The 1st CINEXPO held last Feb. 17 to 18, 2009 at the SMX Convention Center brought together movie industry companies, media partners, ad agencies, film professionals, and student organizations for the first ever cinema convention in the Philippines.
The event opened the door to the discussion of the latest cinema trends and issues, networking and partnerships, and exhibition of films, various media products, and services.
The CINEXPO featured the latest technological advances and the changingcurrents in cinema where film producers, production companies, distributors, marketing professionals, advertisers, industry partners, and media affiliates could work together for present and future deals.
There were product reel presentations of upcoming films and roadshows by bothlocal and Hollywood film producers and distributors including: Star Cinema, Regal Films, Viva Films, GMA Films, Pioneer Films, Solar UIP, Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, and Columbia Pictures.
There were presentations, seminars, and networking events with participatingcompanies including Optima Digital, ABS-CBN, Optical Media Board, GroupM Philippines, AXN and Animax, Philippine Marketing Association, Hills & Associates Philippines, Christie, Scenema Concept, Cutting Edge, DTS, D-Cinema, SM Cinemas, and IMAX which provided educational discussions all geared towardsthe movie industry market. There were exchanging views on topics includingconsumer behavior, branded advertising, cinema advertising, varying markets, advertising partnerships, enhancement of the theater-going experience, new ideasin making movie services more valuable and profitable, piracy, and other insights about the issues facing the industry.
Closing each of the two-day event were special screenings of the recent local films “Dayo,” the first digital animation film in the country and entry to the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), and “Jay,” an award-winning and internationally acclaimed independent film from Cinemalaya. SM also honored film producers,distributors, artists, and media partners in the 2008 SM Cinema Awards.