Category: Press

Cinema United Staff Visits THE LOT’s Liberty Station Theatre

[Left to right: Cinema United’s Harry Medved with THE LOT’s Courtney Timlen]

Cinema United staff recently visited the California-based luxury cinema chain THE LOT at its Liberty Station theatre-restaurant complex in San Diego, as they were getting ready for the summer season with brisk presales for Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, among other titles. 

“We do particularly well here with family-friendly films,” THE LOT Liberty Station General Manager Courtney Timlen told Cinema United’s Harry Medved. “It can turn into a full-day outing where families can escape to the movies for a shared cinematic adventure in our auditoriums and then savor their time together at our outdoor restaurant, ZENTRL Kitchen + Bar.” Timlen, a proud graduate of San Diego State University, has been with the theatre chain for more than seven years.  

The Liberty Station arts district and marketplace were built on the grounds of the former San Diego Naval Training Center and THE LOT rehabilitated the center’s 1940s era Luce Auditorium, which showcased the latest Hollywood features, along with training movies, for the new recruits. The Luce’s original oak stage, where Bob Hope and Jack Benny once provided the live wartime entertainment, is on view in the lobby along with a beautiful photo-mural of the original 2,200-seat theatre. 

Today THE LOT Liberty Station takes advantage of balmy San Diego weather by inviting their moviegoers outdoors for a wide variety of innovative dishes & beverages at their open-air ZENTRL Kitchen + Bar, an expansive 5,00-square-foot lounge, bar and coffee island with a giant video wall and sliding glass walls looking out onto the plaza. The menu pulls together Mexican and Asian-inspired cuisine, with breakfast specialties like Croissant Chilando and Matcha Pancakes, and lunch and dinner bowls filled with Chicken Teriyaki and Citrus Lime Salmon. The same offerings are available via seat-side service within their six state-of-the-art auditoriums. 

The luxury cinema chain boasts 30 screens at 4 locations throughout the Golden State (San Ramon, Newport Beach, La Jolla, and San Diego’s Liberty Station). Additionally, every year THE LOT hosts 600 public events and 400 private events. “It’s important to make every part of the moviegoing experience memorable,” says Daniel Fastlicht, Food and Beverage Manager for THE LOT. “We want our customers to feel like they’ve experienced something unique and exciting.”

Cinema United Attends North Central Exhibition Industry Event

(Cinema United’s Todd Halstead with Fridley Theatres’ Russell Vannorsdel. Photo Credit: Roger Humphries)

This week, theatre owners and operators, vendors and industry friends and partners convened in Omaha for the 2025 North Central NATO Convention, where attendees had the opportunity to meet and discuss a range of topics centered on the health and continued viability of the moviegoing experience — not to mention partake in a whole lot of good Midwestern fun, including a steak fry hosted by Bill and Colleen Barstow at their ACX Cinema, a silent auction and casino night. Cinema United’s Todd Halstead, Director of Government Relations and Independent Theatre Owner Engagement, and Andrew Stewart, Chief Communications Officer, were on hand as well. The three-day convention featured screenings from Angel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Special thanks are extended to Russell Vannorsdel, President of Fridley Theatres, who served as Convention Chair, and Dale Haider, Treasurer of North Central NATO, for their exceptional efforts in organizing the event.

Cinema United Releases Statement on Proposal to Support Hollywood and Exhibition

“We are encouraged by recent efforts to bolster the American filmed entertainment industry, including proposals to assist the people who operate theatres in towns of all sizes across the country to create the great movie houses of the next generation,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “It is important to recognize that theatrical exhibition is not a Hollywood industry, but a Main Street industry, and proposals that support and promote the hard work being done by theatre owners will have a positive and meaningful impact in communities across this nation. We are committed to working with the administration, Congress and all interested parties who recognize and share the goal of ensuring that our local theatres retain both their economic and cultural significance, and we thank them for their leadership.”

“Sinners” Director Ryan Coogler Touts Importance of Cinema In Letter To Fans

Following on the massive opening weekend for Sinners, director Ryan Coogler penned an open letter to fans thanking them for helping make the movie a success.

“I had the gift of the opportunity of making a film inspired by my family and my ancestry but it was always a film that we wanted to make for audiences, in theaters,” Coogler writes. “We always had our minds on you, the audience, and felt a deep responsibility to entertain you, and move you in the way only cinema can. I believe in cinema. I believe in the theatrical experience. I believe it is a necessary pillar of society. It’s why me and so many of my colleagues have dedicated our lives to the craft. We don’t get to do what we do if you don’t show up.”

