CINEMACON® WELCOMES BACK
THE MAJOR STUDIOS AND THEIR FILM SLATES
TO WORLD’S LARGEST THEATRICAL CONVENTION
IN 2025
Amazon MGM Studios Joins CinemaCon®
Main Stage Studio Presentations for the First Time;
Sony Pictures Returns to the Colosseum
(LOS ANGELES – December 12, 2024) CinemaCon®, the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition hosted by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), today announced that all of the major Hollywood studios will be on hand to showcase their upcoming theatrical slates when cinema owners gather next year at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from March 31 – April 3. Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures/Focus Features, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Pictures will all preview their upcoming theatrical releases, while for the first time, Amazon MGM Studios will join the CinemaCon main stage studio presentations at The Colosseum of Caesars Palace, with additional programming to be announced.
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome back all of our studio partners, with the addition of Amazon MGM Studios to this coming year’s CinemaCon line-up as a clear sign of support of the theatrical moviegoing business,” said NATO President and CEO Michael O’Leary. “This powerhouse line-up of the world’s greatest film-making studios speaks directly to the cultural and economic power of the cinema. Our friends in the studios know that movie fans want to see the magic they make on the big screen, and they also know that movies that start their journey in the theatre are more successful than those that do not. We applaud their commitment to theatrical exhibition and look forward to an amazing week seeing all the great stories they are bringing to movie fans in the year ahead.”
“We are grateful for the continued support from the studios, filmmakers and stars, vendors and of course our NATO members, the theatre owners,” says CinemaCon Managing Director Mitch Neuhauser. “We’ve got some exciting surprises and changes in store for next year’s CinemaCon and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Las Vegas.”
CinemaCon attracts upwards of 6,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry -- from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas -- all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. CinemaCon works with the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its trade show partners. The Coca-Cola Company –- one of the industry’s most highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies -– is its official presenting sponsor.
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 32,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 88 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world as well as hundreds of independent theatre owners.
The Movie Report wants to attend all your film special events! Please send any and all invitations to this address. Thanks!
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Historic Arts Nonprofit Celebrates 40 Years
of Supporting Independent Artists
Award Winners to be Revealed at the Ceremony
on February 22 at the Santa Monica Beach
LOS ANGELES (December 4, 2024) – Film Independent, the nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering independence and inclusivity in visual storytelling, announced this morning the award nominations for the 40th annual edition of the Film IndependentSpirit Awards. The historic anniversary milestone will celebrate this year’s nominees as well as the storied artists who have been honored across Spirit Awards’ long and influential history.
Revealed this morning in a video announcement, the film nominations were led by Anora and I Saw the TV Glow with six each. In the television categories, Shōgun garnered the most nominations with five, followed closely by Baby Reindeer and English Teacher with four apiece. Watch the announcement here:
“Since we held our first ceremony in 1985 at a restaurant on La Cienega to last year’s show when viewers around the world joined us at the Santa Monica Beach to celebrate the work of so many artists, Film Independent has continued to support independent filmmakers and enable them to achieve their vision at every stage of their career,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “As with the legendary artists from that inaugural event, and the countless others we’ve had the privilege to work with since, we’re thrilled to be honoring this group of creatives as they continue this proud legacy.”
Since that initial ceremony, where Martin Scorsese and Joel Coen shared the Best Director Prize at what was then called the FINDIE (Friends of Independents) Awards, the Spirit Awards has grown as the centerpiece of Film Independent’s year-round initiatives, honoring thousands of artists across film and, beginning in 2021, television. In 2022 the Spirit Awards further adapted to being a more inclusive and accurate representation of the film and television industry by becoming one of the first awards shows to adopt gender neutral acting awards. Artists recognized early in their careers by the Spirit Awards who went on to incredible success include the aforementioned Joel Coen, Spike Lee, Ryan Coogler, Whit Stillman, Robert Rodriguez, and Kasi Lemmons, among many, many others.
The 40thFilm IndependentSpirit Awards, which will be overseen by returning host and Saturday Night Live alum Aidy Bryant, will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The in-person show, held at the beach in Santa Monica, will be streamed live on the IMDb and Film IndependentYouTube channels, and across other social platforms. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round slate of programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and celebrate creative independence, diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision in independent film and television.
