Roma continues to be a lightning rod for controversy within the cinema vs streaming debate. Philip Knatchbull, CEO of leading UK arthouse exhibitor and distributor Curzon, has responded to Vue’s open letter to BAFTA in which the commercial chain criticized the organization for bestowing four movie prizes on Netflix’s…

Leading international cinema chain Vue, one of the UK and Europe’s biggest operators, has sent an open letter to BAFTA Chief Executive Amanda Berry criticizing the organization for awarding four prizes to Netflix’s Roma. Scroll down for the letter in full. Vue founder and chairman Tim Richards spells out why he thinks…

Leading U.S. and international film companies have been largely quiet so far on the disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Behind the scenes, however, they are reevaluating their investments in and from the country. International outrage over the fate of Khashoggi, who has been missing since…

The launch late last week of a potential UK equivalent to U.S. ticketing upstart MoviePass created a stir among Blighty’s exhibition community. No-one knew who was behind the audacious offer called cPass, whose site included the logos of all major UK theater chains. So, over the weekend I tracked down the U.S. and…

A company supposedly positioning itself as a UK equivalent to U.S. ticketing upstart MoviePass, has been met with wonder by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA), whose members include theater chains Odeon, Cineworld, Vue and Curzon — we’ve been told none of its members are signed up to the service. A professional-looking w…

Three UK theatre chains — Cineworld, Picturehouse and Curzon — have dropped Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight in a row with local distributor Entertainment Film over its decision to award the exclusive West End screening rights to rival chain Odeon. Cineworld, its subsidiary Picturehouse and Curzon have a combined…

Canadian investment groups OMERS Private Equity and Alberta Investment Management Corporation will pay £935M ($1.45B) for pan-European multiplex operator Vue Entertainment. Vue’s current owner, private equity firm Doughty Hanson, acquired the group in 2010 for £450M and expanded its holdings at home and abroad with…

Vue Eyes Germany, Denmark UK exhibitor Vue Entertainment is moving deeper into Europe with the acquisition of Germany’s CinemaxX. The $172M takeover will push Vue into Germany and Denmark where CinemaxX – whose Potsdamer Platz outpost is a familiar spot for Berlin Film Fest attendees – has a combined 34 moviehouses…

2ND UPDATE: A 5 AM walkthrough of the Royal Wedding route took place today complete with carriages, trumpeters and up to 1,000 members of the Armed Forces wearing full ceremonial uniform. Meanwhile, the first spectator has claimed his spot right outside Westminster Abbey, kitted out with flags, a sleeping bag and an…

The latest installment opened here at midnight on Friday, and played on Saturday and Sunday for distributor E1 Entertainment. The third Twilight movie grossed £6,287,559 over the weekend. The gothic love story opens properly on July 9 as the picture rolls out in major territories in a World Cup-caused delay…

The Isle of Man-based equity investor has announced its first TV drama, a six-part thriller for the BBC. Until now CinemaNX has invested in features, covering up to 100% of the budget. Company Pictures (Skins) is making The Shadow Line, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (Children of Men) and Christopher Eccleston (Doctor…