Todd Halstead, Cinema United’s Director of Government Relations and Independent Theatre Owner Engagement, received CinéShow’s inaugural Byron Berkley Leadership Award at CinéShow 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Halstead is a true leader in the exhibition industry, and he played a vital role in launching CinéShow and building Cinema United of Mid-America into a strong regional group. Halstead’s work spearheading Cinema United’s Independent Theatre Owners Coalition (ITOC) has helped independent owners and operators around the world succeed.
Receiving an award named after Berkley, a true industry legend, clearly means a great deal to Halstead. When Berkley was honored with CinéShow’s Vision Award in 2023, Halstead wrote in Boxoffice magazine, “I think I met Byron in 1989. I wish I’d met him sooner. He’s been my very close colleague, valued industry leader, respected adviser, valued mentor, and most especially my very dear friend. ln my lifetime I’ve known very few people who are universally admired and respected and without exception held in the highest regard.”
On behalf of the entire Cinema United staff and its members around the world, we congratulate Todd on this tremendous honor.
[Left to right: Matt Shapiro, Lou DiGioia, Todd Halstead, Byron Berkley, Matt Pollock and Mitch Neuhauser]
Cinema United’s Todd Halstead traveled to Fayetteville, Georgia to meet with the exhibition community at this year’s ShowSouth convention. The event was held at Trilith Studios for the first time, and the move, combined with great programming, resulted in enthusiastic attendees and an important gathering for the industry:
We are writing to you in our capacity as the leadership of Cinema United, the world’s largest trade organization representing the global theatrical exhibition business. We write to encourage you both to meet in the immediate future and discuss all possible avenues for resolving the state of California’s pending challenge to Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Theatrical exhibition is a Main Street industry. A night at the cinema not only benefits the movie studios and theatre owners, but it also benefits nearby restaurants, coffee shops, bars and shopping frequented by moviegoers. From family-owned independent theatres to vibrant mid-size circuits to the world’s largest theatre chains, Cinema United members are cultural and economic drivers in communities across this great nation. Our members have been partnering with Paramount and Warner Bros. for over a century to provide movie fans of all ages with the unparalleled experience of a movie on the big screen. We look forward to strengthening and growing that proud tradition for generations to come. Movie theatres are also undeniably a part of the fabric of this nation. In just the twelve states represented in the litigation we have 196 members doing business. The majority of those are independent or family-owned theatres: 130 operate fewer than ten screens; 90, with less than five screens; and 30 of those members operate single-screen theatres.
Our industry is familiar with the impact of legacy studio consolidation on moviegoers and exhibition, and those facts are well documented. As a result, all relevant parties understand the enduring value of the theatrical experience not only to our culture, but to the overall economy and the financial success of films themselves. At the same time, we have remained open to tangible and enforceable guardrails that can offer our industry some measure of certainty in the face of an evolving and otherwise challenging future. That is why we have engaged, in good faith, with both the coalition of State Attorneys General and Paramount.
As you both know, we believe any resolution of the current situation must ensure four core elements, which are essential to the long-term strength of the entertainment industry:
A long-term commitment to maintain or expand wide-release theatrical movie production that is supported by a meaningful period of theatrical exclusivity, fully marketed, and promoted in theatres of all sizes.
Provisions ensuring that the merger will not cause an increase in rental terms, so that theatre owners, and in turn, moviegoers, do not bear the brunt of the cost of this transaction, particularly independent theatres across the United States.
Enforceable safeguards to ensure broad access to films for moviegoers and theatres of all sizes that is not conditioned on requirements that impede theatre owners from making business decisions that are responsive to their communities’ preferences and the broader marketplace realities that many theatre owners face today.
And finally, continued access, under reasonable conditions and precedents, to the valuable and vast film catalogues of both Paramount and Warner Bros.
Today, our industry has the wind at its back. Studio partners are creating and distributing extraordinary films. Audiences across generations are responding with enthusiasm. Theatre owners are continuing to reinvest in their cinemas and build remarkable experiences for moviegoers. Movies are once again at the center of our shared culture. But none of that can be taken for granted. Global exhibition believes in a bold future for this industry, but reaching our full potential requires working together.
