NEW YORK, NY – Christian Langhammer, Founder of Cineplexx International GmbH, has been announced as the 2016 recipient of the CineEurope “International Exhibitor of the Year Award.” The award will be presented as part of the Awards Reception hosted by the Coca-Cola Company on Thursday evening, June 23rd at the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB) in Barcelona, Spain.02
Each year at CineEurope, the award is given to a cinema exhibitor whose accomplishments, new developments, growth, and market leadership make them the standard-bearer for the industry.
“Christian Langhammer and his team have created one of the youngest and most successful exhibition circuits in Europe, central to that success has undoubtedly been the leadership and skill of Langhammer himself,” stated Andrew Sunshine, Co-Managing Director of CineEurope. “We are delighted that we will have the opportunity to single out his achievements at CineEurope this year.”
“Cineplexx has become one of the most dynamic and innovative pan-European cinema operators. We greatly value in particular their strong commitment to rebuilding a cinema-going culture in South East Europe,” said Phil Clapp, President of the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC). We are delighted that Christian and his team have accepted this honour and look forward to celebrating with them in Barcelona in June.”
Since 1980, Langhammer has been responsible for building a cinema chain with 25 theatres over all Austria and developing the company to a strong market leader in the traditional cinema business. In 1995, Langhammer founded Cineplexx Kinobetriebe GmbH, which has set the standard for a huge expansion of modern multiplex cinema in Austria and later in South Eastern Europe. Langhammer led this decision to replace the traditional cinema network of Lichtspieltheater Betriebs-GmbH by the Cineplexx chain.
Langhammer founded Cineplexx International in 2008 as a joint venture with his long-term CFO and partner Christof Papousek. The company stood as the basis for setting up a cinema network in South Eastern Europe.
Cineplexx International is a sub holding company that is responsible for the development, management and financing of cinemas in the region of Former Yugoslavia, Albania, northern Italy and Greece. The developments took place in times of economic crises and political instability and are seen as an anticyclical investment for a long-term operation around the core market Austria.
There are currently cinemas in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, and Montenegro and in October 2016 also in Kosovo.In 2008, Langhammer also spearheaded a partnership with IMAX Corporation and brought the brand back to Austria with five locations. In addition to IMAX, Langhammer led the transition into digital and was a key indicator for the whole Austrian market to go digital with companies such as Dcinex (now CinemaNext/Ymagis) for a complete digitization of the whole Cineplexx Group in Austria.
Langhammer loves the cinema and spends most of his time in his cinemas. He also loves to travel to outstanding International shopping and entertainment centres in order to find new ideas for his network.
About CineEurope
CineEurope 2016 will take place 20-23 June 2016, at the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB) in Barcelona, Spain. CineEurope is the longest-running and most successful European convention and trade show for Major, Regional, and Independent cinema professionals. CineEurope will feature exclusive screenings and product presentations of upcoming films, sponsored events, timely and informative seminars and the CineEurope Trade Show. CineEurope is the Official Convention of the Union Internationale des Cinémas/International Union of Cinemas (UNIC).
About Film Expo Group
The Film Expo Group is the premier organizer of events in the motion picture industry. The Film Expo Group produces CineEurope, held in Barcelona; ShowEast, held in Miami; and CineAsia, held in Hong Kong. Additionally, the group publishes, Film Journal International, a trade magazine and website covering the motion picture industry with a special emphasis on theatrical exhibition.
About UNIC
The Union Internationale des Cinémas/International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) represents the interests of cinema trade associations and cinema operators covering 36 countries in Europe and in neighbouring regions.
Additional information on CineEurope can be found at www.cineeurope.net.
Media Contact:
Dana Moutis
dana.moutis@filmexpos.com
212.493.4424
@CineEuropeBCN | #CineEurope
