Apply Now For the Future Leaders in Cinema Program

We’re excited to announce the launch of Future Leaders in Cinema (FLIC)—a new leadership development program designed to identify and support the next generation of movie theater leaders.

What is FLIC?
FLIC is a two-year program focused on leadership development, education, and industry engagement. Selected participants will gain valuable access to:

  • Leadership-focused educational programming
  • Networking opportunities with peers and industry executives
  • One-on-one mentorship from senior leaders
  • Exclusive participation at industry events, including the Cinema United Fall Summit

Program Highlights:

  • Selected scholars will receive a scholarship to attend the Cinema United Fall Summit that covers the cost of registration and hotel, and a stipend of up to $1000 for travel costs.
  • Participants will attend leadership programming, committee meetings, and networking events to deepen industry knowledge and build connections.

Eligibility:
Applicants must own or work for a movie theater that is a member in good standing in Cinema United, demonstrate leadership potential, and commit to full participation over the program’s two-year term.

How to Apply:
Applications are now open and close on August 25 at 6:00 pm PST. A letter of recommendation from an industry professional will be required.

Learn more and apply here

We look forward to seeing the next generation of leaders shape the future of cinema!

If you have questions, please reach out to Amanda Martin at amanda@cinemaunited.org

Headlines Newsletter, August 4, 2025

Distribution
The Hollywood Reporter: David Ellison Sets His Team: These Are the People Who Will Run the New Paramount

As previously announced, former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell will be president of the new Paramount. But joining him will be Andy Gordon, who had been leading RedBird Capital’s Los Angeles office, who will become COO of the company. RedBird, which is providing financial capital to support the Skydance deal, has also most recently employed Shell.As expected, current Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks, who has also been leading the CBS business, will remain with the company as chair of TV media, adding oversight of the company’s cable TV channels.Cindy Holland, the former Netflix content chief, will lead new Paramount’s streaming businesses, including Paramount+ and Pluto. Holland has been a Skydance advisor since last year.
Read full article

Date Night @ the Movies Offers Two-for-One Treats and Special Discounts On Movies Concessions At Cinemas Across the Country Friday, August 22

LOS ANGELES, CA – July 29, 2025 – Cinema United and The Cinema Foundation are introducing Date Night @ the Movies, a new national moviegoing event on Friday, August 22. The evening is a celebration of America’s favorite entertainment pastime featuring two-for-one treats – with discounts ranging from popcorn, drinks and other concessions to surprise movie theatre promotions – at thousands of participating locations across the country.

It’s the latest event in the year-long @ the Movies campaign. Previous events included National Popcorn Day (January 19) and Sneak Peek Showcase (April 22). Fandango, the nation’s leading online movie ticketing service, returns to the @ the Movies program as the presenting sponsor.

“Movies are better experienced together,” says Mike Bowers, Chair of The Cinema Foundation. “Date Night @ the Movies is a celebration of the long-lasting memories we create and share at the cinema. This one-night only event is all about enjoying the big screen with someone special, whether it’s your partner, best friend, new friend, family member or movie-loving plus one.”

“We are excited to join Cinema United and The Cinema Foundation in launching Date Night @ the Movies in theatres nationwide on August 22,” said Jerramy Hainline, EVP of Fandango. “Fandango is all about creating a memorable moviegoing experience. We hope we can help fans enjoy movie magic on the big screen while ordering their favorite theatre treats at discounted prices for a great night out at the movies.”

To find theatres and their individual offerings at your local movie theatre, visit AtTheMovies.co (website/app) or Fandango, and check out #TogetherAtTheMovies on social platforms.

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.

ABOUT FANDANGO

Fandango digital network provides unrivaled, instant access to all things movies and TV, enhancing fan enjoyment across the entire entertainment journey. The portfolio serves more than 50 million unique visitors per month and includes leading online movie ticketer, Fandango, which tickets for 31,000 U.S. movie screens; world-renowned entertainment review site, Rotten Tomatoes; and Fandango at Home (previously Vudu), the on-demand streaming service offering the industry’s best selection of 4K UHD titles and more than 250,000 new release and catalogue movies and next day TV shows.