“This year’s inspiring group of Spirit Award-nominated artists show the essential nature of independent art being produced today,” said Brenda Robinson, Chair of the Board of Directors for Film Independent. “Through their dedication, bravery and unique voices they have created indelible works that will be celebrated for years to come, and we’re honored to be supporting them on that journey.”
The 2025 Best Feature nominees include Anora, I Saw the TV Glow, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, and The Substance. His Three Daughters, from director Azazel Jacobs, has been selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon a single film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman, known for populating his films with extraordinary ensemble casts.
On the television side, the 2025 Best New Scripted Series nominees include Baby Reindeer, Diarra From Detroit, English Teacher, Fantasmas, and Shōgun. In the Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series category, the nominees are Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color, Hollywood Black, Photographer, Ren Faire, and Social Studies.
Further emphasizing the impact of Film Independent’s year-round work, eight of this year’s Spirit Awards nominees have previously been involved with Artist Development, the essential year-round program at the forefront of artist support and education within the film industry. They include Sean Baker (Best Feature and Best Director for Anora), Rivkah Beth Medow (Best Documentary for Hummingbirds), Jomo Fray (Best Cinematography for Nickel Boys), Jillian Schlesinger (Best Documentary for Hummingbirds), Daniel Tantalean (Best First Feature for In the Summers), Monique Walton (Best Feature for Sing Sing), Sarah Winshall (Best Feature for I Saw the TV Glow, and Producers Award), and Zoë Worth (Producers Award).
This year the Spirit Awards Film Nominating Committees selected nominees from over 17 different countries with budget ranges between $112,000 to $28 million, applying the following guidelines in determining nominees: uniqueness of vision, original and provocative subject matter and economy of means. Of all the 2025 nominees, 46% are women and 30% are BIPOC. Within the nominated writers, directors, producers and technical artists, 43% are women and 24% are BIPOC. The nominated performers are 54% women and 48% BIPOC.
The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees are comprised of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, critics, casting directors, film festival programmers and other working film professionals. This year, the Spirit Awards nominating committees are 47% female, 10% Nonbinary, 7% Transgender, and 66% BIPOC; 45% identify as LGBTQ+, and 13% identify as people with disabilities (PWD).
Film IndependentSpirit Awards are supported by Principal Sponsor IMDbPro and Official Partners Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, FIJI Water, and Miraval Rose. Easterseals Disability Services is the Accessibility Partner. Hotel Casa del Mar and The Georgian are the Official Hotels. CULTURED Magazine is an Official Media Partner. Getty Images is the Official Photographer. Vision Media is the Exclusive Screening Partner.
(Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Anora
Producers: Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan
I Saw the TV Glow
Producers: Ali Herting, Luca Intili, Dave McCary, Emma Stone, Sarah Winshall
Nickel Boys
Producers: Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine
Sing Sing
Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Monique Walton
The Substance
Producers: Tim Bevan, Coralie Fargeat, Eric Fellner
BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to the director and producer)
Dìdi
Director/Producer: Sean Wang
Producers: Valerie Bush, Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters
In the Summers
Director: Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio
Producers: Janek Ambros, Lynette Coll, Alexander Dinelaris, Cynthia Fernandez De La Cruz, Cristóbal Güell, Sergio Alberto Lira, Rob Quadrino, Jan Suter, Daniel Tantalean, Nando Vila, Slava Vladimirov, Stephanie Yankwitt
Janet Planet
Director/Producer: Annie Baker
Producers: Andrew Goldman, Dan Janvey, Derrick Tseng
The Piano Lesson
Director: Malcolm Washington
Producers: Todd Black, Denzel Washington
Problemista
Director/Producer: Julio Torres
Producers: Ali Herting, Dave McCary, Emma Stone
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.
Big Boys
Writer/Director/Producer: Corey Sherman
Producer: Allison Tate
Ghostlight
Writer/Director: Kelly O’Sullivan
Director/Producer: Alex Thompson
Producers: Pierce Cravens, Ian Keiser, Chelsea Krant, Eddie Linker, Alex Wilson
Girls Will Be Girls
Writer/Director/Producer: Shuchi Talati
Producers: Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne
Jazzy
Writer/Director/Producer: Morrisa Maltz
Writer/Producer: Lainey Shangreaux
Writers: Andrew Hajek, Vanara Taing
Producers: Miranda Bailey, Tommy Heitkamp, John Way, Natalie Whalen, Elliott Whitton
The People's JOker
Writer/Director: Vera Drew
Writer: Bri LeRose
Producer: Joey Lyons
Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.
