DigiTraining Plus courses: New Technologies for European Cinemas
Third Edition: Kuurne, Belgium, 5 – 9 April 2006

MEDIA Salles has prepared a 5-day course offering a full overview of the financial, business and technical issues surrounding digital transition: Change to digital: why? Will I be able to increase my cinema’s potential? What problems will I encounter and who will help me solve them?

Unique opportunity to exchange opinions with other exhibitors in an international setting, bring yourself up-to-date with the new technologies through seminars and hands-on sessions, compare, together with experts, different business models for digital transition and listen to the comments of those who have already gained significant experience in this field.
All this in the surroundings of the leading supplier of digital cinema projectors in Europe, with the opportunity to visit movie theatres at the forefront in adopting the new technologies and watch films and alternative content digitally projected, right up to the new threshold of 3-D.

Course contents

Wednesday, 5 April 2006
DIGITAL CINEMA: what shall we be discussing?
Digital Cinema, an overview of the market
Digital Cinema in Europe: cinemas, screens, movies.

Thursday, 6 April 2006

WHAT CHANGES AND WHO FOR?

Exhibitors and distributors exchange views about prospects, doubts, expectations. With a special look at the art-house sector.



WHAT TECHNOLOGY?

The DCI specifications and their impact on the digital cinema scenario



Learning from experience: Case Histories

Starting from their concrete experiences, representatives of European cinema circuits that have adopted digital technologies will describe their approaches.

A way to discover how digital projection can be part of strategies aimed at diversifying offers by the cinemas, from “event” movies to local productions, from art movies to foreign language films, up to alternative contents and pre-show entertainment



What shall we be able to screen? The present and near future for the offer of content

Digital Movies and 3-D contents;

Alternative HD content;

Interactivity and gaming: by Microsoft Xbox;

Other offers of alternative content;

Each of these sessions is followed by a demo.





Friday, 7 April 2006



Technical overviews: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE



What do I need, to set up my digital theatre?

Different types of servers and the most important technologies used in digital cinemas, from audio to security measures for fighting piracy, from satellite transmission to theatre system installation, will be outlined by representatives of highly specialised European and international companies.



Practical lesson on projectors and servers

A session devoted to “hands-on experience” of the digital equipment. Explanation of the processes of installation, programming, and play-out, besides monitoring and assistance for optimum functioning of the projector and server.





THE CHANGEOVER TO DIGITAL, WHO PAYS? Business and financing models

Leasing, renting, Virtual Print Fee, own integrated solutions:

An overview of offers by banks and service companies, who will discuss them with those interested.



Saturday, 8 April 2006


THE CHANGEOVER TO DIGITAL, WHO PAYS? part II

The intervention of public bodies.



HOW TO OBTAIN MORE DIGITAL FILMS?

The role of national and international networks in the circulation of digital content

Network experiences in Europe that can boost the spread of digital content in European cinemas.



New technologies and advertising

What are the prospects for development and the cinemas’ possible revenues



A glance at the future





35 mm AND DIGITAL. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE. can you see it?

Visit to Cityscoop cinema in Roeselare

with a digital film screening and a split screen session, for a direct comparison between 35 mm and digital.



Sunday, 9 April 2006



COMPARING IDEAS

Plenary session

Opinions, suggestions, questions, starting from the experience of the course.







· The course will be held at the Barco headquarters in Kuurne (Kortrijk). It will begin at Barco Factory in Kuurne on Wednesday, 5 April at 15.30 and will finish on Sunday, 9 April in Kortrijk, at the Parkhotel