Wokingham, UK − (14th June 2013) – Christie’s® global domination of the digital cinema world has extended even to the remotest parts of the Indian Ocean.
This is due to a long-standing family business run by Eric Koenig and Frederic Drotkowski from the tiny Reunion Island. As a result, they have become both film distributor and cinema installer not only for the 800,000 population island but also its nearest neighbour, Mauritius — some 200km to the north east.
Between them, their nine cinemas (and many screening rooms) are serviced exclusively by Christie CP2220 and CP2230 2K digital cinema projectors. Operating under the umbrella of the Motion Finance holding company, Investissement et Commerce Cinema handles the distribution for all the various cinema brands on the two islands.
In 2005 they opened the first of their present five multiplexes on Reunion Island and decided to equip the big screen with a digital cinema projector. “We were aware of Christie’s reputation and at that time the brand was already far ahead of any competitor in this sector, and so we bought a CP2000H for Cinepalmes,” remembers Frederic Drotkowki. And as first generation digital cinema projectors became more available they slowly started converting their old 35mm projection rooms to Christie’s digital platform.
Having completed the ten-screen Cinepalmes (with 2 x CP2000-ZX, 4 x CP2220, 3 x CP2230 and the CP2000H) and two-screen Rex Cinema (with a CP2220 and CP2230) the next cinema to be converted shortly is the three-screen Ritz.
Buying initially from Christie France, Koenig and Drotkowski reduced the travel distance by transferring to Christie South Africa where Phil Lord has continued to provide valuable back-up. “When we decided to build our first multiplex in Mauritius — having already owned two cinemas there — it was a natural choice,” they say.
An introduction was made to South African integrators, System Solution, and their general manager, Roger Feldmann — and they became the company’s official supplier for all sound equipment and digital server requirements.
Stated Christie Territory Manager, Africa, Phil Lord, “Having had the pleasure of meeting with Eric and Frederic in Johannesburg several times over the last 18 months we have developed a very strong, long term relationship which we are extremely excited about. With the addition of the new Christie Africa office in Johannesburg we hold D-Cinema spare parts and lamps locally so can react and support quickly in the event of any failures. We also have excellent first line local technical support in the Indian Ocean with Cine Digital Services.”
In Mauritius Motion Finance today owns four cinemas, the latest to be equipped with Christie being the six-screen Star Bagatelle (with three CP2230’s and three CP2220’s). They also have Star Caudan, Star Curepipe, with the ambitious five-screen Star La Croisette, which opened late last year.
All the company’s screening rooms are 3D-equipped, with Dolby 7.1 surround sound system.
With no available grants the company has had to finance the conversion by themselves. And then, because of the distance that separates them from Europe they had to be able to repair, calibrate and install the digital projectors themselves — and so they sent a technician to Christie in the UK for training.
As an exhibitor, the hard disk DCP will first arrive in Réunion, and around a week later they are shown in Mauritius. “We are generally able to release movies almost at the same time as France,” states Frederic Drotkowksi.
Meanwhile, the development on these exotic islands shows no signs of letting up. In Réunion Motion Finance is already planning the construction of two further cinemas — the six screen Cinepalmes St Denis and ten-screen Cinepalmes St Pierre later this year.
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