For more information, telephone 626 449 9296, fax 626 449 9219, email LFCA2000@LFCA.org or consult the Web site at http://www.LFCA.org.
Large Format Cinema Association Annual Conference & Film Festival To Meet May 17-20 In Los Angeles
The Large Format Cinema Association (LFCA) Board of Directors has confirmed plans to hold the LFCA 2000 Conference and Large Format Film Festival in Los Angeles, May 17-20 (Wed.-Sat.) at the California Science Center. This fourth annual LFCA Conference will feature panel discussions on vital industry topics, technical sessions, historical tributes and awards and a keynote presentation. As part of the conference, the LFCA Kodak Vision Award will be presented to a distinguished large format cinematographer, filmmaker or director. The Large Format Film Festival will feature new films in 15/70 and 8/70 formats plus a gala event spotlighting a 5/70 Hollywood widescreen classic. On Saturday, May 20, a variety of LFCA member companies in the Los Angeles area will host open houses. The priority is for the conference to reflect and help realize the LFCA mission, which is primarily the open exchange of information and the growth of the industry in its various markets,"" says Conference Chair Paul Giguere, who is Regional Vice President, Europe, Africa & The Middle East, MegaSystems, Inc. ""We want to be very responsive to current issues, needs and trends."" This year is one of the most important in the history of the industry, in terms of growth and change, and the conference will express that, remarks LFCA President Christopher Reyna. When the LFCA meeting opens in May, ""Fantasia/2000"" will have finished its four-month run in large format theatres. Well over 300 large format theatres will be open around the world, many of them in Europe, Asia and South America. More than 100 of those will be commercial theatres. Record growth is expected to continue for theatres and film releases. Technology continues to develop. The language of large format film is being reinvented. Things are growing and shifting so quickly that it's a challenge just to keep up - and it's essential not just to keep up, but to understand, which is what meetings like this are all about. LFCA Spotlight Symposia Two LFCA Spotlight Symposia - special, day-long intensives on topics of current interest, led by established industry professionals - will bookend the main conference. The symposia are a separate function from the LFCA 2000 conference, requiring separate admission, and may be attended separately or in combination with the main conference. The first Spotlight Symposium is ""Special Venue Theater: Focus On Motion Simulation."" It will take place Wednesday, May 17, prior to the opening of the main conference, and is co-chaired by Cliff Hay of Clifford Hay & Associates, and Gil Perez, Director of Rides and Attractions, Luxor Hotel. Hay and Perez share several years' experience working as a team developing rides and attractions for Mandalay Resort Group. The second Spotlight Symposium is ""The Next Wave: Digital Techniques In Large Format."" It takes place Saturday, May 20, following the close of the main conference, and will be co-chaired by Ray Feeney, President of RFX Inc., a principal supplier of hardware and software to the digital film industry, and Marty Shindler, whose company The Shindler Perspective provides business consulting to creative and technology companies. The Visual Effects Society and its Executive Director, Tom Atkin, will participate in the digital production symposium. VES is the world's largest organization of distinguished visual effects professionals. Another fellow industry group that will play a part in LFCA 2000 is the Sunshine Group Worldwide, which will help create sessions on commercial exhibition. Sunshine Group publishes the monthly magazine Film Journal International. Attendance And Participation LFCA 2000 and the LFCA Spotlight Symposia are open to all members of the international large format film industry. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Pre-registration begins in mid-February. Hotel reservations are now open. The LFCA Conference Headquarters in Los Angeles is ready to respond to inquiries about registration, participation, hotels and travel, or any other conference-related matter, at tel. 626 449 9296, fax 626 449 9219, email LFCA2000@LFCA.org. Regular updates will be posted on the association's Web site at http://www.LFCA.org. Organizers reported the LFCA 1999 Conference as a successful, invigorating gathering. The 1999 event drew a total of 409 people, representing 11 countries - an increase of 20 percent from the previous year's attendance total of 341.The 1999 keynote speaker was Harrison A. ""Buzz"" Price of Harrison Price Company, a venerated recreation analyst with some 50 years' experience. Price portrayed the large format film business as the fastest growing segment of the theatrical motion picture industry, expanding at rates above 10 percent per year, ""a genuine growth industry"" with considerable potential. ""The diversity of markets in this field is very healthy in terms of building a business,"" he said. About The Large Format Cinema Association Founded in September 1996, the Large Format Cinema Association (LFCA) is a not-for-profit international association open to all those interested in the worldwide large format industry, including filmmakers, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, theatres and their support industry, as well as film students, film studios and theme parks. Current membership is approximately 330. Charter President is Christopher Reyna, President of IMAGICA USA INC. The mission of LFCA is to promote global public awareness of large-screen entertainment formats, to provide a forum for sharing information and to foster the growth of the industry. The next annual LFCA Conference and Film Festival takes place May 16-20 in Los Angeles.