Cinema United Member Shankweiler’s Drive-In Featured on GMA

GMA stopped in Pennsylvania to visit Shankweiler’s Drive-In—the world’s oldest operating drive-in movie theatre—as part of their 50 States in 50 Weeks series.

Each week, a GMA anchor or correspondent will visit a new state, following the order in which they joined the United States.

Along the way, GMA will spotlight the beauty of the people who make up America, inviting viewers to share the people in their neighborhood and state who make it the best place to live.

Shankweiler’s Drive-In was established in 1934. For over 90 years, it has delighted audiences with double features on its large outdoor screen. Located in the Lehigh Valley, Orefield, Pennsylvania, just off Route 309.

Cinema United Visits Megaplex’s New Cinema Entertainment Center in South Jordan, Utah

[Cinema United’s Amanda Martin with Britten Maughan, President of Megaplex Theatres]

Megaplex Theatres hosted a film cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their first ever cinema entertainment center in South Jordan, Utah. The company is already planning to build two more cinema entertainment centers over the next two years.

Britten Maughan, President of Megaplex Theaters, kicked off the ceremony with some opening remarks.

“Megaplex is a place where extraordinary moments become cherished memories,” said Maughan. “We are thrilled to open Megaplex’s first cinema entertainment center with cinema, bowling, games, and enhanced dining options, securing Megaplex’s position as a place to live life larger.”

Executives Steve Miller, Steve Starks, and Michelle Smith from the Larry H. Miller Company—Megaplex’s parent company—were also in attendance, and they spoke about the enormous potential the new venue has. Dawn Ramsey, mayor of South Jordan, was on hand to tout the importance of a new out-of-home entertainment choice to the local community.

The South Jordan location boasts eight movie screens, 18 bowling lanes, arcade games, and an event space. Two of the five screens are Mega Screens, Megaplex’s premium large format option. 

Megaplex’s latest venture represents an important addition to South Jordan’s Daybreak community, which also includes a minor league stadium for the Utah Bees, an outdoor concert venue, and room for ice skating in the winter. 

Code Updates Impacting Cinema Operations

Cinema United partners with Code Consultants, Inc. (CCI), a leading engineering and consulting firm that provides expert guidance to ensure that cinema designs and operations comply with evolving building codes and safety standards. Click here for a report that includes the latest updates from CCI on key code changes in areas such as fire/life safety, structural requirements, and accessibility to provide an overview of current and upcoming regulatory developments that might affect the cinema industry.

