ve misjudged travel time between venues by at least fifteen minutes. The oddly comforting sight of volunteers in parkas, radiating a kind of calm competence that suggests everything will be fine, even when it clearly won’t be.</p>



<p>In 2026, that rhythm plays out one last time.</p>



<p>This year’s <a href="https://festival.sundance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sundance Film Festival</a> arrives carrying more meaning than usual. It’s the final edition to take place in Park City, Utah — a town that, for better or worse, became inseparable from the festival’s identity. It’s also the first Sundance without its founder, Robert Redford, whose belief in independent voices helped transform a regional event into one of the most influential cultural institutions in American film.</p>



<p>There’s no way around it: Sundance 2026 will feel different when it commences on 22 January. But not in the way people might expect.</p>



<p>Despite the temptation to frame this year as an extended goodbye tour, the festival itself doesn’t seem particularly interested in wallowing in nostalgia (though it has programmed a small retrospective of its past award winners). Instead, Sundance is doing what it has always done best — turning outward, engaging with the present, and quietly setting the terms for what comes next.</p>



<p>If anything, this lineup feels like a reminder that Sundance was never really about a place. Park City was the backdrop. The films were always the point.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="562" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141604/Gail-Daughtry-and-the-Celebrity-Sex-Pass-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival.jpg" alt="Zoey Deutch, John Slattery, Ken Marino, Miles Gutierrez-Riley and Ben Wang appear in &quot;Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass&quot; by David Wain, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival." class="wp-image-114451" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141604/Gail-Daughtry-and-the-Celebrity-Sex-Pass-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival.jpg 1000w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141604/Gail-Daughtry-and-the-Celebrity-Sex-Pass-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141604/Gail-Daughtry-and-the-Celebrity-Sex-Pass-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141604/Gail-Daughtry-and-the-Celebrity-Sex-Pass-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-400x225.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zoey Deutch, John Slattery, Ken Marino, Miles Gutierrez-Riley and Ben Wang appear in Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass by David Wain, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Narrative Films That Don’t Look Away</strong><br>At its best, Sundance is a festival of mirrors; films that reflect the anxieties, contradictions, and blind spots of their moment, sometimes warped, sometimes brutally clear.</p>



<p>That instinct runs powerfully through Sundance’s narrative cinema, where fiction isn’t used as escape but as a way of processing the world in real time. Over the years, the festival’s narrative selections have often been as socially engaged as its documentaries, simply operating through metaphor, character, and tone rather than direct address.</p>



<p>In recent years, that engagement has increasingly taken on an international shape, and Sundance 2026 leans fully into that evolution. This year’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition lineup spans Nigeria, Greece, the Philippines, Israel, and New Zealand; less as a curatorial statement than as an acknowledgment of where independent filmmaking energy currently resides.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141541/Levitating-21026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg" alt="Angga Yunanda appears in &quot;Levitating (Para Perasuk)&quot; by Wregas Bhanuteja, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. " class="wp-image-114445" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141541/Levitating-21026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141541/Levitating-21026-Sundance-Film-Festival-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141541/Levitating-21026-Sundance-Film-Festival-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141541/Levitating-21026-Sundance-Film-Festival-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141541/Levitating-21026-Sundance-Film-Festival.jpg 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Angga Yunanda appears in &#8220;Levitating (Para Perasuk)&#8221; by Wregas Bhanuteja, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. <em>(Photo: Tri Ratna &#8211; Courtesy of Sundance Institute)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>One of the more transporting entries is “Levitating,” an Indonesian film that drops audiences into the rarely depicted world of shamanic trance parties, where participants channel spirit animals through music, dance, and ritual. It sounds surreal — and it is — but the film grounds its strangeness in recognizably human stakes: love, competitiveness, and the pressures of forced migration.</p>



