DISNEY and MEDICINEMA Announce Collaboration With Nationwide Preview Screenings Of CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
DISNEY AND MEDICINEMA ANNOUNCE UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION WITH NATIONWIDE PREVIEW SCREENINGS OF CHRISTOPHER ROBIN IN UK FILM INDUSTRY FIRST
ALL BOX OFFICE PROCEEDS FROM TICKET SALES FROM PRE-RELEASE SCREENINGS OF DISNEY’S “CHRISTOPHER ROBIN” TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE UK ON 16TH AUGUST WILL BE DONATED TO MEDICINEMA
Disney today announced a groundbreaking collaboration with MediCinema to hold nationwide preview screenings of their upcoming film “Christopher Robin” a day before the film releases in the UK, with all box office proceeds going to MediCinema.
The initiative, will see a wide range of cinema operators* across the UK – including a number of the major cinema chains hold previews of the film with all proceeds from exhibitors and Disney going to MediCinema, helping seriously ill children and adults to enjoy a shared movie moment together with their loved ones.
MediCinema, founded in 1999, builds and runs state of the art cinemas in hospitals and is dedicated to improving the well-being of patients, their families and carers across the UK through the magic of the shared cinema experience. Together with Disney, who are a long standing supporter, the charity brings comfort and inspiration to families with children facing serious illness.
British actor Ewan McGregor, star of Christopher Robin and MediCinema patron showed his support for the initiative by launching a call to action urging people to donate to the charity by purchasing tickets to the preview screenings.
Lee Jury, Head of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK & Ireland said, “As a founding partner of MediCinema, we’ve seen the comfort and inspiration film can bring to seriously ill children and those closest to them. Being able to spend quality time together helps build emotional resilience, giving them the strength and ability to cope. We hope these special screenings of Christopher Robin will enable MediCinema to create many more moments that matter for patients, and we’re excited to be the first studio to be part of this wider industry initiative.”
Kat Mason, Chief Executive of MediCinema said “We are so grateful to The Walt Disney Company, Ewan McGregor and the UK cinema community for coming together in this way to raise vital funds for MediCinema. You honestly can’t overestimate the difference that going to the movies in your hospital bed can make– it is precious normality, a chance to escape into other worlds, a shared experience and memory made together when it is needed most. Please do come out and see the film on the 16th – by buying a ticket, you’ll be helping people seriously ill in hospital and their families to share a precious movie moment together and feel better with film.”
Phil Clapp, CEO of the UK Cinema Association said “While everyone working in the UK cinema industry of course believes in the power of the big screen experience, the work of MediCinema shows its ability truly to transform lives. Through these special screenings, UK cinema operators are delighted to give the British public a unique opportunity to ensure that that impact can reach an even wider number of people”.
PREVIEW SCREENINGS OF CHRISTOPHER ROBIN WILL BE HELD NATIONWIDE ON 16TH AUGUST
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN IS RELEASED NATIONWIDE ON AUGUST 17
* All cinema chains participating are: Cineworld, Dominion, Empire, Everyman, G1, Light Cinemas, Lonsdale, Merlin, Picturehouse, Savoy, Tower, Vue, Wells Film Centre, Zefirelli’s. Please visit www.christopherrobinfilm.co.uk, for locations. TWDC Social Responsibility Commitment As well as being a responsible business, The Walt Disney Company is dedicated to delivering comfort and inspiration for families around the world and recognizes it takes a team to make a significant impact.
The Christopher Robin preview screenings is part The Walt Disney Company UK & Ireland’s social purpose programme, where we work in partnership with others to help build emotional resilience. Together we bring the power of our brand, stories and characters to inspire and create Moments that Matter for children and those closest to them, when they need it the most.
About MediCinema
MediCinema is a charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing of patients, their families and carers across the UK through the magic of the shared cinema experience. Founded in 1999 at St Thomas’s Hospital, we build, install and manage state-of-the-art cinemas, screening the latest releases the film industry has to offer in hospitals and health facilities. We do this so that long-term patients can enjoy some precious normality and the escapism, magic and excitement that a trip to the cinema brings to each and every one of us. Our seven MediCinemas are located in health facilities around the UK and delivered 27,300 cinema experiences to patients and their families, through over 1,000 free screenings, in 2017.
MediCinema also provide separate nursing care to ensure patients, whatever their condition, have the best and safest experience while in the cinema, and do this in partnership with the hospitals and their associated charities.
Our purpose built screens show up to date film releases, donated by the film industry for free, and are fully digitalised with RealD 3D screens and Dolby Surround Sound. Our screens are built to accommodate patients in wheelchairs, beds, on drips or monitors so everyone can enjoy the joy and escapism of cinema. By creating a true cinema experience in this safe, stimulating, relaxing and sociable environment, MediCinema-goers can escape the isolation of their wards and illness, and enjoy a few hours of normality and fun with their family and loved ones.
Feedback from attendees is conclusive. In a recent survey 96% of respondees said MediCinema makes a big or massive difference to their experience of hospital; 90% said it reduces anxiety, 93% that it reduces isolation, 92% that is makes them feel relaxed, 90% that it gives them something to talk about afterwards, 97% that it gives them a sense of normality, and 91% that it makes them feel better.
Most importantly, patients and their families tell us what it means to them. Uzayr, aged 10, in London says “when the door closes I forget all about my pain”; Mr Donnelly in Glasgow said of his young daughter “I am 100% certain that Jennifer has not smiled so much since the onset of her illness 18 months ago”, and Kai, aged 26, says: “it’s been a massive struggle, I have been very low, but I saw a MediCinema poster and it was like a shining light”.
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