NATO’s The Cinema Foundation hosted a session at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6 titled “How Theatres are Event-izing the Moviegoing Experience.”
Moderated by Bryan Braunlich, Executive Director of The Cinema Foundation, the TIFF event was a standing-room-only session, featuring RogerEbert.com film critic Monica Castillo (who is also senior film programmer for the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY), Sara Moore, the Chief Marketing Officer for Cineplex Entertainment, and Erik Davis, Director of Social Content & Strategy for Fandango. The panelists shared observations, anecdotes and data on how elevated concessions and rewards, community connection, live entertainment, creator engagement, alternative content, must-have merchandise, and memorable in-theatre activations are all contributing to moviegoing enjoyment. Many thanks to the TIFF industry Conference Team, Beth Janson at The Cinema Foundation, and Michelle Saba at Cineplex for their support in putting together a fantastic event.