Cinema Technology Sep. 27, 2023
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Christie is a leader in visual solutions for world-class organizations, offering diverse applications for cinema exhibitors. 

Christie, a leading innovator since 1929 and a pioneer in projection systems since 1979has established a global reputation as a quality manufacturer of display technologies and solutions for the world's cinema exhibition industry.. 

Christie offers comprehensive solutions for cinema, large audience venues, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality, simulation and education as well as industrial and government environments.

Recent News:
Sep 11, 2023 Christie Lights Up TIFF Venues Once Again
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Christie® is proud to renew its partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival® (TIFF) for the 23rd consecutive year. Until September 17, 2023, Christie is illuminating venues, including the Scotiabank Theatre, to help the festival recognize homegrown and international cinema.

Aug 17, 2023 Christie to Elevate Cinema Experience for Chinese Audiences at BIRTV
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Christie® will elevate the cinema experience for Chinese audiences with industry-leading cinema solutions ideal for both mainstream and Premium Large Format (PLF) auditoriums at the Beijing International Radio, TV and Film Exhibition (BIRTV), to be held at the China International Exhibition Center from August 23-26.

Aug 3, 2023 Christie to Serve as Official Technology Partner of Big Cine Expo 2023
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Christie®, the leader in inspiring exceptional experiences, is proud to announce its ongoing partnership with Big Cine Expo 2023 as the event’s official technology partner for the sixth consecutive year.

Jul 19, 2023 Christie Supplies RGB Pure Laser Projectors to Cineplex Germany
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Christie® is pleased to announce it has signed a multi-year agreement to supply its RGB pure laser projectors to Cineplex Germany. Work is underway to install RGB pure laser projectors as part of the agreement, which will operate until 2026.


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Cypress, Calif.—Feb 8, 2019

Digital Cinema Projection Pioneer Jack Kline Steps Down After 40 Years at Christie

Architect of Groundbreaking Virtual Print Fee (VPF) and Christie/AIX Deployment Program that Ushered in a New Age in Global Entertainment
Photo Jack Kline - Christie Digital
Christie® has announced that Jack Kline, a pioneer in digital cinema technology and architect of the innovative Virtual Print Fee (VPF) that accelerated the adoption of digital projection in movie theaters and created a revolution in global entertainment, is stepping down as Chairman, President and CEO of Christie after 40 years with the company, effective April 1, 2019.  

Current Chief Financial Officer Kazuhisa Kamiyama will assume the role as Chairman and CEO, while Kline remains at the company as an Executive Advisor to the CEO until April 1, 2020 to assist in a smooth transition.
 
“I am fortunate to have worked at Christie my entire professional life and to have played a critical role in leading the company into the digital age, helping it become a global force in digital display technology,” said Kline. “I have full confidence in the future of Christie, which is filled with talented, dedicated and highly motivated people who are focused on developing innovative technology and service to our customers.”
 
Added Kamiyama, “Jack’s leadership and strategic vision were instrumental in helping Christie to establish its market dominance worldwide, while also helping it to successfully navigate the diverse market challenges as the industry and the competition evolved. His exceptional qualities as a leader also set the performance standard for management and staff at all levels and, today, continues to guide, motivate and inspire new generations of leaders within the company.”
 
An Industry Trailblazer
During his tenure at Christie, Kline was responsible for leading the company’s visionary growth strategy that included the purchase of Canada’s Electrohome Projection Systems in 1999; and, shortly afterwards, becoming the first OEM to license and bring to market digital cinema projectors using Texas Instruments’ DLP Cinema® technology. The move catapulted the company from a 35mm analog projector manufacturer to a global provider of high power, high performance digital projection solutions. It established Christie as a leader in the exhibition industry and set the stage for Christie’s dramatic growth into a digital display powerhouse, with annual sales surging from several hundred million to nearly a billion dollars. 
 
In 2005, he successfully created strategic partnerships with major Hollywood studios, exhibitors, projector manufacturers, and technology providers to advance the installation of digital cinema. He then played a critical role in developing the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) financial solution and the Christie/AIX deployment program that introduced thousands of cutting-edge digital cinema projectors into the marketplace.  The program’s success played a key role in sparking the adoption of digital cinema projectors and launching a revolution in entertainment worldwide. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was presented with the ‘Ken Mason Inter-Society Award’ at CinemaCon in 2014. The award honors individuals who provide “outstanding long-term contributions leading to the overall improvement of the motion picture experience.”
 