Headlines Newsletter, June 27, 2025

Distribution
The Hollywood Reporter: Sony to Release Select Amazon MGM Movies Overseas, Beginning With Luca Guadagnino’s ‘After the Hunt’Amazon MGM Studios has tapped Sony to release a handful of its upcoming high-profile movies at the international box office as it goes about building its own foreign operation.Under the pact, Sony will handle overseas duties for After the Hunt, Mercy, Crime 101 and Project Hail Mary, according to a statement released by the two studios.Following those releases, Amazon MGM will directly distribute theatrical titles in territories overseas where it launches its own offices, with Sony supporting the studio in other international markets. This doesn’t include the next James Bond movie, which will be handled overseas by Universal.
Read full article
Variety: Artists Equity Inks Overall Theatrical Film Agreement With Sony PicturesArtists Equity, the independent studio founded by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale, has signed an overall theatrical feature film agreement with Sony Pictures. Under the three-year agreement, Sony will distribute the theatrical films globally, which will be developed and produced by Artists Equity. Sony will finance the films and handle all ancillaries, with Artists Equity having the option to co-finance individual projects.“Artists Equity, in the short span of its existence, has proven remarkably adept at developing and producing high quality commercial films,” said Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman. “This is not a surprise to me as I have known the two creative ‘Pros from Dover’ for many years and always admired their smarts, talent and moxie. Now that Ben and Matt and their team have set their sights firmly on the high bar of the theatrical market, Sony is lucky as hell to be partnering with them. We look forward to making a bunch of hit films together.”Artists Equity CEO Affleck added, “It’s an enormously meaningful landmark for Artists Equity to be making films for theatrical release with Sony Pictures and in particular with Tom Rothman, with whom Matt and I go back more than twenty years. Tom has both a deep and abiding love for movies and an understanding of and appreciation for how they are made. I can’t think of a better partner than Sony, which is fully in on the theatrical experience, as Artists Equity seeks to make films expressly meant to be seen in the cinema, with an audience. It’s an honor to make films for the magical dark room where we come together with strangers to project our innermost secrets onto a screen, surrendering to a story together, agreeing to share the same flickering dream. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring movies to a global audience, with the entire expert Sony team.”
Read full article
Creative Community
The New York Times:  The Century’s Best Movies Though the advent of streaming services has affected the way movies are made and watched over the last quarter-century, only one film from a streamer made the list: Netflix’s “Roma,” at No. 46. I think that’s a testament to just how profound the big-screen experience still feels. Our greatest cinematic memories, like the time my jaw dropped while watching “Fury Road,” are forged in the dark with a packed audience along for the ride.
Read full article

Headlines Newsletter, June 25, 2025

Distribution
The Hollywood Reporter: Sony to Release Select Amazon MGM Movies Overseas, Beginning With Luca Guadagnino’s ‘After the Hunt’Amazon MGM Studios has tapped Sony to release a handful of its upcoming high-profile movies at the international box office as it goes about building its own foreign operation.Under the pact, Sony will handle overseas duties for After the Hunt, Mercy, Crime 101 and Project Hail Mary, according to a statement released by the two studios.Following those releases, Amazon MGM will directly distribute theatrical titles in territories overseas where it launches its own offices, with Sony supporting the studio in other international markets. This doesn’t include the next James Bond movie, which will be handled overseas by Universal.
Read full article
Variety: Artists Equity Inks Overall Theatrical Film Agreement With Sony PicturesArtists Equity, the independent studio founded by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale, has signed an overall theatrical feature film agreement with Sony Pictures. Under the three-year agreement, Sony will distribute the theatrical films globally, which will be developed and produced by Artists Equity. Sony will finance the films and handle all ancillaries, with Artists Equity having the option to co-finance individual projects.“Artists Equity, in the short span of its existence, has proven remarkably adept at developing and producing high quality commercial films,” said Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman. “This is not a surprise to me as I have known the two creative ‘Pros from Dover’ for many years and always admired their smarts, talent and moxie. Now that Ben and Matt and their team have set their sights firmly on the high bar of the theatrical market, Sony is lucky as hell to be partnering with them. We look forward to making a bunch of hit films together.”Artists Equity CEO Affleck added, “It’s an enormously meaningful landmark for Artists Equity to be making films for theatrical release with Sony Pictures and in particular with Tom Rothman, with whom Matt and I go back more than twenty years. Tom has both a deep and abiding love for movies and an understanding of and appreciation for how they are made. I can’t think of a better partner than Sony, which is fully in on the theatrical experience, as Artists Equity seeks to make films expressly meant to be seen in the cinema, with an audience. It’s an honor to make films for the magical dark room where we come together with strangers to project our innermost secrets onto a screen, surrendering to a story together, agreeing to share the same flickering dream. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring movies to a global audience, with the entire expert Sony team.”
Read full article
Creative Community
The New York Times:  The Century’s Best Movies Though the advent of streaming services has affected the way movies are made and watched over the last quarter-century, only one film from a streamer made the list: Netflix’s “Roma,” at No. 46. I think that’s a testament to just how profound the big-screen experience still feels. Our greatest cinematic memories, like the time my jaw dropped while watching “Fury Road,” are forged in the dark with a packed audience along for the ride.
Read full article

Cinema United Attends CineEurope As Global Exhibition Industry Surges

[Left to Right: Cinema United’s Erin Von Hoetzendorff, CinemaCon’s Matt Pollock, and Cinema United’s Andrew Stewart]

Exhibitors and vendors from across the world gathered in Barcelona for the annual CineEurope convention from June 16-19 to celebrate a surging box office and discuss the bright future of the exhibition industry.