His Three Daughters
Director: Azazel Jacobs
Casting Director: Nicole Arbusto
Ensemble Cast: Jovan Adepo, Jasmine Bracey, Carrie Coon, Jose Febus, Rudy Galvan, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Randy Ramos Jr., Jay O. Sanders
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Award given to the director and producer.
Gaucho Gaucho
Directors/Producers: Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
Producers: Christos Konstantakopoulos, Cameron O’Reilly, Matthew Perniciaro
Hummingbirds
Directors: Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía “Beba” Contreras
Co-Directors/Producers: Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Diane Ng, Ana Rodriguez-Falco, Jillian Schlesinger
Producers: Leslie Benavides, Rivkah Beth Medow
No Other Land
Directors/Producers: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor
Producers: Fabien Greenberg, Bård Kjøge Rønning
Patrice: The Movie
Director: Ted Passon
Producers: Kyla Harris, Innbo Shim, Emily Spivack
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
Director: Johan Grimonprez
Producers: Rémi Grellety, Daan Milius
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Award given to the director.
All We Imagine as Light (France/India/Netherlands/Luxembourg)
Director: Payal Kapadia
PRODUCERS AWARD presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey
The Producers Award, now in its 28th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.
Alex Coco
Sarah Winshall
Zoë Worth
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 31st year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.
Nicholas Colia, director of Griffin in Summer
Sarah Friedland, director of Familiar Touch
Pham Thien An, director of Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 30th year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.
Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie, directors of Sugarcane
Carla Gutiérrez, director of Frida
Rachel Elizabeth Seed, director of A Photographic Memory
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES>
(Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Executive Producers: Idris Elba, Johanna Woolford Gibbon, Jamilla Dumbuya, Jos Cushing, Khaled Gad, Matt Robins, Chris Muckle, Sean David Johnson, Simon Raikes
Co-Executive Producer: Annabel Hobley
Hollywood Black
Executive Producers: Shayla Harris, Dave Sirulnick, Stacey Reiss, Jon Kamen, Justin Simien, Kyle Laursen, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Jeffrey Schwarz, Amy Goodman Kass, Michael Wright, Jill Burkhart
Co-Executive Producers: David C. Brown, Laurens Grant
Photographer
Executive Producers: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Pagan Harleman, Betsy Forhan
Co-Executive Producers: Anna Barnes, Brent Kunkle
Ren Faire
Executive Producers: Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Eli Bush, Dani Bernfeld, Lance Oppenheim, David Gauvey Herbert, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Co-Executive Producers: Abigail Rowe, Christian Vasquez, Max Allman
Social Studies
Creator/Executive Producer: Lauren Greenfield
Executive Producers: Wallis Annenberg, Regina K. Scully, Andrea van Beuren, Frank Evers, Caryn Capotosto
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
(Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
Baby Reindeer
Creator/Executive Producer: Richard Gadd
Executive Producers: Wim De Greef, Petra Fried, Matt Jarvis, Ed Macdonald
Diarra From Detroit
Creator/Executive Producer: Diarra Kilpatrick
Executive Producers: Kenya Barris, Miles Orion Feldsott, Darren Goldberg
Co-Executive Producers: Ester Lou, Mark Ganek
English Teacher
Creator/Executive Producer: Brian Jordan Alvarez
Executive Producers: Paul Simms, Jonathan Krisel, Dave King
Co-Executive Producers: Kathryn Dean, Jake Bender, Zach Dunn
Fantasmas
Creator/Executive Producer: Julio Torres
Executive Producers: Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Olivia Gerke, Alex Bach, Daniel Powell
Co-Executive Producer: Ali Herting
Shōgun
Creators/Executive Producers: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks
Executive Producers: Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, Michaela Clavell
Co-Executive Producers: Shannon Goss, Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, Jamie Vega Wheeler
CinemaCon® to take place
March 31 - April 4 in Las Vegas
WASHINGTON D.C. (December 4, 2024) – The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) will honor Sean Gamble, President and CEO of Cinemark, with the 2025 NATO Marquee Award during next year’s CinemaCon, the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition hosted by NATO. Gamble is being recognized by NATO for his unwavering dedication, commitment, and service to the motion picture theatre industry. He will receive the industry’s highest tribute as part of CinemaCon's “State of the Industry” program on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. CinemaCon will be held March 31 - April 3, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
NATO President and CEO Michael O’Leary commented on the news saying: “Sean is the perfect choice for the NATO Marquee Award. He is a pro-business, pro-consumer leader and is highly respected across the entire industry for his incredible business acumen, with a deep understanding of studio and exhibitor relations. Sean is always looking to the future, and in working with his amazing team at Cinemark, is driving the next generation of theatrical innovation. This award recognizes that leadership and his commitment to making movie theatres the premier entertainment experience for generations to come.”
