Arts Alliance Media Signs First Two Digital Cinema Deployment Deals with Local Distributors in France

http://www.digitalcinemainfo.com/artsalliancemedia_11_08_10.php

November 8, 2010

Source: Arts Alliance Media

MK2 and DistriB Films sign long term Virtual Print Fee deals

Arts Alliance Media (AAM), Europe’s leading digital cinema company, has reached non-exclusive long-term agreements with two distributors for digital cinema rollout in France.

MK2 Distribution (MK2) and DistriB Films have become the first French independent distributors to support the DCI-compliant rollout by signing up to 10 year commitments. Both distributors will provide feature films in digital format, and will make provisional contributions towards the digital cinema deployment costs of AAM-deployed screens.

The terms of the agreement adhere to the recent legislation passed in France outlining the framework for distributors' contribution to the digitization of screens. This milestone within the independent sector represents a significant step forward towards the successful conversion to digital within the French cinema industry.

In November 2007, the first European cinema chain, France’s CGR Cinemas, signed up with AAM to convert 100% of its 400 screens to digital. This deployment is now complete and AAM is working towards the digitisation of complexes belonging to independent exhibitors. The agreements with MK2 and DistriB Films cover all screens installed by Arts Alliance Media in France.

Isabelle Nerin, Sales Manager, Distribution, of AAM said “We are very proud to be the first deploying entity to sign long term VPF deals with French distributors. This shows that our offer is adaptable to all types of films and distribution practices. Signing established distributors such as MK2 as well as new and upcoming companies like DistriB Films will ensure that a wide diversity of films is available in digital for AAM’s exhibitor clients.”

Matthieu Bardel, CEO of DistriB Films, said “We are extremely pleased to be the first distributor in France to sign a long term partnership with Arts Alliance Media, which, with CGR, has been the pioneer of digitisation in France. As a new distributor, we are delighted to jump directly to digital distribution, and look forward to the benefits this provides”. DistriB Films aims to distribute 8 to 10 films per year, starting in November 2010.

Nathanaël Karmitz, CEO of MK2, commented “We’re delighted to have signed this agreement with AAM, which will allow us to contribute to the digitisation of French cinemas using a reliable business model, in accordance with the CNC legislation.”

Gwendal Auffret, AAM’s Senior VP of Digital Cinema, added “Now that the law on digital projection has been voted upon, all the elements are in place for French distributors to join AAM’s initiative and help French cinemas digitize quickly and on a large scale.”

France is currently one of the leading territories in Europe for digital conversion, and has the largest number digital screens, as well as the largest number of 3D screens, in Western Europe. AAM signed CGR Cinemas, one of France’s largest chains with 400 screens, to its rollout scheme in 2007. AAM also has existing VPF deals with five Hollywood studios.