Created by the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA), the North American Cinema Awards (NACA) recognize motion picture exhibitors that demonstrate industry-changing innovation and consistently commit to excellence in providing the best possible moviegoing experience. Announced in conjunction with ICTA’s Los Angeles Seminar Series in January, the winners of the fifth annual NACA Awards were selected by a panel of ICTA board members and distinguished industry leaders from a submission pool that has more than doubled since last year, according to Mark Mayfield, ICTA chairman. “We’re proud to once again recognize excellence in theatrical presentation,” said Mayfield. “Thanks to all those who submitted entries. I’d like to offer a well-deserved standing ovation to the winning theaters.”
BEST NEW CINEMA BUILD
Megaplex Theatres
South Jordan at Daybreak
South Jordan, UT
Megaplex Theatres went big for their first-ever cinema entertainment center, located in the master-planned community of Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah. A mixed-use urban space developed by Larry H. Miller Real Estate—like Megaplex Theatres, a division of the Larry H. Miller Company—Daybreak is one of the fastest-growing communities in the state, boasting homes, schools, myriad venues for outdoor activities, and a first-of-its-kind dedicated district, co-anchored by the cinema entertainment center and a triple-A baseball stadium.
Visitors to the cinema entertainment center, which had its grand opening in July 2025, have a wealth of activities to choose from, among them 18 lanes of bowling, a 65-game redemption arcade, private event rooms, and a variety of elevated dining options. Providing an exceptional cinema experience has been the backbone of the project since its inception, according to Britten Maughan, Megaplex Theatres president. “You just can’t replicate the demand and attendance that cinema brings,” said Maughan. “The bowling, the arcade—we view those as complementary. The cake is the cinema, and the icing is [everything else].”
To that end, each of Daybreak’s eight auditoriums feature laser projection, heated recliners and chaise lounges, and call buttons for seatside dine-in service for VIP guests. Two of the auditoriums offer a premium large format experience complete with Dolby Atmos sound, united under Megaplex’s proprietary MegaScreen concept. Smaller, boutique auditoriums, notes Maughan, are the perfect size for private rentals, a core component of Megaplex’s commitment to community engagement and partnership. “We do have a huge event business. Events at Megaplex are massive. We do birthday parties, corporate buyouts, you name it,” said Maughan.
BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Regal Boise Stadium 22 and Imax
Boise, ID
In 1997, when the Regal Boise Stadium and Imax —then an Edwards Theatres location—first opened its doors, the cinema industry was on the cusp of being dramatically transformed by a wave of technological innovations that would redefine the cinema experience. Nearly 30 years and one industry-wide conversion to digital projection technology later, the cinema, one of two operated by Regal in the wider Boise area, is primed to provide moviegoers with an exceptional elevated experience for decades to come.
Or, rather, experiences, as a major renovation project conducted over the last year saw the Regal adopt a variety of premium technologies, giving audiences an abundance of options to choose from as they buy their tickets for the year’s newest releases. Regal’s proprietary premium format, RPX, is represented at the renovated cinema, with an auditorium featuring HDR by Barco projection, Dolby Atmos sound, Magnify 8 haptic seating, a Dive dynamic lighting system, and an Instagrammable digital videowall entryway.
Premium technologies found elsewhere in the 22-screen theater include Imax with Laser, RealD, 4DX immersive seating, and ScreenX 270-degree panoramic projection. Outfitted with laser projection and power recliners, even the standard auditoriums provide a luxury experience, one complemented by an enhanced food and beverage program; upgraded digital signage, postage, and menu boards; and exclusive merchandise.
BEST TRADITIONAL REFURBISHMENT
RoadHouse Cinemas
RoadHouse Cinemas Roadies Lanes + Games + Gastropub
Tucson, AZ
After two decades in engineering and project management, RoadHouse Cinemas co-founder Josh Snider found himself drawn to the emerging dine-in cinema concept. A chance meeting with future business partner Scott Cassell, who had experience in exhibition, sparked a partnership that would reshape southern Arizona moviegoing. The pair found a struggling Tucson discount theater and renovated it into the city’s first dine-in cinema, introducing recliners, full food and alcohol service, and a design aesthetic Snider describes as “Victorian barnyard wedding.” When the Bed Bath & Beyond next door closed, RoadHouse saw opportunity in the 36,000-square-foot vacancy adjoining their original theater. “We actually share a wall with it,” shares Snider. “We’d heard so much about the family entertainment centers, and we did that a little bit in Colorado Springs. We went all in.”
The result is Roadies, a full-scale family entertainment center seamlessly integrated with the cinema’s upgraded kitchen and operations. Alongside the dine-in auditoriums sits a sprawling sports bar anchored by massive screens and a live music stage. There are eight lanes of gamified axe-throwing, interactive crazy darts, 12 lanes of Spark bowling, an 85-plus game arcade, laser tag, and a rapidly expanding events business. What began with a single events coordinator quickly grew into a robust revenue stream. “We really had no idea how big the demand was for events,” added Snider.
As part of the expansion, the Tucson location added five microauditoriums: intimate 11-to-15-seat screening rooms equipped with laser projection and immersive sound. Families can easily book out an entire auditorium—an accessible luxury that reflects the company’s emphasis on value and community. That community-first ethos extends to intentionally competitive pricing and food—which ranges from an award-winning cheesesteak to all-day breakfast, Italian gelato, and the indulgent “Rated X” milkshake—that aims to rival standalone restaurants.
BEST CLASSIC CINEMA
Southampton Playhouse
Southampton, NY
One of the most technologically advanced independent cinemas in the world sits in a vacation destination in Long Island. Originally opened in 1932, the Southampton Playhouse has gone through several iterations since its inception. A pandemic closure in 2020 opened the door for a major renovation, preserving its historical façade while revitalizing the venue as a multipurpose arts center.
The presentation at the Southampton Playhouse is top tier across the board. It stands apart from other historical theaters by featuring a 1.9:1 aspect ratio Imax screen with 4K laser projection. Eric Kohn, artistic director of the Southampton, calls the Imax a Trojan horse for the theater, luring in locals and tourists alike with tentpole titles year-round, while his curated programming opens up other avenues to engage with film culture. “You don’t want to alienate any facet of your audience. There’s an audience for F1: The Movie, which was our top movie of 2025, and some in that audience may also want to come back for The Rocky Horror Picture Show or any of our repertory series,” he says.
All four auditoriums at the Southampton Playhouse feature 4k laser projection by Christie. Three of those theaters are equipped with Dolby Atmos immersive sound, while one is outfitted with a Kinoton 35 mm projector.
At the heart of this cutting-edge cinema tech is the Southampton’s commitment to community. Operating as an independent nonprofit theater, the Southampton regularly features community engagement initiatives and programs to promote moviegoing among locals in the surrounding area.
“The experience of running a movie theater in a small town is all about community,” says Kohn. “If you’re only beholden to the release calendar, you’re grasping only a small facet of what makes movie theaters relevant right now.”
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