Gamble said: "I am deeply honored to receive the 2025 NATO Marquee Award. This recognition is a testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of our entire Cinemark team, both past and present. Together, we have embraced innovation, enhanced the moviegoing experience, and positioned our company for growth and success while navigating unprecedented challenges over the past few years. I am grateful to NATO for this prestigious award and remain confident that through our collaborative industry efforts cinemas will remain a preferred destination for premium out-of-home entertainment, bringing people together and enriching communities."
Having served as President and CEO of Cinemark since January 2022, Gamble has provided steady leadership throughout multiple major company and industry developments, including the closure and reopening of Cinemark’s entire theatre circuit during the COVID pandemic, the evolution of the theatrical window, and a reduced volume of film releases caused by the pandemic and strike-induced production stoppages. Additionally, he has been a key driver of and contributor to the advancement of Cinemark’s global business operations, including the conversion to reclined seating, the expansion of premium technologies and food & beverage offerings, the ongoing enhancement of marketing and programming capabilities to increase moviegoing and loyalty, the introduction of the first U.S. exhibitor-owned monthly subscription program, and optimizing operating practices and workforce management processes, to name a few.
As an active member of NATO, Gamble is a well-known advocate of the theatrical experience by fostering and supporting strong relationships with historical and emerging studio partners to maximize box office for traditional and alternative content releases.
Prior to being named CEO, Gamble held multiple leadership roles of increasing responsibility within Cinemark, including CFO from 2014 to 2021, CFO and COO from 2018 to 2021, and President in 2021. Prior to joining Cinemark, he worked for the Comcast Corporation as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Universal Pictures within NBCUniversal from February 2009 to April 2014. He joined Comcast after 15 years at the General Electric Company where he held multiple senior leadership positions, including CFO of GE Oil & Gas’ equipment business based in Florence, Italy, from May 2007 to January 2009. Gamble is a Six Sigma Black Belt and avid champion of Cinemark’s continuous improvement programs, encouraging all team members to pursue strategic streamlining and business process improvements across the organization. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, and lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife and three daughters.
CinemaCon attracts upwards of 6,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry -- from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas -- all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. CinemaCon works with the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its trade show partners. The Coca-Cola Company –- one of the industry’s most highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies -– is its official presenting sponsor.
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 32,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 88 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world as well as hundreds of independent theatre owners.
Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) provides extraordinary out-of-home entertainment experiences as one of the largest and most influential theatrical exhibition companies in the world. Based in Plano, Texas, Cinemark makes every day cinematic for moviegoers across nearly 500 theatres and more than 5,500 screens, operating in 42 states in the U.S. (306 theatres; 4,282 screens) and 13 South and Central American countries (193 theatres; 1,398 screens). Cinemark offers guests superior sight and sound technology, including Barco laser projection and Cinemark XD, the world’s No. 1 exhibitor-branded premium large format; industry-leading penetration of upscale amenities such as expanded food and beverage offerings, Luxury Lounger recliners and D-BOX motion seats; top-notch guest service; and award-winning loyalty programs such as Cinemark Movie Club. All of this creates an immersive environment for a shared, entertaining escape, underscoring that there is no place more cinematic than Cinemark. For more information, visit ir.cinemark.com.
The Movie Report wants to attend all your film special events! Please send any and all invitations to this address. Thanks!
Please help support this site through a generous donation
via Buy a Me a Coffee!