Kline also led the revolution in managed services in 2009 with the launch of Christie Professional Services and the Christie Network Operations Center (NOC), a state-of-the-art facility that offers 24/7 remote monitoring and configuration management of customers’ visual display systems throughout North America. He continued to strengthen and expand Christie's global footprint through the distribution of high performance digital projection displays and visualization solutions across the company's major divisions, including Cinema, Enterprise/Entertainment and Content Management & Processing (CMP).  
 
A History of Service and Community Outreach
Kline joined Christie in 1979 as a National Sales Representative and was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 1988.  He was named Executive Vice President and COO in 1997 and appointed President and COO in 1999. In 2014, he assumed the role of chairman, president and CEO of all of Christie’s operating companies, worldwide.  Kline is a member of various industry organizations, including the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE), the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers, and the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA). He is also actively involved with numerous charities, including the Lollipop Theater Network, the National Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) Society, Rise Against Hunger, Orange County Business Leadership Committee, and Variety – The Children's Charity of the United States.
 
Kazuhisa joined Christie’s parent company Ushio Inc. in 1995 and became CFO of Ushio America in 2003. He was named General Manager of Accounting in 2011 and Executive Officer, General Manager of Ushio’s Corporate Headquarters (parent company of Christie and Ushio America) in 2016, overseeing company financials that included investor and bank relations, and Mergers & Acquisitions.  He graduated with an MBA from the International University of Japan.
 
“Jack’s vision and his spirit of innovation will remain integral parts of the company’s success for years to come,” said Kamiyama.


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Photo Jack Kline - Christie Digital

Logo: Christie
About Christie: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual and audio technologies company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan (JP: 6925). Christie revolutionized the movie industry with the launch of digital cinema projection, and since 1929 has embraced innovation and broken many technology barriers. Our technology, paired with the support of professional services to design, deploy and maintain installations, inspires exceptional experiences. Christie solutions are used around the world, from the largest mega-events to the smallest boardrooms, and include advanced RGB pure laser projection, SDVoE technology, content management, image processing, and LED and LCD displays. Visit www.christiedigital.com. Christie Directory page Christie Web Site
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More Christie News:
Sep 11, 2023 Christie Lights Up TIFF Venues Once Again
Christie Logo
Christie® is proud to renew its partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival® (TIFF) for the 23rd consecutive year. Until September 17, 2023, Christie is illuminating venues, including the Scotiabank Theatre, to help the festival recognize homegrown and international cinema.

Aug 17, 2023 Christie to Elevate Cinema Experience for Chinese Audiences at BIRTV
Christie Logo
Christie® will elevate the cinema experience for Chinese audiences with industry-leading cinema solutions ideal for both mainstream and Premium Large Format (PLF) auditoriums at the Beijing International Radio, TV and Film Exhibition (BIRTV), to be held at the China International Exhibition Center from August 23-26.

Aug 3, 2023 Christie to Serve as Official Technology Partner of Big Cine Expo 2023
Christie Logo
Christie®, the leader in inspiring exceptional experiences, is proud to announce its ongoing partnership with Big Cine Expo 2023 as the event’s official technology partner for the sixth consecutive year.

Jul 19, 2023 Christie Supplies RGB Pure Laser Projectors to Cineplex Germany
Christie Logo
Christie® is pleased to announce it has signed a multi-year agreement to supply its RGB pure laser projectors to Cineplex Germany. Work is underway to install RGB pure laser projectors as part of the agreement, which will operate until 2026.

Jul 4, 2023 Christie RGB Pure Laser Projection Powers Australian Premiere of Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
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Christie® is proud to announce that it has been specifically selected and entrusted by longstanding partner Hoyts Cinema Technology Group (CTG) to provide digital cinema projection technology for the Australian premiere of Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One on Monday, July 3.

Jun 27, 2023 Christie Projectors Help ICFF Transform Toronto’s Distillery Historic District into A Cinema Village
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Christie® is proud to once again sponsor the Lavazza IncluCity Festival, presented by the ICFF. Taking place from June 27 to July 22, the festival is a celebration of Canada’s cultural mosaic through a selection of curated international films.

Jun 22, 2023 Odeon Multicines Invests in CINITY Cinema System Offering Movie Experiences in the Highest Frame Rate Available
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Odeon Multicines has reached an agreement to install CINITY Cinema Systems, with components that include the energy-efficient Christie® Real|Laser™ illumination technology, in six premium large format (PLF) theatres across Spain.

