Cinema United announced today the formation of its Filmmaker Leadership Council, a strategic group of world-class filmmakers united in a single cause to champion the future of cinema worldwide. The council will be led by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer as Chair and Academy Award winner Emma Thomas as Vice Chair. In addition, Academy Award winner Ryan Coogler, two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird, four-time Oscar nominee Jason Reitman and Academy Award nominee Celine Song round out the charter membership of the inaugural Council. Bruckheimer and Thomas will be on hand at this year’s CinemaCon, held April 13-16 in Las Vegas, where they will appear in discussion with Cinema United President and CEO, Michael O’Leary, who today made the announcement. Additional members are soon to be announced.
The Cinema United Filmmaker Leadership Council will bring together some of the world’s most influential movie creators to work alongside Cinema United to provide vital feedback and recommendations on the most pressing issues facing theatrical exhibition today—including consolidation, sustainable windows, the promotion and marketing of the cinematic experience, and highlighting innovation and technology. Instrumental in the creation of the council is industry veteran and Cinema United senior consultant, Greg Foster, who will serve as Executive Director of the Filmmaker Leadership Council.
“Our industry is strongest when it works together to promote the singular experience of seeing a movie on the big screen,” comments O’Leary. “That is what drives us—and it is what will forge the Next Great Era in Cinema. The importance of having Jerry and Emma at the helm of this initiative, at such a critical time for our industry, cannot be overstated. The insight, leadership, passion and impact from the entire leadership council is unparalleled, and we are honored to be working alongside all of them to secure the future of the theatrical experience for generations to come.”
“Movies that captivate audiences and take their breath away—that’s why so many of us got into this business in the first place. There is nothing like that feeling of sitting in a dark theater, the sound washing over you, watching something unfold on a massive screen that you simply cannot replicate anywhere else,” says Jerry Bruckheimer. “As filmmakers, we pour everything we have into creating those moments. We are at a defining point in the future of this industry, and I am honored to join this incredible group of filmmakers and work alongside Cinema United to ensure that experience endures—in cities and towns across the globe, for audiences everywhere.”
“There is a profound cultural value in gathering together with a group of strangers and connecting while experiencing something special on the big screen,” Emma Thomas reflects. “That shared moment—the laughter, the tears, the collective intake of breath—is irreplaceable. That is what this is about: making sure that cinemas of all sizes, around the world, can continue to present our stories in the best possible setting, so movie fans of all ages can enjoy them as they were intended to be seen.”
O’Leary added, “On behalf of everyone in exhibition, I want to express our profound gratitude to this remarkable group of filmmakers for their commitment to this cause. We are excited to work together to ensure that local theatres continue to be cultural and economic anchors of their communities, and to preserve the unparalleled experience of a movie on the big screen for moviegoers everywhere.”
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