<p>That same willingness to immerse audiences in unfamiliar worlds runs through several other standout narrative selections, such as NEXT. In “zi,” filmmaker Kogonada returns to Sundance with an elliptical, sci-fi–inflected meditation following a Hong Kong woman who begins encountering her future self over the course of a single night. Less concerned with mechanics than mood, the film explores dislocation, memory, and choice with a quiet confidence that trusts the audience to lean in.</p>



<p>In the U.S. Dramatic competition, “Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty!” brings the festival into Tokyo’s competitive ballroom dance scene, where grief, desire, and reinvention collide. What begins as a character study gradually opens into something more joyful and kinetic, using dance as both metaphor and release valve.</p>



<p>What unites these films isn’t geography or genre, but a shared belief that specificity is strength. Sundance has long been a place where filmmakers are encouraged not to universalize prematurely — to tell the story in front of them first and trust that meaning will travel.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141553/Ha-Chan-Shake-Your-Booty-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg" alt="&quot;Ha-chan Shake Your Booty&quot; by Josef Kubota Wladyka, is an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival." class="wp-image-114448" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141553/Ha-Chan-Shake-Your-Booty-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141553/Ha-Chan-Shake-Your-Booty-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141553/Ha-Chan-Shake-Your-Booty-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141553/Ha-Chan-Shake-Your-Booty-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141553/Ha-Chan-Shake-Your-Booty-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival.jpg 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Ha-chan Shake Your Booty&#8221; by Josef Kubota Wladyka, is an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. <em>(Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Comedy, too, emerges as an unexpected through-line this year. That may sound counterintuitive given the state of the world, but Sundance has always understood humor as a survival mechanism rather than an escape hatch. Buzz has already started building around “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” from director David Wain, perhaps about a married couple who decide to use their titular passes. Macon Blair brings “The Shitheads” to the Premieres, a comedy about transporting a rich teen to rehab. Hijinks ensue.</p>



<p>Many of the festival’s comedies find laughter in grief, absurdity in systems that no longer function, and catharsis in saying the quiet part out loud. It’s a reminder that Sundance has never been comfortable with easy tonal binaries. Films here are rarely just one thing. They’re funny and sad. Angry and hopeful. Messy and sincere.</p>



<p><strong>Stars, Spectacle, and the Sundance Equation</strong><br>That balance between reflection and reinvention is also where Sundance’s relationship with star power comes into focus.</p>



<p>Despite its indie bona fides, Sundance has never existed in opposition to recognizable faces. In fact, part of its enduring appeal lies in its ability to place familiar performers inside unfamiliar stories — often to surprising effect. Actors come to Sundance not to repeat themselves, but to recalibrate, to take risks that wouldn’t survive in more risk-averse environments.</p>



<p>That recalibration is especially evident in “The Gallerist,” directed by Cathy Yan and starring Natalie Portman, which places its characters inside the rarefied and ruthless machinery of the contemporary art world. Centered on a gallery owner desperate for relevance ahead of Art Basel Miami, the film uses dark comedy to interrogate taste-making, influence, and moral compromise — themes that feel particularly at home at Sundance.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141631/The-Gallerist-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-114460" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141631/The-Gallerist-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141631/The-Gallerist-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141631/The-Gallerist-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141631/The-Gallerist-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141631/The-Gallerist-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival.jpg 1100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega appear in &#8220;The Gallerist&#8221; by Cathy Yan, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. <em>(Photo: MRC II Distribution Company &#8211; Courtesy of Sundance Institute)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Meanwhile, Charli XCX isn’t “crossing over” into film so much as curating her screen identity in real time, appearing across multiple Sundance titles — including the self-reflexive mockumentary “The Moment” — in ways that collapse the distance between pop stardom, authorship, and performance. Elsewhere, Olivia Wilde arrives at Sundance not just as an actor, but as a filmmaker reasserting creative control, premiering a tightly wound chamber drama in “The Invite” while also embracing provocation in Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex.” For longtime Sundance fixtures like Ethan Hawke and Jay Duplass, returning with projects like “The Weight” and “See You When I See You” respectively, the festival once again serves as a space for reinvention rather than validation — a place where careers aren’t only launched but also recalibrated, or quietly redirected.</p>