Jun 15, 2023 Christie to Showcase the Widest Selection of Projection Illumination for Exhibitors at CineEurope
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Christie® will present its latest industry-leading cinema solutions from across its broad portfolio at CineEurope, June 19-22, at CCIB Barcelona.

Jun 12, 2023 Christie Supports the Shanghai International Film Festival for the 14th Consecutive Year
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Christie®, the leader in inspiring exceptional experiences, is pleased to announce its partnership with the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) for the 14th consecutive year.

Jun 8, 2023 Christie to Showcase Industry-Leading Cinema Solutions at CinemaS Shanghai International Film Forum and Exhibition
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Christie® will showcase its industry-leading cinema solutions ideal for both mainstream and Premium Large Format (PLF) auditoriums at the CinemaS Shanghai International Film Forum and Exhibition (CinemaS), to be held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from June 12-14.

May 18, 2023 Christie to Spotlight Stars at Festival de Cannes
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Christie® is proud to announce its renewed agreement with Festival de Cannes for the 17th consecutive year, to provide Christie RGB pure laser and Xenon illuminated projection solutions, for what is the world’s most prestigious celebration of cinema.

Apr 27, 2023 Emagine Chooses Christie 4K RGB Pure Laser Projectors for its New Cinema in Batavia
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Christie®, a leader in audiovisual technology solutions for the cinema industry, is pleased to announce that Emagine Entertainment has chosen Christie Real|Laser illuminated projectors for its new theatre opening in Batavia,  Illinois, on June 1, 2023.

Apr 27, 2023 Mexico’s Cinemas WTC Installs Christie Cinema Projectors for New 14-Screen Multiplex
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Christie®, a world leader in digital cinema technologies, is pleased to announce that Cinemas WTC (Cinemas World Theatre Concepts) a new multiplex in Mexico City with 14 cinemas, has installed its cinema projectors ranging from 8,000 to 22, 000 lumens. Christie integrator T&T Cinema carried out the installation.

Apr 27, 2023 Christie and OrionPC launch Christie Cinema Rental program in Brazil
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Christie®, a leader in audiovisual technology solutions for the cinema industry, today, announced a new Cinema Rental program with OrionPC to provide exhibitors in Brazil the option to acquire state-of-the-art Christie RGB pure laser projection technology through a service model, at a fraction of the cost of purchasing the new equipment.

Apr 26, 2023 Christie Projectors to Power Hundreds of Moroccan Cinema Screens with Global Entertainment
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Christie® is pleased to announce its projectors will be installed at several hundred screens across Morocco as part of a brace of projects carried out by partner Global Entertainment.

Apr 26, 2023 CGV Chooses Christie Cinelife+ Series Cinema Projectors
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Christie® is pleased to announce that CGV has signed an exclusive agreement to acquire hundreds of  CineLife+™ Series cinema projectors featuring the most energy efficient illumination systems on the market for its multiplexes located in South Korea, China, Vietnam and Indonesia over the next three years.

Apr 20, 2023 Christie to Showcase the Industry’s Most Energy-Efficient RGB Pure Laser Projectors at CinemaCon 2023
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Next week, the cinema industry will gather for the 12th annual CinemaCon conference and tradeshow at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, and Christie® is returning as the event’s official projection partner providing the ultimate experience in presentation technology for every image displayed in The Colosseum.

Apr 6, 2023 Lotte Cultureworks Chooses Christie 4K RGB Pure Laser Projection for Premium Large Format Cinema Auditoriums in South Korea
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Christie® is pleased to announce that Lotte Cultureworks, a subsidiary of Lotte Group that manages the operations of Lotte Cinema, has acquired 4K RGB pure laser projection systems for its flagship Superplex World Tower auditorium in Seoul, as well as several premium large format (PLF) auditoriums across South Korea.

Apr 4, 2023 Ushio Appoints Koji Naito as New Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Christie
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Ushio Inc., a trusted leader in light sources and optical equipment for industrial processing, visual imaging and life sciences, and parent company to Christie®, the leader in audio and visual technologies, today jointly announce the appointment of Koji Naito as the new chairman and CEO of Christie Digital Systems, globally.

Dec 27, 2022 Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Chooses Christie RGB Pure Laser Projection for its Iconic Auditorium
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Christie®, a global leader in digital cinema technologies, is pleased to announce that Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, one of the most beloved heritage cinemas in Australia, has chosen its state-of-the-art RGB pure laser projection system for the iconic auditorium – The Orpheum.
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