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For the First Time Ever, The Cinema Foundation presents Sneak Peek Showcase

The Program Will Feature Previews from Major Studios for their Upcoming 2025 Slate, Along with Never-Before-Seen Clips and Behind-the-Scenes Pieces from Highly Anticipated Films

Launches Exclusively in Theatres Across North America on April 22 & 24

All Proceeds from Tickets, Priced at $3, Will Benefit Variety–The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Foundation, Canadian Picture Pioneers and The Cinema Foundation

LOS ANGELES – April 16, 2025 – Next week The Cinema Foundation, the non-profit arm of Cinema United, will host for the first time ever a nearly 70-minute program entitled Sneak Peek Showcase at thousands of screens across North America. The evening program will offer movie lovers an exciting preview of big-screen studio movies, including some favorites from the industry-insider event, CinemaCon 2025, held earlier this month by Cinema United.

On Tuesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 24, Hollywood’s biggest studios will highlight their upcoming summer and fall 2025 slates, with a fun look at this year’s trailers, some never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes clips, as part of a curated experience designed exclusively for moviegoing audiences. The showcase will feature a wide variety of films that are rated PG, PG-13 and R.

Proceeds from Sneak Peek Showcase will go to charities, including Variety – The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and The Cinema Foundation. Participating cinemas across Canada will also be exhibiting the Sneak Peek Showcase, and a portion of those proceeds will go to the Canadian Picture Pioneers, a charitable organization that provides various financial assistance and educational programs for those in need within the Canadian film industry.

The nearly 70-minute program will debut on April 22 with an encore performance on April 24, with both performances taking place at 6 p.m. local time. Tickets are on sale now for $3.00 at participating theatres’ website or app, as well as atthemovies.co and on Fandango.

Sneak Peek Showcase is part of The Cinema Foundation’s year-round @The Movies campaign and is presented by Fandango with additional support from The Coca-Cola Company. As part of the programming, the Sneak Peek Showcase will also include the big screen debut of the Grand Prize-winning spot from the 2025 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program is an opportunity for up-and-coming filmmakers from partnered schools to create content for the big screen.

“Sneak Peek Showcase helps bring a little taste of the famed industry-insider event CinemaCon to movie lovers with a fun look at the upcoming theatrical slate,” says Bryan Braunlich, Executive Director of The Cinema Foundation. “For the first time, cinemagoers will get a glimpse of the most anticipated movies coming soon to their neighborhood theatres all in one program. We are proud to have proceeds benefit industry charitable organizations, and we are grateful for the support of our sponsors, Fandango and The Coca-Cola Company.”

The Cinema Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2022 by Cinema United (formerly National Association of Theatre Owners), dedicated to promoting and expanding the movie theatre industry and to advancing the moviegoing experience. Sneak Peek Showcase is part of the Foundation’s quarterly “@The Movies” events that began with National Popcorn Day on Jan. 19, where thousands of theatres nationwide offered discounts like unlimited popcorn refills. Other upcoming events include Date Night @ The Movies on Aug. 15, 2025, and Family Day @ The Movies on Nov. 9, 2025.

ABOUT THE CINEMA FOUNDATION 

The Cinema Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit dedicated to strengthening the cinema industry and engaging moviegoing audiences around the country. The Foundation promotes and enhances the exhibition industry through programming, events and activities, while spearheading the development of vital industry data, research and consumer insights, education and community involvement to advance the moviegoing experience. For additional info, please visit thecinemafoundation.org.

ABOUT CINEMA UNITED

Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org.

Listen: CinemaCon 2025’s Industry Insights from the Creative Community Luncheon

Left to Right: Michael O’Leary, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Glen Powell, Edgar Wright, and Bob Bagby (Photo Credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon)

Paramount Pictures brought together the incredible team behind November’s The Running Man (writer/director/producer Edgar Wright and stars Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin) to CinemaCon 2025’s Industry Insights from the Creative Community luncheon. Jaqueline Coley, the editor of Rotten Tomatoes, moderated a fun discussion that you can listen to below:

Sneak Peek Showcase To Deliver A Unique Big-Screen Experience for Film Fans With Exclusive Content, Trailers and Special Features

Tickets $3 with all proceeds benefiting Variety–The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Foundation and The Cinema Foundation

LAS VEGAS – Friday, April 4, 2025 – On the heels of CinemaCon, hosted by Cinema United, thousands of screens across the country will debut a new 70-minute program entitled Sneak Peek Showcase on April 22 and 24, bringing an exciting preview of big-screen studio content to movie lovers, with a fun look at trailers, never-seen-before footage, and behind-the-scenes content from this year’s most anticipated movies exclusively in cinemas nationwide. Hollywood’s biggest studios will highlight their upcoming summer and fall 2025 slates, with some unveiling special surprises – ranging from exclusive scenes to brand-new trailers – created just for moviegoing audiences.