For many in our industry, the current environment is marked by disruption and uncertainty. That is why we believe that it is incumbent upon both of you to meet in good faith to discuss a resolution that would provide robust protections and serve the entire industry. In fact, it is the next logical step. Our goal remains a resolution that puts this industry on a positive path to continued success, not just in the near-term, but for generations to come. As has been the case since the outset, we stand ready to assist in any way we can. However, we urge you both to take the steps necessary to explore a meaningful resolution of the current situation as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Michael O’Leary President & CEO, Cinema United Washington, DC
Mike Bowers (Chair of the Board) President & CEO, Harkins Theatres Scottsdale, AZ
Wanda Gierhart (Vice Chair) EVP & Chief Marketing and Content Officer, Cinemark USA, Inc. Plano, TX
Rob Lehman (Treasurer) President & COO, Santikos Entertainment San Antonio, TX
Bo Chambliss (Secretary) President, Georgia Theatre Company Saint Simons Island, GA
Eduardo Acuna CEO, Regal Entertainment Group Knoxville, TN
Robert Bagby President & CEO, B&B Theatres Liberty, MO
Becky Dupuis CEO/Owner, Polson Theatres, Inc. Polson, MT
Eddy Duquenne CEO, Kinepolis Group Ghent, Belgium
Sean Gamble President & CEO, Cinemark USA, Inc. Plano, TX
Paul Gunsky President & CEO, CineLux Theatres San Jose, CA
John Henrich General Counsel, Regal Entertainment Group Knoxville, TN
Ellis Jacob President & CEO, Cineplex Entertainment LP Toronto, ON, Canada
Greg Marcus Chairman, President & CEO, Marcus Theatres Milwaukee, WI
Lauren McChesney Co-Owner, Shankweiler’s Drive-In Orefield, PA
Todd Vradenburg President & CEO, Cinema Association of CA/NV Los Angeles, CA
Phil Zacheretti Founder, President & CEO, Phoenix Theatres Entertainment Knoxville, TN
In the lead-up to the Fourth of July holiday, Northwoods Theater Group, an affiliate of Emagine Entertainment, debuted its newest crown jewel, the Emagine Parker, located in the Denver metro area. Cinema United’s Andrew Stewart was there to help celebrate the ribbon cutting event on Tuesday, June 30, along with Jon Goldstein, Owner of Northwoods Theater Group, Parker Mayor Joshua Rivero, and Paul Glantz, former CEO of Emagine Entertainment.
Officially now open to the public, the completely reimagined 32,000-square-foot entertainment destination features luxury heated recliners, premium large-format EMX auditoriums, immersive Dolby Atmos sound, 4K projection, expanded food and beverage offerings, a full-service bar, and the company’s first self-ordering guest experience. Goldstein said he wanted the theatre to be “a beautiful gathering place for the community, and since people in Colorado like to be outside, we tried to bring a little bit of the outside inside.”
The location’s entire design, accented by rich green hues and light hardwood floors throughout, is meant to bring the beauty of the state indoors. Its ties to the local area go beyond just decor; the theatre will help revitalize and grow the community.
“Truly I cannot say (enough) how appreciative we are of your investment into the community,” Rivero said at the event. “Movies are like those films you get from childhood, and you remember where you were when you saw them. I want those memories to be instilled in kids today.”
Rivero congratulated Emagine Parker as the newest spark to the community’s development, saying, “That dirt field will not be a dirt field for much longer with what you guys have done here. All of you working together are going to make West Main Street the gem that it should be.”
A special thank you to Melissa Boudreau, Chief Experience Officer for Northwoods Theater Group, and the entire team for their hospitality. Congratulations again on an incredible opening!
[Left to Right: Movie Theatre Association of Canada’s Nuria Bronfman, Cinema United’s Erin Von Hoetzendorff, and ShowCanada’s Carrie Wolfe]
Cinema United’s Erin Von Hoetzendorff, Director of Membership and Global Affairs, attended 2026’s ShowCanada.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, ShowCanada brought the theatrical exhibition industry together in Banff for screenings, networking and education focused on the future of moviegoing. Hosted by the Movie Theatre Association of Canada, the convention welcomed exhibitors, distributors, and industry partners from across Canada and beyond to discuss collaboration, innovation, audience engagement, and the evolving theatrical experience.
The event was anchored by educational sessions, with topics ranging from independent cinema and community engagement to marketing strategies and premium theatrical experiences. The State of the Industry lunch featured Cinema United members Dave Cohen (Landmark Cinemas of Canada) and Kevin Watts (Cineplex) as panelists, and was moderated by Brooks LeBoeuf (Regal).
Throughout the week, attendees participated in screenings and presentations from studios including Amazon MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, VVS Films, Cineplex Pictures, Mubi, Game Theory, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney Studios.