<p>That tension — between discovery and expectation, between commerce and craft — has always been Sundance’s tightrope. It’s also why the festival continues to matter in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.</p>



<p><strong>A Festival That Changes Things (Sometimes Without Asking Permission)</strong><br>If Sundance’s narrative films explore the world through metaphor and character, there’s another side of the festival that has always dealt in stark reality.</p>



<p>One of Sundance’s most enduring legacies is its relationship with documentary cinema, not simply as a showcase, but as a catalyst. Over the years, the festival has premiered nonfiction films that didn’t merely win awards, but actively entered the cultural bloodstream.</p>



<p>“Super Size Me” changed how Americans talked about fast food. “An Inconvenient Truth” shifted the mainstream conversation around climate change. “American Factory” offered a ground-level look at globalization’s human cost. More recently, “20 Days in Mariupol” helped reframe the war in Ukraine for audiences far removed from the conflict.</p>



<p>And then there are the documentaries that create consequences.</p>



<p>In 2013, “Blackfish” arrived at Sundance as a tightly constructed investigation into captive orcas. What followed was something far rarer: a documentary that didn’t just provoke outrage, but contributed to measurable change. SeaWorld eventually ended its orca breeding program and the theatrical exploitation of killer whales. That outcome wasn’t guaranteed — but Sundance gave the film the visibility, credibility, and momentum it needed to matter.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141622/Sentient-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg" alt="A still from &quot;Sentient&quot; by Tony Jones, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival." class="wp-image-114457" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141622/Sentient-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141622/Sentient-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141622/Sentient-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141622/Sentient-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141622/Sentient-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A still from &#8220;Sentient&#8221; by Tony Jones, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. <em>(Photo: Lisa Jones Engel &#8211; Courtesy of Sundance Institute)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>That tradition continues in 2026 with “Sentient,” a documentary that peers into a world most people would rather not see: the widespread use of animals in laboratory testing and research. It’s an uncomfortable film by design, less interested in shock than in sustained moral pressure. The question it poses is simple and devastating: now that we know more, why do we continue as before?</p>



<p>That urgency carries across several other nonfiction selections. “The Lake,” from director Abby Ellis, is an urgent film programmed in the U.S. Documentary competition that hits close to home for Sundance, as it follows two scientists and a political operative as they race to save the Great Salt Lake from a catastrophic ecological disaster. “When a Witness Recants,” directed by Dawn Porter, revisits a decades-old miscarriage of justice rooted in coerced testimony, examining not just institutional failure but the long shadow such cases cast over entire communities.</p>



<p>At the other end of the spectrum, “The History of Concrete” from filmmaker John Wilson transforms the ostensibly mundane into something quietly revelatory. Using the built environment as a lens, the film explores modern life, capitalism, and the strange systems we take for granted. It’s a reminder that Sundance documentaries don’t always shout — sometimes they sidestep, observe, and let meaning accumulate.</p>



<p><strong>Looking Back to See Forward</strong><br>For all its urgency, Sundance has never been allergic to history. Some of the festival’s most beloved documentaries are explicitly backward-looking, yet deeply relevant to their moment.</p>



<p>“Man on Wire” wasn’t just about a daring high-wire act, it was about obsession, artistry, and risk. “Searching for Sugar Man” used archival mystery to interrogate fame and authorship. “Summer of Soul” resurrected a lost cultural moment while forcing a reckoning with why it disappeared in the first place.</p>