Participating studios will include:

Sony Pictures Entertainment Lionsgate Warner Bros. PicturesUniversal Pictures/Focus FeaturesAmazon MGM StudiosParamount Pictures The Walt Disney Studios

Thousands of screens will participate in the event, with the proceeds going to charities, including Variety – The Children’s Charity, Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and The Cinema Foundation. The 70-minute program will debut on April 22 with an encore performance on April 24. Both performances take place at 6 pm local time.  Tickets are on sale now for $3.00 at your favorite theatre’s website or app, as well as atthemovies.co and on Fandango.

Sneak Peek Showcase is part of The Cinema Foundation’s year-round @The Movies campaign and is presented by Fandango with additional support from The Coca-Cola Company. As part of the programming, the Sneak Peek Showcase will also include the big screen debut of the Grand Prize-winning spot from the 2025 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program is an opportunity for up-and-coming filmmakers from partnered schools to create content for the big screen.

“Sneak Peek Showcase is an exciting new way to bring moviegoers an exclusive preview of this year’s amazing films coming soon to a theatre near you,” says Bryan Braunlich, Executive Director of The Cinema Foundation. “For the first time, we’re curating a theatrical experience for film fans featuring exclusive content usually reserved for industry insiders. It’s a fresh approach to movie marketing – dynamic, engaging and only in theatres – and we’re proud that proceeds will benefit industry charitable organizations. We are especially grateful to our presenting sponsor Fandango and our supporting partner Coca-Cola for helping make this innovative program a reality.”

The Cinema Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2022 by Cinema United, dedicated to promoting and expanding the movie theatre industry and to advancing the moviegoing experience. Sneak Peek Showcase is part of the Foundation’s quarterly “@The Movies” events that began with National Popcorn Day on Jan. 19, where thousands of theatres nationwide offered discounts like unlimited popcorn refills. Other upcoming events include Date Night @ The Movies on Aug. 15, 2025, and Family Day @ The Movies on Nov. 9, 2025.

Movie Snacks Unite: CinemaCon 2025 Official Poster Art Contest Announces Winners During Opening Night Presentation

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 1, 2025) – CinemaCon and Cinema United are proud to recognize three winners for 2025’s Official Poster Art Contest, which were announced onstage Monday night in the Colosseum by Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. 

Anthony Battaglia, Senior Manager of Cypress Cinemark 12 & XD in Cypress, Texas, won first place for his poster titled, Concession Pals. Battaglia describes the piece as “a showcase for the fun and awe of experiencing the cinema.” The poster utilizes iconic theatre snacks as a group of friends who are engaged and entertained while at the movies. As the winning artist, Battaglia received a complimentary trip to this year’s CinemaCon, and his winning artwork will be prominently featured throughout the convention and showcased on t-shirts provided to all attendees.

Jo-Ellen Ellis, Sr. Graphic Designer from Cineplex in London, Ontario, Canada, came in second place with her poster titled, Concession Crew. The poster showcases the iconic crew of concession stand snacks—popcorn, candy, soda, and hot dogs—as a group of friends creating the perfect movie meal. Ellis received complimentary registration to CinemaCon, and her work will be included in a gallery display at the convention.

Johanna Greif, a graphic designer from the North Bend Theatre in North Bend, Washington, won third place for her poster titled, The Gilded Screen of Caesars. The design blends the iconic architecture of Caesars Palace with the nostalgic glow of a classic movie theatre marquee. Greif also received a complimentary registration to the show, as well having her work be displayed within the full art gallery display at the convention.

Sponsored by Mobile Moviegoing, the CinemaCon 2025 Art Contest was open to all theatre employees of Cinema United member companies. Artists were tasked with designing a poster from one of the following three prompts: Friends’ Night Out, Architectural Wonders, and Theatre Snacks. Each winner’s artwork was judged based on their marketability, creativity, design attractiveness, adherence to the artist’s selected theme, and overall impact.  

