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A review of CineEurope 2022, by Harkness Screens

Silver screens, shortages, and sustainability - the three Ss dominated CineEurope which was back with more of a bang this year.

Overall, the show was quite vibrant, with attendance up on last year's, both on the technical side and by film bookers. There were plenty of positive comments, from both customers and vendors. Exhibitors were more upbeat than last year and are firming up on replacing screens and projectors.

Silver screens were a particular point of discussion, with exhibitors asking questions galore on the newer surfaces like our Clarus XC and our partner RealD's PWT. A rise in silver screen sales is definitely in the air. Let's just hope they order in time for Avatar II.

So it was appropriate that the silver screen in our Compact+ range proved particularly popular at the show. Also available in Compact White, this range was designed to combine ultra-wide viewing angles, best-in-class uniformity and superior colour and contrast, with economical logistics, easier handling, and environmental savings. This is due to its innovative Smart Flex technology which enables higher-quality screens to be compactly packaged without creasing.

Sustainability in cinema was also the subject of conversation and Cinionic's exclusive session in the main auditorium ‘Go Green on the Big Screen: why sustainability in cinema matters' presented by CMO and head of innovation, Carl Rijsbrack, provoked much debate. 

We believe our Compact+ range demonstrates our commitment to sustainability as not only is its ability to be folded significantly more economical for shipping than any other screen on the market but its packaging system is largely recyclable. 

Premium formats were also a discussion point at CineEurope, with initiatives from Dolby Cinema, IMAX, Cinionic's Giant Screen and Cinity from China all in the spotlight. But projector manufacturers are admitting long lead times due to parts shortages, and this could affect how many screens are able to show the new Avatar, regardless of the format.

We took the opportunity of CineEurope to officially launch our myHarkness app, which was very well received, with our VP of global marketing and commercial development, Richard Mitchell, demonstrating throughout the whole show.

MyHarkness enables customers to specify, design and optimise cinema screens digitally to create the best possible viewing experience for movie-goers before projects have even left the drawing board. Available on all major technology platforms, it uses cloud-based functionality which allows users to work anywhere, on any device, with colleagues or partners.

In conclusion, most people seem have come away from CineEurope feeling confident that cinema is back, and on the up.

Andrew Emmott, VP sales

ENDS