<p>The 2026 lineup continues that tradition with films that examine the past as something alive rather than settled.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141612/Give-Me-The-Ball-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg" alt="Billie Jean King appears in &quot;Give Me the Ball!&quot; by Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival." class="wp-image-114454" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141612/Give-Me-The-Ball-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141612/Give-Me-The-Ball-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141612/Give-Me-The-Ball-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141612/Give-Me-The-Ball-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21141612/Give-Me-The-Ball-2026-Sundance-Film-Festival.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Billie Jean King appears in &#8220;Give Me the Ball!&#8221; by Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. <em>(Photo: Ellen Griesedieck &#8211; Courtesy of Sundance Institute)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>“Give Me the Ball!” revisits the career and cultural impact of Billie Jean King, not as a victory lap, but as an exploration of how one athlete helped reshape the conversation around gender, power, and fairness in sports — debates that remain unresolved today.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, “Once Upon a Time in Harlem” resurrects long-unseen footage from a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance figures at Duke Ellington’s apartment. What emerges is less a history lesson than a living conversation, artists reflecting on legacy while unknowingly creating it in real time. That’s especially true of “Public Access,” which delves into New York City&#8217;s cable television archives to document an era of underground creators defying censors raising questions about free-speech which persist to this day.</p>



<p>These films don’t treat history as a museum exhibit. They use it as a tool — one that helps decode the present rather than escape from it.</p>



<p><strong>Saying Goodbye to a Place (Without Romanticizing It)</strong><br>There’s no denying that Park City will be missed, more for its unique setting than the ever-rising cost of attending the festival.</p>



<p>The Egyptian Theatre. The Eccles. The Ray. The strange alchemy of bumping into filmmakers, executives, and critics while waiting for coffee. The sense that, for 10 days, a small mountain town became the center of the independent film universe.</p>



<p>But it’s also true that Sundance outgrew Park City years ago. The logistical challenges became part of the mythology, but they were still challenges — limited housing, transportation bottlenecks, and accessibility issues that disproportionately affected emerging filmmakers and marginalized voices.</p>



<p><a href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/sundance-institute-announces-boulder-colorado-as-the-new-home-for-the-sundance-film-festival-beginning-in-2027/">The move to Boulder, Colorado for the 2027 edition</a>, represents change — but not abandonment. Sundance didn’t start in Park City, and its identity was never meant to be fixed in place. What matters is not the zip code, but the commitment to fostering independent voices and creating a space where risk is rewarded rather than punished.</p>



<p>In that sense, Sundance 2026 feels less like an ending than a transitional moment.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="619" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014-1024x619.jpg" alt="Sarah Lewis, Robert Redford, and Dave Eggers during the “Exploratory Detours” panel at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. " class="wp-image-114463" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014-1024x619.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014-300x181.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014-768x464.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014-1536x928.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014-1250x755.jpg 1250w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014-400x242.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/21143712/Robert-Redford-at-Sundance-Film-Festival-2014.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sarah Lewis, Robert Redford, and Dave Eggers during the “Exploratory Detours” panel at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. <em>(Photo: Ryan Johnson &#8211; Courtesy of Sundance Institute)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The Redford Question</strong><br>It would be impossible to write about this year’s festival without acknowledging the absence of one of its founders, Robert Redford. His influence is everywhere, not just in archival screenings or institutional tributes, but in the very idea that independent film deserves infrastructure, mentorship, and visibility.</p>



<p>What’s striking, though, is how little the festival seems interested in canonizing the actor / director. Redford’s legacy isn’t being preserved in amber. It’s being carried forward through work that aligns with his original ethos: independence, curiosity, and a belief in artists who haven’t yet been validated by the marketplace.</p>



<p>If anything, Sundance 2026 feels like a quiet affirmation that the systems Redford helped build are resilient enough to function without him at the center. That may be the most meaningful tribute of all.</p>



<p><strong>Why Sundance Still Matters</strong><br>In an era when the economics of independent film feel increasingly precarious, Sundance remains one of the few places where films are still allowed to arrive on their own terms.</p>



<p>Not everything here will work. Not every film will find its audience. But the festival continues to operate on a radical premise: that cinema is worth the risk.</p>



<p>As Sundance prepares to leave Park City, it does so not by looking backward, but by programming forward. The 2026 lineup is dense, international, politically engaged, occasionally unruly, and often deeply human. It doesn’t feel like a victory lap. It feels like a continuation.<br>Which is exactly the point.</p>



