IMAX Expands Partnership In China With Five-Theatre Deal; Omnijoi Cinemas Poised To Be Third-Largest IMAX Operator In Greater China

IMAX and Omnijoi Cinema Development Co., Ltd., formerly known as Jiangsu Eudemonia Blue Ocean Cinema Development Co., Ltd., today announced an agreement to install five IMAX® theatre systems into new construction projects throughout China. This agreement follows the earlier eight-theatre cooperation and brings Omnijoi Cinemas’ total IMAX commitment to 13 theatres, which includes a theatre currently open in the city of Suzhou and another that is slated to open in the city of Nanjing, Zhejiang Province in July. Today’s deal brings the total number of IMAX theatres open or contracted to open in Greater China to 225, 92 of which are currently open.

Under terms of the new agreement, Omnijoi Cinemas will install five IMAX theatre systems in the cities ofQingdao, Nantong, Suzhou and other cities, all of which are slated to open in 2014 and 2015.

“Chinese audiences appreciate the quality and immersive nature of The IMAX Experience, and today we are delighted to add additional IMAX theatres to our circuit,” said Mr. Wang Zhen, Managing Director of Omnijoi Cinema Development Co., Ltd. “Also, based on the success of Flying Swords of Dragon Gate at our IMAX theatre in Suzhou, we are pleased with IMAX’s increasing efforts to present local Chinese films alongside the Hollywood blockbusters, which we are confident will continue to thrill our patrons.”

“Since entering China over 10 years ago, IMAX has grown with the Chinese film and exhibition industry, becoming an inherent part of the Chinese movie-going experience,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “We’re pleased that the appetite for The IMAX Experience in China remains strong as do the opportunities for growth, thanks to the support of leading exhibitors like Omnijoi Cinemas.”

“Omnijoi Cinemas is a strategic partner that supports our network expansion by bringing IMAX into two high-growth areas in China,” added Don Savant, IMAX President, Theatre Development and Film Distribution and Managing Director, Asia Pacific. “As one of the strongest exhibition brands in the country, we are pleased to continue working with them and bring more audiences the ultimate movie-going experience.”

IMAX’s digital projection system delivers The IMAX Experience® and helps drive profitability for studios, exhibitors and IMAX theatres by eliminating the need for film prints, increasing program flexibility and ultimately increasing the number of movies shown on IMAX screens. The system can run both IMAX and IMAX® 3D presentations.