IMAX signs three-theatre deal with Kazakhstan's Kinopark

IMAX has signed a three-theatre deal with Kinopark to install Kazakhstan’s first IMAX venues, beginning in November 2010.

The first cinema will open in the Kazakh capital, Astana. The second and third venues will be part of newly constructed multiplexes, with one scheduled to open in 2011 and the other in 2012.

“IMAX theatres in Russia and CIS are producing record-breaking results, demonstrating the growing popularity of the IMAX brand in the region,” said Abdrashid Rakhmetov, managing director of Kinopark. 

Larry T. O’Reilly, IMAX’s executive vice president, theatre development, added: “We see significant potential for growth in Russia and the CIS.  We have seen in the past that when we enter a new country or market with the leading exhibitor, the success of those initial locations often leads to additional interest from other exhibitors in the same market.”

The latest agreement comes after the exhibitor announced plans to open up to 14 locations in Russia and the CIS, IMAX’s largest European deal to date.

Today’s announcement brings the total number of IMAX theatres scheduled to be operating in Russia and the CIS by 2012 to 30. The Russia and CIS region is IMAX’s third largest market behind the US and China. The company’s announced number of theatre systems signings year-to-date has increased to 137 worldwide, which compares to 35 system signings in all of 2009. 

Kinopark is the leading exhibitor in Kazakhstan with 35% market share.