Cinesur, Spain’s fifth largest cinema chain and the biggest in Andalusia, has chosen Christie Solaria Series digital cinema projectors for the digital conversion of its screens. With 136 screens distributed across 11 multiplexes all over Spain, the chain has so far upgraded 15 screens to digital technology, and it is expected that at least half of its screens will be digitalised in the next few years.
Founded in 1932 and with over six million cinema-going viewers annually, Cinesur has film theatres distributed in Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Madrid. Cinesur has always broken new ground in the cinema industry in Spain, building Nervión Plaza in Seville in 1998, Spain’s first 20-screen megaplex. Continuing with this philosophy, in 2005 it opened Cinesur Málaga Nostrum, the largest megaplex in Andalusia, with 21 screens and accommodating over 5,000 people.
Sercine, a Christie partner in Spain, was the company chosen by Cinesur to fit out the new installations. “Cinesur opted for Sercine not only because it is already familiar with Christie equipment, but also, and above all, because they trust us,” said Javier Jiménez, Sercine’s marketing director.
“Sercine’s team of professionals showed us the best and latest in digital projector technology with unbeatable guarantees and implementation conditions,” said Desiderio García Ramírez, Cinesur’s technical director. “We trusted in them from the outset and we are proud to say that we were the first company in Spain to use a Solaria Series CP2220 projector.”
The new digital technology was introduced for the first time in October 2009 at the Cinesur Luz del Tajo in Toledo. As the Christie CP2000 series was still being commercialised at the time, the chosen projector was a CP2000-S. This first installation was followed by three CP2000-ZX projectors: one in Cinesur El Ingenio (Vélez-Malaga), another in Cinesur Miramar (Fuengirola) and a third in Cinesur Málaga Nostrum (Malaga).
Now that the new Christie Solaria Series is on the market, Sercine has installed seven Christie CP2220 projectors at the multiplexes Cinesur Los Alcores (Alcalá de Guadaira), Cinesur Conquistadores (Badajoz), Cinesur La Verónica (Antequera), Cinesur Plaza del Mar (Marbella), Cinesur Nervión Plaza (Seville, with two projectors) and Cinesur El Tablero (Cordoba), plus a Christie CP2230 projector in Cinesur Bahía de Cádiz (Cadiz).
This installation comprises Doremi servers, specifically DCP-2000 and DCP-2K4 servers.
All the screens are 3D-ready and have been updated to digital technology, coupling XpanD, Dolby 3D and Masterimage systems. “3D has caused a sensation among the general public,” said Desiderio García Ramírez. “Since the premiere of the superproduction Avatar there has been an incredible demand for 3D films, with excellent box-office success.”
Since it was founded, Cinesur has always offered viewers alternative high-definition content. “Live opera broadcasts are one of our major attractions and have earned a very significant and loyal public,” noted García Ramírez. “As well, during the 2010 World Cup, we also screened 2D and 3D content. We know that there are a lot of viewers who love these events, so Cinesur provides this content whenever it has a chance.”
Cinesur is delighted with the Solaria Series projectors. “We have used projectors from other manufacturers, but we were totally convinced by the user-friendliness, brightness output and overall performance of Christie projectors. The projectionists are also delighted with this series, underscoring its user-friendliness and easy maintenance,” continued García Ramírez.
According to Javier Jiménez, Sercine’s marketing director, Solaria projectors have been enhanced compared to the previous series. “The electronics have been simplified with less cards, making troubleshooting much easier, and the projectors’ modular design makes maintenance and service tasks simpler,” he said.