<p>Sundance has never been about endings. It’s about beginnings; sometimes messy ones, sometimes uncomfortable ones. And if this is the final chapter in Park City, it’s a fitting one: full of questions, full of voices, and very much alive.</p>



<p>This year&#8217;s Sundance Film Festival will take place in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah from 22 January through 1 February.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2026/01/21/as-sundance-says-goodbye-to-park-city-its-films-look-forward/">As Sundance Says Goodbye to Park City, Its Films Look Forward</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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		<title>Imperfect Is Beautiful: Shekhar Kapur and Tricia Tuttle on AI’s Role in Cinema’s Next Act</title>
		<link>https://celluloidjunkie.com/2025/12/09/imperfect-is-beautiful-shekhar-kapur-and-tricia-tuttle-on-ais-role-in-cinemas-next-act/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=imperfect-is-beautiful-shekhar-kapur-and-tricia-tuttle-on-ais-role-in-cinemas-next-act</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Davide Abbatescianni]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:39:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Film Festivals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Berlin Film Festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Berlinale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IFFI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[International Film Festival of India]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shekhar Kapur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Warlord]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://celluloidjunkie.com/?p=113724</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Under the winter sun in Panaji, Goa, where palm trees and festival banners spill out along the Mandovi River, the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which took place 20–28 November, once again felt like one of Asia’s most vital A-list gatherings. The industry-focused Waves Film Bazaar, held nearby at the Marriott Bonvoy and<a class="moretag" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2025/12/09/imperfect-is-beautiful-shekhar-kapur-and-tricia-tuttle-on-ais-role-in-cinemas-next-act/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2025/12/09/imperfect-is-beautiful-shekhar-kapur-and-tricia-tuttle-on-ais-role-in-cinemas-next-act/">Imperfect Is Beautiful: Shekhar Kapur and Tricia Tuttle on AI’s Role in Cinema’s Next Act</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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<p>Under the winter sun in Panaji, Goa, where palm trees and festival banners spill out along the Mandovi River, the 56th <a href="https://www.iffigoa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Film Festival of India (IFFI)</a>, which took place 20–28 November, once again felt like one of Asia’s most vital A-list gatherings. The industry-focused <a href="https://films.wavesbazaar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waves Film Bazaar</a>, held nearby at the Marriott Bonvoy and “powered” by Netflix, added its usual caffeine of micro-dramas, AI chatter, VFX demos and shifting market forecasts. The atmosphere was warm, organised and just glamorous enough — a place where serious conversations manage to feel surprisingly approachable.</p>



<p>One of the most anticipated of those conversations took place on 22 November at the Kala Academy. Filmmaker and IFFI festival director <a href="https://shekharkapur.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shekhar Kapur</a> sat opposite <a href="https://www.berlinale.de/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berlinale</a> head Tricia Tuttle for a candid, often provocative exchange on storytelling, technology and how festivals and exhibitors might survive the next decade.</p>



<p><strong>AI’s Disruption Cycle</strong><br>Kapur began by placing AI within a familiar cycle of disruption. Resistance to digital once felt existential, he reminded the audience, yet “we never had reality. It was the film look, and we loved it. Now we’ve got AI and it will very soon go into an art form, like digital did.”</p>



<p>His most striking claim was financial. According to Kapur, AI will collapse production budgets to an extent that could change who gets to make films in the first place. “A film that cost $300 million will now cost $3 million. And if you do it in AI, it’ll probably cost half a million or even less. It’s so democratic right now.”</p>



<p>The argument is compelling — but also incomplete. Yes, cheaper tools widen the entry point. Yet the industry has barely begun to address what that democratization means for the thousands of artists, VFX workers and craftspeople whose jobs rely on the very processes AI seeks to streamline. It’s a paradox that hovered over the panel but never quite landed: the technology that opens a door for some may close it for many others.</p>



<p>Tuttle shared Kapur’s sense of possibility while injecting a dose of curatorial realism. Lower barriers to entry do not automatically yield better films. “It doesn’t mean all of a sudden that we’re going to get 2,000 better films,” she said. “The tools are not what make a film good. It’s the ideas, the craftsmanship.”</p>



