Hollywood
Cinépolis targets having 400 screens in India by 2017
NEW DELHI: In a bid to provide the best-in-cinema experience coupled with state-of-the-art technology, Cinépolis India, today announced the launch of its first International multiplex in Rohini in the NCR region. The chain commenced its journey in India in 2007 and launched its first multiplex in Amritsar in 2009. The multiplex chain is targeting 400 screens by 2017
Cinepolis India managing director Javier Sotomayor said, “Committed to our brand promise and focus to offer unique cinema viewing experience to the Delhi audience, we are delighted to introduce our first property replete with international Cinépolis state of the art technology. We aim to provide a superlative cinema viewing experience to the entire gamut of our discerning Delhi patrons. With this launch we get a step closer to our targets in India and have 240 screens running now, with a promise to open another 160 screens, by 2017.”
Sotomayor claimed that Cinepolis was now the fourth largest multiplex chain in the world with 335 theatres and 3,187 screens in 13 countries. The chain employed 35,999 employees. It had the third largest footfall in India and sold 262.3 million (26.23 crore) tickets in 2015. Cinépolis, which acquired Fun Cinemas in 2014, has its largest theatre in Pune.
Asked about the chain’s future plans, Sotomayor said Cinepolis liked to go slowly but the group was looking at opportunities. It was also examining some cases where old single screen theatres could be converted to multiplexes.
Sotomayor opined that Indian cinema audiences were more passionate than anywhere else in the world. One could hear them clap, cheer or jeer, or even shed a tear while watching a film. He said audiences overseas just sat quietly in a cinema hall and watched a film and preferred to express their views later outside the theatre.
Cinepolis director for expansion Ashish Shukla said, “Cinépolis @ Unity One, is the first of our Ebony design concepts. Its premium, it’s luxurious and brings the best in cinema experience. This will expand our NCR circuit from current 13 screens to 17 screens. The current 13 was part of our Fun Cinemas circuit, which we amalgamated last year. The capital of India, reflects the movie loving country, we are making it a prime market for the entertainment industry. We have 75 plus screen planned to be open in the NCR region in couple of years helping in increasing our presence in the country.”
Shukla said the seats and rows were designed in such a way that even a four-year child could see the screen clearly when a tall person was sitting in the seat ahead of him or her. It was the first multiplex in India to have the ‘Real 3D’ technology which was less straining on the eyes. He said viewers of normal 3D often complained of headaches etc.
Shukla revealed Cinépolis had also pioneered nine Cinepolis Junior projects in some countries. This had screens where parents and children could sit together to see films in a theatre customized for kids. This would be brought to Delhi shortly, he added.
Cinepolis business head for strategy Devang Sampat said, “Cinépolis is launching Club Cinépolis, the company’s flagship loyalty program that would further enhance customer experience. Our food offering also include freshly prepared gourmet food at our signature outlet, Coffee Tree.”
Sampat revealed that advertising about the theatre is done mostly on the print media or social media and said there was no advertising so far on television.
Cinépolis spent three per cent of its annual expense budget on promoting its own product – the cinema houses – since distributors and producers whose films are being exhibited there also contribute in increasing awareness and footfalls.
Sampat said when people come to the theatre to see a film of their choice, ‘the product advertises itself, while adding that some marketing was also done by way of partnerships with a lot of new initiatives. Sampat informed that tickets would cost between Rs 130 and Rs 300, the latter for the VIP seats. Club Cinepolis was being launched to reward loyalty points for those frequented the theatre regularly.
Unity One director Harsh Bansal said, “We are delighted to launch the first Cinépolis in the NCR and get associated with them, being one of the leading player in the cinema exhibition space in the world. Cinépolis has a global legacy which delivers a phenomenal movie experience. We would be building more projects with the group in future too.”
Unity Group director Naresh Aggarwal said, “We are expecting a heavy footfall at this multiplex and everyone will be amazed by the experience of Cinépolis”.
Hollywood
Who won what at the Oscars 2026? Full winners list from the 98th Academy Awards
A night of history, high drama, and gingery wit at the 98th Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES: If the 98th Academy Awards taught us anything, it is that Hollywood still loves a tortured genius and a well-timed ginger joke. While the night was technically a coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling war drama One Battle After Another, the real battle was fought in the stalls of the Dolby Theatre as host Conan O’Brien unleashed a monologue that was part roast, part group therapy session.
The evening belonged to the cinematic heavyweights. One Battle After Another lived up to its title, clinching Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Anderson, the perennial bridesmaid of the Oscars, finally took home the big prizes, cementing his status as the industry’s favourite auteur.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan made history. Winning Best Actor for his visceral performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners, he became only the fourth Black man to win the trophy. His speech was a masterclass in humility, though he spared a moment to thank his trainer for “making me look like I could actually fight a demon.”
The history books were rewritten several times over. Autumn Durald Arkapaw shattered a long-standing glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography for Sinners. Meanwhile, the newly minted Best Achievement in Casting category saw its inaugural trophy go to the ensemble of One Battle After Another.
Returning to the stage with his signature quiff and self-deprecating bite, Conan O’Brien did not hold back. He began by acknowledging the elephant in the room: his own presence.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he quipped. “Why is the ghost of a Victorian chimney sweep hosting the Oscars? It’s because AI is too expensive and I work for sandwiches.”
The controversy kicked off when he turned his sights on the Best Visual Effects nominees. Pointing at the Avatar: Fire and Ash table, he remarked:
“James Cameron has spent so much money on blue people that the actual ocean is now jealous of his budget. Jim, at some point, you have to admit this is just a very expensive aquarium hobby.”
He also took a cheeky swipe at the trend of method acting, specifically targeting Sean Penn.
“Sean stayed in character for so long that his own family had to serve him a subpoena just to get him to come to Sunday roast,” O’Brien joked, to a mix of nervous titters and Penn’s trademark stony glare.
The night was not without its “did he really say that?” moments. During a bit about the length of the telecast, O’Brien noted that the show was running so long that:
“By the time we get to Best Picture, the winner will have already been rebooted as a gritty limited series on Max.”
He also touched on the industry’s obsession with youth, pointing at a young starlet and saying:
“You’re so young that your first memory is actually a TikTok of this monologue.”
While most took it in stride, some critics on social media called the joke “typical boomer energy,” though O’Brien seemed entirely unfazed.
The full winners’ circle:
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Best Animated Feature: K-Pop: Demon Hunters
Best Original Song: “Golden” from K-Pop: Demon Hunters
As the curtains closed and the A-list headed for the after-parties, the mood was one of relief. Hollywood had managed to celebrate its past while poking fun at its increasingly digital future. Whether the night belonged to the war heroes of PTA or the witty barbs of a tall redhead remains a matter of debate.