ShowCanada also honored Canadian exhibition industry legend, Cinema United board member and former Chair, Ellis Jacob, as he prepares for his well-deserved retirement. Separately, ShowCanada hosted their annual Showmanship awards, honoring dedicated Canadian exhibition and distribution industry members and partners who work hard every day to ensure that their communities have the best moviegoing experiences.
Against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies, ShowCanada 2026 once again demonstrated the strength, creativity, and forward-thinking spirit of the theatrical exhibition industry.
{Left to Right: Angela Smetana of Marcus Theatres, Melissa Boudreau of Emagine Entertainment, Todd Halstead of Cinema United, Brian Anderson of Dells Theatre, Kelli Brown of Dakota Cinema]
Cinema United’s Andrew Stewart, Chief Communications Officer, and Todd Halstead, Director of Government Relations and Independent Theatre Owner Engagement, joined North Central Cinema United for its annual convention during the second week of May.
It was a great few days of studio presentations, movie screenings, vendor conversations, and time with theatre owners and managers from across the region. Andrew and Todd especially enjoyed connecting with members and sharing updates on Cinema United’s industry work, CinemaCon, and the issues most important to independent cinemas.
The convention featured valuable networking and education opportunities, including an independent owners roundtable hosted by Lee and Diane Akin of Silver Screen Magic. The discussion gave operators a chance to compare notes, talk about what they are seeing in their markets, and share practical ideas with peers who understand the day-to-day realities of running cinemas.
One of the many highlights was the Social Media Marketing seminar, moderated by Melissa Boudreau of Emagine Entertainment and featuring Brian Anderson of Dells Theatre, Kelli Brown of Dakota Cinema, and Angela Smetana of Marcus Theatres.
The conversation showed how smart, creative marketing is happening at every level of exhibition, from Main Street cinemas to the industry’s leading circuits. The takeaway was simple: with a phone and some creativity, any theatre can use social media to reach moviegoers in the communities they serve and beyond.
The convention also raised more than $4,500 for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, a wonderful show of support for an amazing organization that has long helped people across the exhibition community when they need it most.
Cinema United also thanks Alamo Drafthouse and Marcus Theatres for hosting events and screenings featuring Ketchup Entertainment’s Coyote vs. Acme, Walt Disney Studios’ The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Angel Studios’ Brink of War. Their teams delivered the kind of hospitality, service, and theatre experience that reflects the best of exhibition.
And finally, a special thank you to Dave Quincer, Dale Haider, Russell Vannorsdel, Lee Akin, Diane Akin, and the entire North Central Cinema United leadership team for welcoming Cinema United and bringing the region’s exhibition community together.
[Left to right: Cinema United’s Harry Medved, Cinema Association of California/Nevada’s Todd Vradenburg, and CineLux’s Paul Gunsky]
On Thursday, April 30, Cinema United’s Harry Medved joined the Cinema Association of California/Nevada at their Spring Managers Meeting & Studio Products Seminar at Cinemark’s beautiful Century 20 Oakridge in San Jose, CA.
Cinema Association of CA/NV hosts the Spring Managers Meeting as a way to bring local theatre managers together to see many of the films previously previewed at CinemaCon and to hear presentations from the top studio and industry partners. Managers had the opportunity to meet and greet representatives from the major studios, along with The Will Rogers Foundation, Deluxe, Onni Creative, Paper Airplane, P3 Global Services, and many more partners.
Attendees heard presentations from reps from the studio, including Amazon MGM Studios, Paramount, Sony, and Universal. Universal’s Luke D’Agnese talked about the importance of in-theatre collabs including movie-themed food & beverage presentations, saying “from custom cocktails or local brand collaborations to premium concessions, you have that power to create next level combinations that can ignite superfans and casual guests alike.”
As part of the meeting, Cinema Association of CA/NV presented new research, prepared in partnership with Morning Consult, to understand what drives local moviegoers. According to a survey of 1,025 Californian adults, moviegoers are looking for a wider experience at the cinema, places where they can spend special time with friends and family. More than 73% said they saw at least one movie on the big screen over the last twelve months, while 27% saw more than five movies during that time.
Managers also had the chance to see the “Behind the Screens: Faces of Exhibition” spotlights on Texas Theatre’s Barak Epstein and Belcourt Theatre’s Stephanie Silverman.
A special thank you to Todd Vradenburg and Maura Ortega and the Board of Cinema Association of CA/NV for always including Cinema United in these great events and for continuing to do all they do to move forward the exhibition industry.