<p>Her vantage point is particularly revealing. “At the Berlinale, we see 8,000 submissions and we choose 200 films… We see a lot of very bad films.” With AI accelerating output, she warned, festival programmers could soon face an incoming wave that overwhelms even the most resilient selection teams. In such an environment, the role of critics — and increasingly, influencers and platform algorithms — may become crucial filters in a landscape overflowing with content.</p>



<p>Kapur later summed up his wariness of AI-polished perfection with a line that became the evening’s unofficial refrain: “Imperfect is beautiful. Perfect is very boring.” For him, the value of storytelling still lies in intuition, risk and what he called “the thrill of failure,” qualities he believes AI cannot replicate.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="546" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140531/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-1024x546.jpg" alt="Filmmaker and festival director director Shekhar Kapur during a panel on November 22, 2025 at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, India" class="wp-image-113697" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140531/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140531/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140531/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-768x410.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140531/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-400x213.jpg 400w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140531/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Filmmaker and festival director director Shekhar Kapur during a panel on November 22, 2025 at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, India. <em>(Photo: IFFI)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Kapur’s AI Project: “Warlord”</strong><br>To illustrate the creative upside of AI, Kapur spoke about “Warlord,” an AI-generated series he has nurtured for a decade but only recently found a way to complete. “It took me 10 years to write that story,” he said, “but it took 10 days to put it together with AI tools.” Its jellyfish-inspired, self-healing spaceships became his shorthand for how fast world-building can evolve.</p>



<p>More radical still was his plan to release the project as open source. “You can take my story, my images and use them — create your own story out of it, adapt it. Could this become a seed that creates a rainforest?”</p>



<p>It’s a utopian sentiment, but also one that exposes an enormous blind spot. In a global environment where copyright laws are inconsistent and often unenforceable, open-sourcing a major cinematic property essentially means abandoning traditional notions of ownership. The legal and economic implications for filmmakers — especially those who rely on IP to sustain their careers — remain practically uncharted territory.</p>



<p>Kapur’s ambivalence about where such work might ultimately live — Netflix, Amazon, or an as-yet-unimagined AI-native platform — echoed a prediction heard elsewhere at Goa. Cannes Next head Sten-Kristian Saluveer suggested that AI will dominate not just high-concept experiments but also low-end, fast-turnover formats: commercials, shorts, previsualizations and even office romances and melodramas. The explosive rise of microdramas across Asia, some made for as little as USD $50–60k, signals how quickly that shift is already underway.</p>



<p><strong>Exhibition’s Structural Limits</strong><br>When talk turned to exhibition, Kapur highlighted India’s long-standing screen shortage. “Here, we only have 7,000–8,000 working screens. China has 90,000… The exhibition problem is real estate.” His conclusion was simple: without investment in distribution and bricks-and-mortar sites, no amount of AI-powered storytelling will reach its audience.</p>



<p>Tuttle, speaking from a European auteur-festival perspective, echoed the concern. Too few screens for risk-taking cinema; too much pressure from bigger titles. She praised Mumbai’s Regal cinema on their recent initiative to reintroduce classics to rebuild communal viewing — a reminder that innovation sometimes means looking backwards as well as forwards.</p>



<p>Yet any ambitious exhibition strategy now hangs over a broader industry shockwave: Netflix’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros, a deal that — if approved — could reshape global windowing entirely. More moves of similar scale cannot be ruled out. For exhibitors already fighting to maintain margins, such consolidation introduces yet another variable in an already fragile ecosystem.</p>



<p><strong>AI at Festivals</strong><br>Asked how a festival like the Berlinale intends to handle AI-assisted work, Tuttle said there is currently no plan for separate programming strands. The festival has begun asking filmmakers whether AI was used in any part of a submission, an early attempt to map usage patterns.</p>



