Christie celebrates 10 years as official projection provider

TORONTO, ON – (September 9, 2010) - Christie^®, the leader in digital cinema projection, announced that its leading digital cinema projectors, which include the new generation Solaria™ Series 4K-ready DLP Cinema^® projectors, will screen a record number of digital titles at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival^®, September 9 –19. Celebrating 10 years as projection sponsor for the Festival, Christie has played a key role in the Festival’s growing use of digital projection technology to accurately reflect the innovative works of a new generation of filmmakers.

Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has gained a global reputation as a launching pad for the best international, Hollywood and Canadian cinema. Its exceptional record for nurturing major new talent has helped it gain worldwide acclaim as the most important film festival after Cannes. From a modest audience of 35,000 in its first year, attendance has grown to more than 500,000, with a program this year that includes 1,285 screenings of 336 titles from 64 countries around the world. Nearly half of all titles this year will be screened digitally.

“We have had a significant increase in the demand for digital screenings,” said Andrei Gravelle, technical manager, TIFF. “3D is also beginning to make its presence felt. We have two titles this year, one of which is the highly anticipated Werner Herzog groundbreaking 3D documentary, ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams’. Herzog took custom-designed 3D cameras to look at 30,000-year-old cave artwork at Chauvet in France, and the results were a visual triumph. The film has the potential to win over a whole new demographic to the possibilities of 3D.”

A major development at TIFF will be the grand opening on September 12th of its new home and Festival centre, the TIFF Bell Lightbox, which will enable them to expand substantially. The site, which will host the Herzog documentary, features a total of six Christie digital cinema projectors, with three theatres using the Christie CP2230, the top-of-the-line 2K model from the Christie Solaria Series. The TIFF Bell Lightbox, widely expected to become a cultural anchor in the city, is a modern, five-story complex in the heart of downtown Toronto.

“The Festival has become a true cultural phenomenon, offering a world stage to some of Canada’s most original and innovative films, while also embracing and showcasing international films,” said Diane Cappelletto, TIFF’s director of production. “With the digital cinema revolution in full swing around the world, Christie has been instrumental in ensuring we are able to meet the growing demand for the sharp, vivid images that are the hallmark of digital technology. That is why, the world premiere of Herzog's ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams’ will be on a Christie projector at the TIFF Bell Lightbox."

“It’s an honour to be part of the outstanding tradition of innovation and creative vision that is TIFF,” said Gerry Remers, president and chief operating officer, Christie Digital Systems Canada, Inc. “As the recognized leader in digital cinema projection technology, Christie is pleased to provide our expertise and superior projection solutions to help TIFF introduce brilliant and memorable films to a global audience.”

Christie projectors will be installed at Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room (Elgin Theatre), the Ryerson Theatre, the Isabel Bader Theatre, Scotiabank Theatres 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 13, Varsity 8, AMC 7 and National Film Board (NFB). TIFF Bell Lightbox cinemas 1, 2 and 3 will feature the Christie CP2230, with Cinema 1 offering 3D.