Editor

DigiTraining Plus will take place in Helsinki, 17 - 21 February 2010

thanks to the success obtained in previous years, in 2010 the training course DigiTraining Plus: European Cinemas Experiencing New Technologies" enters its seventh year: from 17 to 21 February 2010 we shall be in Helsinki, with an even richer and more stimulating programme of lectures and workshops.

This initiative, the only one within the MEDIA Programme to concentrate on the new technologies from the point of view of the theatres, is open to cinema exhibitors and representatives of professional associations and public institutions who wish to meet the digital transition with a knowledge of the opportunities and risks involved.

The choice of location is not by chance: as well as being famous for its natural beauty and for technological innovation, Finland is an interesting European workshop for digital cinema. The "Network of Digital Cinemas" project, approved in 2009 by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Chamber of Films and financed with two million euros, sets itself the objective of involving the entire lifecycle of the film in the process of digitalization.

Up until today, out of a total of around 320 theatres, the 2K or 4K digital screens already amount to 36, 31 of which are also able to offer content in 3D.

The course programme - see the link herebelow

http://www.mediasalles.it/training/dgt10/dgt10_prog.htm

is based on a mixture of sessions on current issues such as standards, the availability of digital content, the identification of economic models already experimented or being adopted in Europe and the prospects of 3D. In addition to the programme there are visits to cinemas using digital projection, including the Finnkino Flamingo complex in Helsinki, the leading Finnish exhibition chain, and talks by internationally known professional figures, amongst whom are Michael Karagosian (MKPE, USA), Ari Saarinen, Technical Director of Finnkino, Rolv Gjestland (Film&Kino, Norway) and Oleg Berezin (NevaFilm, Russia). Thanks to the collaboration of Open Sky and Sony, demos of 3D live content and 4K will be offered.

The special fee for those who enrol in the course by Tuesday 12 January 2010 is 750 euros, covering lessons and course materials, hotel accommodation for four nights and the meals included in the programme.

MEDIA Salles offers a limited number of grants to facilitate participation in "DigiTraining Plus 2010". The reduced fee for those who qualify is 550 euros. To apply for a grant an official letter motivating the application should be forwarded together with the duly completed enrolment form. MEDIA Salles will evaluate applications and contact those selected.

To download the enrolment form and obtain all the information on the course, please visit our website:

http://www.mediasalles.it/training/training.htm