According to Gower Street, the global box office cume at the end of May hit $13.4 billion, which is 13% ahead of 2024 and on par with 2023. The data firm recently bumped their projection for 2025’s total global haul to $34.1 billion, up $1.1 billion from their initial projection in early 2025.

The International Union of Cinemas’ President Phil Clapp and CEO Laura Houlgatte touted the strong state of European cinema in their keynote address at the event.

“In 2024, cinemas across Europe recorded over 934 million admissions and box office revenues close 7.1 billion euros. No small spart in that success was played by the continued investment by operators of all sizes, who continue to provide audiences with an incredibly diverse and appealing offer of both film content and big screen experience. Striving to innovate, driving local economies while a remaining a cherished community and cultural resource.”

While at CineEurope, Cinema United’s Chief Communication Officer Andrew Stewart, Cinema United’s Director of Membership and Global Affairs Erin Von Hoetzendorff, and CinemaCon’s Associate Managing Director Matt Pollock met with exhibitors from around the world—Svenska Bio, Cineworld, Pathe, Omniplex, Kinepolis, Nordisk Film, Cinemark, Cineplexx, Cinépolis, and Odeon—to discuss the current state of the industry and topics that unite all exhibitors such as continued innovation both in programming and cinema renovations.

Cinema United’s Amanda Martin and Erin Von Hoetzendorff Named To Celluloid Junkie’s 2025 Top Women in Global Cinema List

Amanda Martin, Cinema United’s Chief of Staff, and Erin Von Hoetzendorff, Cinema United’s Director of Membership and Global Affairs, were named to Celluloid Junkie’s 2025 Top Women in Global Cinema List. CJ wrote the following:

Amanda Martin

As Chief of Staff at Cinema United (formerly the National Association of Theatre Owners), Amanda Martin plays a central role in guiding the strategic and operational direction of the global trade body for the movie theatre industry. A trusted advisor to the executive leadership team, Martin leads both federal government affairs and state-level advocacy efforts across the Western United States.

In 2024, Martin expanded her portfolio to include creative and storytelling initiatives. She serves as executive producer of Behind the Screens: The Faces of Exhibition, a nationally recognized series that debuted at CinemaCon and has since profiled more than a dozen cinema owners and operators. The project brings to life the voices of frontline exhibition professionals, spotlighting their innovation, perseverance, and impact on local communities.

Before joining Cinema United, Martin was a state government affairs specialist at the Entertainment Software Association, where she advocated on behalf of the video game industry. She began her public policy career in the California district office of Congressman Eric Swalwell, assisting constituents and advancing community engagement.

Erin Von Hoetzendorff

Erin Von Hoetzendorff is Director of Membership and Global Affairs at Cinema United (formerly the National Association of Theatre Owners). Since joining the organization in 2018, she has led efforts to foster inclusive engagement across the industry – spearheading initiatives like the Ambassador Program and overseeing several key member communities, including Young Members, Membership, International, and Technology.

She also serves as staff liaison to the Global Cinema Federation, helping coordinate international policy and advocacy efforts across borders. Outside her core role, she contributes meaningfully to broader industry collaboration as Secretary of Film Row and formerly as administrator of Inter-Society. Based in Los Angeles, Von Hoetzendorff is widely respected as a passionate connector and coalition-builder who has been instrumental in expanding Cinema United’s reach and relevance.

Read the full list here.

Cinema United
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