All artists will receive a printed poster of their work that will be sent to them directly courtesy of CinemaCon and Cinema United.

Approved press images of all three winning posters can be downloaded here.

Cinema United Hosts Trade Show Tour at CinemaCon 2025

Cinema United President and CEO Michael O’Leary led a guided tour of the CinemaCon Trade Show floor showcasing leading companies in the cinema industry who were unveiling new products, services, and experiences that contribute to creating an exceptional theatrical experience. This year, the focus of the tour was to highlight a broad cross-section of companies headquartered in states throughout the country, demonstrating the breadth of the industry and its impact on Main Street America.

Participating companies listed below:

BARTESIAN (CHICAGO, IL): Revolutionizing cinema cocktails, Bartesian will demonstrate its premium single-serve cocktail machine, with new and exclusive limited-time-offer flavors.

C. CRETORS AND CO. (WOOD DALE, IL): Inventors of the original popcorn machine, C. Cretors and Company will present its latest innovations, including induction-heated popcorn machines and self-serve poppers.

DIPPIN’ DOTS (PADUCAH, KY): The original beaded ice cream brand will debut its new Cookie Monster ice cream, featuring blue sugar cookie-flavored ice cream dots.

THE ICEE COMPANY (LA VERGNE, TN): A staple in cinemas, Icee will co-exhibit with J&J Snack Foods and Dippin’ Dots, showcasing new limited-time flavors, innovative video merchandising, and fresh ways to enjoy frozen treats.

J&J SNACK FOODS (MOUNT LAUREL, NJ): This leader in snack foods will showcase new products and flavors across its baked goods, frozen beverage, and frozen novelties categories.

REDEMPTION PLUS (OVERLAND PARK, KS): A trusted partner for entertainment centers, Redemption Plus will showcase its custom design services, trending product selections, and expert merchandising solutions.

SYSCO CORPORATION (HOUSTON, TX): A new player in the cinema space, Sysco will showcase its newly stocked assortments of cinema candy, popcorn, and sodas.

TK ARCHITECTS (KANSAS CITY, MO): Known for its innovative, customized solutions, TK Architects will show off their latest designs tailored for cinema clients.

Cinema United Spotlights Exhibition Industry Leaders In “Behind the Screens” Video Series

Popular Series Returns at CinemaCon, Featuring an All-New Class of Exhibitors

LAS VEGAS – March 31, 2025 – Cinema United announced today that they will debut the second season of its popular video series, Behind the Screens: The Faces of Exhibition, this week at CinemaCon, the world’s largest exhibition convention. This innovative series tells the unique and compelling stories of people from across the global cinema industry from the world’s largest chains to single-screen independent cinema owners.

The series, featuring two-minute-long shorts, first premiered at CinemaCon 2024 to rave reactions from across the industry. Behind the Screens was created and produced by Cinema United in association with FilmFrog.

“This series shines a long overdue light on people who embody what is really special about theatrical exhibition,” says Michael O’Leary, President & CEO of Cinema United. “Behind the Screens puts a human face on why going to the theatre is an incredible experience. Their passion and commitment to movie fans shines through in every video. It is no wonder that people from across the entertainment industry have reacted so positively to their stories.”

The exhibition leaders featured in this year’s series are: 

  • Becky & Gary Dupuis, Polson Theatres: Polson, Montana
  • Gurbani Marwah, Cineplex: Toronto, Ontario
  • Ryan Oestreich, Music Box Theatre: Chicago, Illinois
  • Doreen Sayegh, Cranford Theater: Cranford, New Jersey
  • Nikki Shellenberger, Regal Edwards Mira Mesa: San Diego, California

“The authenticity of the people featured in Behind the Screens is the reason they resonate with so many people,” said Amanda Martin, Cinema United Chief of Staff, who manages the project. “Initially, people are a bit nervous and cautious, but when the cameras roll, and the exhibitors start talking about what they do to make going to the cinema memorable, you can feel their energy and dedication. That is what comes across in these videos and what makes them so special.”

The inaugural Behind the Screens episodes can be found at cinemaunited.org, with the new episodes available by the end of the week.

ABOUT CINEMA UNITED

Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world. For additional information, please visit cinemaunited.org.

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Media Contacts:

Andrew Stewart

424-299-2065

andrew@cinemaunited.org

Harry Medved

310-200-1201

harry@cinemaunited.org

Phil Contrino

610-844-2459

phil@cinemaunited.org

Cinema United
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