Arts Alliance Media Lands Cinema Milestone with Flight 666
The widespread rollout of digital cinema and the resulting lower cost of distribution is enabling more non-traditional releases and alternative content to be played in cinemas, and along with events such as live operas, concerts and sporting events, are providing a new revenue stream for cinema exhibitors. AAM’s Chief Executive Officer, Howard Kiedaisch, commented “We are incredibly happy with this result and consider it to be a massive achievement for everyone involved. It’s a cinema first, proving the opportunities digital brings as this release would never have happened with 35mm prints. My thanks and congratulations go to Iron Maiden, EMI and all our exhibitor and distribution partners around the world. Watch this space!â€Stefan Demetriou, EMI’s Vice President, Visual Content Strategy & Acquisition, said “This film shows once again that Iron Maiden are at the forefront of audiovisual innovation - providing a memorable, big screen experience for their loyal fan base and new Maiden converts worldwide.â€
The event has proved incredibly popular with exhibitors as well as audiences around the world, with Bernie Altman, of the independent Scala Cinema in Ludwigsburg, Germany, saying of their midnight show “Wow, what a night! The movie is really great – I feel like I was at a Maiden show last night! The fans were screaming ‘Maiden! Maiden! Maiden!’ shortly before we started the movie, and to say it simply, it was really ‘The Thing!’â€
In the UK, ODEON’s Digital Development Director Drew Kaza said “We are delighted with the results for Flight 666. It was the number one film across ODEON on Tuesday night, and it’s by far the most successful alternative content programme ODEON has ever screened.â€
The film was sub-distributed by D&E Entertainment in the US, and partner Evan Saxon commented “We were honoured to oversee the US theatrical distribution and marketing for Flight 666 as it was an overwhelming success. Exhibitors in our network sold out many screens and added additional showings with fans loving the experience. This was a first class campaign and we are very pleased that Arts Alliance, EMI and Iron Maiden selected D&E to be a part of their team.†Flight 666 won the audience award for Best Music Documentary at the recent South by South West festival. The film was produced by celebrated award–winning Toronto-based filmmakers Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn of BangerProductions, who have received international critical acclaim for their previous movies, ‘METAL: A HEADBANGERS JOURNEY’ and ‘GLOBAL METAL’. Executive Producers are Rod Smallwood, Stefan Demetriou and Andy Taylor.
Arts Alliance Media have released almost 30 alternative content events since 2007, and upcoming releases include Swan Lake, Ondine (live) and La Traviata (live) from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.