Month: March 2025

The Cinema Foundation Hosts “How Theatres are Eventizing the Moviegoing Experience” Panel at SXSW

Photo (left to right): Bryan Braunlich, The Cinema Foundation; Traci Hanlon, Cinergy Entertainment; Valarie Rico, Santikos Entertainment; Andrew Thomas, Moonstruck Drive-In.

The Cinema Foundation’s own Executive Director Bryan Braunlich moderated a standing-room only kickoff session at South by Southwest on “How Theatres are Eventizing the Moviegoing Experience” with Cinergy Entertainment’s Traci Hanlon, Santikos Entertainment’s Valarie Rico and Moonstruck Drive-In’s Andrew Thomas at the Austin Convention Center on Friday, March 7. The lively SXSW panel discussed how movie theatres of all sizes bring people together, anchor communities, and make each moviegoing experience an event. The exhibition experts talked how community involvement, local partnerships, creative loyalty programs, elevated concessions, social engagement, and in-theatre activations all contribute to the magic of the big screen and keep moviegoers coming back for more.

NATO Congratulates The Team Behind “Anora” For Making Oscar History

“Over the years, Sean Baker has been an unwavering champion for the theatrical experience, and we congratulate him and his team, as well as our friends at NEON on their well-deserved Oscar wins tonight.” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. “Sean’s passion for movies on the big screen resonates with moviegoers around the world.  We cannot wait to see what he dreams up next, and when he does, everyone in theatrical exhibition will be standing at the ready to help movie fans see it as intended – on a big screen.”

Per Variety, Baker set a new Oscar record:

“Anora” director Sean Baker has become the first person to win four Oscars in the same year for the same film.

During Sunday’s ceremony, Baker and “Anora” won Oscars for original screenplay, film editing, directing and best picture. With the wins, Baker ties another famous filmmaker: Walt Disney. But while Disney won four Oscars in the same night in 1953, it was for four different films (“The Living Desert,” “The Alaskan Eskimo,” “Bear Country” and “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom”). Disney was also nominated that year for “Ben and Me” and “Rugged Bear.”