Invited by CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), to speak on behalf of India’s film and exhibition marketplace, Ajay Bijli, Managing Director, PVR INOX and Founder of PVR, will deliver the Exhibition Keynote address during the breakfast program, that opens this year’s International Day at CinemaCon, held from April 24-27, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV (USA). The annual week-long event held at Caesars Palace, where Ajay Bijli will focus on India’s progressive and contemporary expansion, is attended by nearly 6,000 delegates, spanning over six continents, as the largest and most prestigious gathering of cinema owners and operators, Hollywood studios and exhibition suppliers from around the world.
PVR INOX, having completed a recent merger, has become the most brand recognized and widespread cinema exhibitor in India, with 1,683 screens across 115 cities throughout India and parts of Sri Lanka, with 360 cinemas and aggregate seating capacity of 3.58 lakh seats. Both iconic brands, have a historical reputation for being “game changers” in the exhibition industry for over 25-years, transforming out-of-home entertainment in India. Reimagining the movie-going experience, PVR INOX is strategically preparing to reinvent the leisure entertainment landscape by investing in advanced technologies and introducing more premium large format (PLF) experiences, combining luxury seating, optimized sound and projection systems, unique food and beverage, while surrounded by architectural ambiance to meet today’s consumer expectations. PVR INOX will spearhead and establish a robust exhibition ecosystem by aligning key partners that will include filmmakers, studios, regional content creators and distributors, equipment and concession manufacturers, data analytics and technology companies.
“I am delighted to be invited by CinemaCon to present a special International Day keynote address on behalf of exhibition representing the Indian film and cinema industry,” says Ajay Bijli. “India currently has the highest number of movie releases and amongst the highest admissions, and though the pandemic severely impacted our industry for nearly two years with operating restrictions, the Indian market was the first to recover among global cinema chains.” Ajay Bijli also expressed the company’s successful recovery was “Because of our huge pipeline of Indian produced movies in the form of Hindi and regional content, apart from overseas Hollywood content – attributed to our resilience coupled with India’s passionate movie-goers. Cinemas are the country’s number one out-of-home entertainment choice, due to affordability, accessibility, and limited location-based leisure activities.”
CinemaCon’s Managing Director, Mitch Neuhauser, noted, “With upwards of 71% of the global box office coming from overseas, international exhibitors play a more important role than ever before. India continues to cultivate a strong movie-going culture having established stature and continuity. Neuhauser, went on to say, “We’re delighted Mr. Bijli accepted our invitation to share valuable insights as a thought leader and for India’s global contributions in exhibition.”
Filled with movie premieres, trailers, and Hollywood summer line-ups, to informative panel discussions, celebrities and award ceremonies, along with two tradeshow floors, CinemaCon is the leading convention in a competitive, high-stakes market by giving cinema owners from every corner of the world an opportunity to experience the latest and most important advancements and opportunities available.
