Christie brings entertainment to Haitain earthquake victims

posted by Michael Zoldessy on April 9, 2010 at 7:45 am

CYPRESS, CA — Running until April 11th, the Cinepolis Foundation’s social outreach program entitled “Let’s all go to Cinepolis Haiti” will screen 11 movies on donated Christie digital cinema projectors reaching more than 70,000 people devastated by the February 12th earthquake.

“Let’s all go to Cinepolis Haiti” is a joint effort between the Cinepolis Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, as well as the support of the Ministry of Culture of Haiti, FilmAid International, DOR Internacional and Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. This partnership aids in the reconstruction of Haiti by promoting positive messages and by bringing a moment of relaxation and joy as the country continues its recovery.

Lorena Guillen-Laris, Executive Director of Cinepolis Foundation notes: ‘Let’s all go to Cinepolis Haiti’ seeks to provide glimmers of hope and moments of family life that contribute to the emotional state of our Haitian brothers and sisters. We want to laugh, dream and be inspired by positive messages. The short films will encourage them to be strong and move forward.

The movies will be shown nightly on a 15m (49.2ft) inflatable screen in shelters located throughout Port au Prince and surrounding areas and will include both short and feature length, Hollywood movies. The short films theming on survival, unity and civic participation include: “I’m Still Alive”, “Grand Mere”, “Mechanistic” and “Volunteer”, as well as, shorts recorded by survivors of the earthquake. The full feature movies include: “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “Ice Age”, “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and “Night at the Museum” – the last three are being supplied by 20th Century Fox. The long and short films are spoken or translated into French and Creole, the national languages of Haiti.

The screening schedule is as follows:
Dates Location
April 1-3 Parc de la Couronne
April 4-6 Juvenat Frere Dl'intruction Chretinne
April 7-9 Automeka Center
April 10-11 Campement de l'Administration Commune Citer du Soleil

For photos from the opening night screening on April 1st, login in to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=406673&id=583110276&l=7401607413

About Cinepolis
For more than 39 years, Cinepolis, a leading Mexican entertainment and film company, has been providing customers with an enjoyable and comfortable movie-going experience. Cinepolis has 235 sites in 67 cities across Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Colombia. With more than 14,000 employees and an infrastructure equipped with the latest in technology, Cinepolis is always at the forefront of cinema and currently has 2,215 cinemas and a total of 422,559 seats. It was the first Mexican company to introduce the concept of stadium-style multiple rooms, IMAX theaters and the first in Latin America with lounges. It has pioneered customer loyalty programs such as “Club Cinepolis” and “Cineticket” reservation services and ticket purchases via phone and the Internet. For more information visit www.cinepolis.com

About Cinepolis Foundation
Cinepolis Foundation was founded in 1998 with the mission to contribute to social justice in Mexico through visual health programs, education in the art of cinema, community action and environmental issues with a special focus on the most vulnerable sectors of society. “Let’s all go to Cinepolis” has shared the fun of movie going with nearly 2 million people in vulnerable areas in the last 12 years. With “Let’s all go to Cinepolis Haiti”, the Cinepolis Foundation re-affirms its commitment to develop a more just and equitable society. For more information, visit www.fundacioncinepolis.org

About the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico promotes collaboration between governments and various social foundations at the international level by providing for a context of peace and respect for international law. It co-ordinates activities and programs to influence foreign relations with Mexico and other countries and invigorates the expression of cultural identity and images of Mexico. For more information visit www.sre.gob.mx

About FilmAid International
FilmAid International is a humanitarian organization that uses the power of film and video to reach the world’s most vulnerable communities with messages that inspire them, address their critical shared needs, and effect social change. Since 1999, FilmAid has worked in partnership with other global aid organizations communicating to and helping more than 1 million people in places as diverse as Macedonia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan and the United States Gulf Coast. FilmAid is a global partner of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and works closely with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), UNICEF, CARE, World Food Program and Church World Service, among others. For more information visit www.filmaid.org

About DOR Internacional
A Christie certified cinema reseller, DOR Internacional is at the vanguard of design, sales, installation and maintenance of cinemas and professional audio video systems throughout Mexico and South America including Venezuela, Brazil and Chile. With partners such as Cinepolis, it has installed more than 300 Christie digital cinema projectors. In 2008, it joined the Cinepolis Foundation’s “Let’s all go to Cinepolis” program to bring movies to dozens of rural communities. For further information, visit www.dorinter.com

About Christie®
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual technologies and a subsidiary of Ushio, Inc., Japan, (JP: 6925). It is distinguished by being the first to market some of the most advanced projectors and displays in the world and is recognized as one of the most innovative companies in visual technology in the world. From retail displays for Hollywood, command centers for special missions, to training simulators and classrooms, projectors and display solutions from Christie capture the attention of audiences worldwide with dynamic images and amazing. For more information visit www.christiedigital.com

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For more information, contact:
Dorina Belu, Senior Manager, Media & Communications
Christie
T: +1 519-749-3323
E:

Lorena Guille-Laris, Directora Ejecutiva
Fundación Cinepolis
T: +52 (443) 3220581
E: .mx