London—Dec 11, 2006
UK based cinema conference receives backing by major and independent operators, distributors and industry media
UK and international industry leaders to address delegates in London; Five first time screenings scheduled – BVI, Sony and Universal commit to screenings; New industry awards in cinema exhibition and distribution
The first major conference, trade show and awards presentation for the entire UK and Irish cinema industry will take place at the Mayfair Hotel London between the 6th-8th February 2007. The 5 star hotel has a 200 seat private cinema with full Digital, 35mm and THX certified facilities.
The conference opens with an overview of the International, UK and Irish cinema industries, and addresses key issues including; how to reduce spiralling costs; the need to introduce healthy eating through concession sales; the use of technology beyond the box office; the changes in distribution; alternate sources of revenue.
Thirty top industry speakers are lined up including Andrew Cripps – Paramount Pictures International; Tim Richards – Vue; Millard Ochs - Warner Bros International Cinemas; Crispin Lilly – Cineworld; Duncan Reynolds – Odeon; Graham Spurling – Movies@; Robert Mitchell –BVi; Neil Marshall –Pathe; Simon Hewlett - Universal; Mark Batey - FDA; Steve Perrin - UK Film Council; Rod Wheeler - Barco
The RAAM conference will target all elements of the industry, majors, independents, distributors and industry suppliers. Other topics being covered are; Going Digital, The Customer Offer, Operational Costs, Maximising Concessions and Distribution Piracy to name but a few. Full Conference programme and speaker line up available at: www.raamconference.com
The programme opens on the Tuesday February 6 with a reception and screening and continues for the next two days with key note presentations and screenings and concludes on the Thursday evening with a gala dinner and awards presentation.
Organised by UK based RAAM Management the conference will target all elements of the industry, majors, independents, distributors and industry suppliers.
RAAM has established a top level Advisory Board from the industry; Robert Mitchell, Steve Perrin, Neil Marshall, Rod Wheeler, Brian O’Gorman, Mike Vickers, Mark de Quervain, Luca Vasile, and David Hancock. Hollywood Reporter and Screen Digest are the media partners supporting the event.
RAAM Chairman– Tony Meehan commented “Following last February’s highly successful RAAM conference for the independent sector we realised we should not isolate one section of the industry from another. When we discussed the idea with operators and distributors, they agreed”. “We then established our advisory board which is representative of all aspects of the business and the programme content has been built around their recommendations”. “This is the first time in a very long time there has been a platform where the entire industry can meet, listen and share experiences. While exhibitors and distributors compete with each other – at the end of the day they face the same challenges”.
Robert Mitchell, Senior VP and Managing Director of BVI UK said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to air the topics that many of us know need discussing but rarely is there the forum to make that discussion worthwhile.”
Steve Perrin Deputy Head of Distribution and Exhibition at the UK Film Council commented: “As the industry moves into new phases of technology and marketing opportunities it is important that new ideas are shared and discussed by all relevant players, large and small. The coming together of the industry to discuss these issues has never been more important. The RAAM conference presents precisely this opportunity”.
The programme will include five first time screenings of forthcoming movies from Buena Vista International, Universal, 20th Century Fox and Sony. In addition, the UK Film Council will present five of their highly acclaimed series of shorts.
To recognise the successful operators and distributors RAAM will introduce a new set of industry awards that will be announced later.
RAAM Management is the UK’s leading specialist cinema consultancy working in the U.K. and International markets. For further information please visit the RAAM website at ; www.raammanagement.com