<p>But mapping alone feels like a temporary fix. The industry still lacks a workable definition of what constitutes an “AI film.” A feature with minor AI-generated previz sits on the same spectrum as a fully synthetic production, yet the two present vastly different regulatory, artistic and ethical questions. Without clearer categories, any future rules risk becoming unenforceable.</p>



<p>For Tuttle, the core challenge remains discovery. “How will we, in a content-flooded market, find good-quality storytelling?” she asked, a dilemma made sharper by the fact that attention today is increasingly finite. Platforms shape audience habits as much as they respond to them, often pushing shorter, more hyper-stimulated formats that may not resemble what most festivals would recognize as cinema.</p>



<p>Kapur added his own sobering statistic, noting that in the US, “90–92% of viewership is TikTok, gaming and YouTube.” Traditional cinema and television, in other words, now command only a sliver of the attention economy.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="623" src="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140542/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Tricia-Tuttle-of-Berlinale-and-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-IFFI.jpg" alt="(Left to Right) Berlinale chief Tricia Tuttle speaks with filmmaker and festival director director Shekhar Kapur during a panel on November 22, 2025 at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, India" class="wp-image-113700" srcset="https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140542/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Tricia-Tuttle-of-Berlinale-and-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-IFFI.jpg 1000w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140542/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Tricia-Tuttle-of-Berlinale-and-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-IFFI-300x187.jpg 300w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140542/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Tricia-Tuttle-of-Berlinale-and-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-IFFI-768x478.jpg 768w, https://cdn.celluloidjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/16140542/International-Film-Festival-of-India-IFFI-2025-Tricia-Tuttle-of-Berlinale-and-Filmmaker-Shekhar-Kapur-IFFI-400x249.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Left to Right) Berlinale chief Tricia Tuttle speaks with filmmaker and festival director director Shekhar Kapur during a panel on November 22, 2025 at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, India. <em>(Photo: IFFI)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Likeness Rights and Ethics</strong><br>The session concluded with questions about personality rights and AI-resurrected actors. Kapur said many performers are already taking legal precautions. “Most of the actors I know are already dealing with lawyers and copyrighting themselves… and you should copyright yourself if you’re a star.”</p>



<p>Denmark has been an early mover in granting individuals copyright over their likeness, though how long such rights should last after death remains unsettled. Tuttle was clear about her own discomfort: “I love Paul Newman. I don’t want to see a Paul Newman film made with an AI version of Paul Newman.”</p>



<p>The ethical terrain here is vast. Resurrecting dead performers, making them speak or act without consent — even hypothetical consent via approval from a performer’s estate — touches on every fraught intersection of art, law and morality. AI-generated performers, entirely synthetic from the beginning, may sidestep some of these issues, but it’s unclear whether audiences would embrace them with the same affection they hold for human stars.</p>



<p><strong>An Unresolved Future</strong><br>For a conversation that ranged widely, optimism remained the prevailing mood. Yet some of AI’s most disruptive implications — labour displacement, enforceable copyright, content overload, and the structural weakness of global exhibition — were more acknowledged than interrogated. That may reflect the limits of a festival panel rather than a lack of interest, but the gaps were palpable.</p>



<p>Still, Kapur’s opening provocation lingered: cinema has weathered every major technological shift — from sound and colour to the jump from celluloid to digital. Each change brought panic and promise in equal measure. And history is equally clear that not every new tool rewrites the medium. Some innovations rise, shimmer briefly and vanish (NFTs, Odorama, and the many cycles of 3D among them).</p>



<p>Whether AI becomes another brief fashion or a fundamental redefinition of cinema is still impossible to say. For now, the debate continues — still imperfect, still searching, and perhaps, as Kapur insisted, beautiful precisely because of that.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com/2025/12/09/imperfect-is-beautiful-shekhar-kapur-and-tricia-tuttle-on-ais-role-in-cinemas-next-act/">Imperfect Is Beautiful: Shekhar Kapur and Tricia Tuttle on AI’s Role in Cinema’s Next Act</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://celluloidjunkie.com">Celluloid Junkie</a>.</p>
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