MacGillivray Freeman Films Partners with MetaMedia for Educational and Group Screenings

May 20, 2021

Los Angeles, CA, May 19, 2020 — MacGillivray Freeman Films, the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of original giant-screen 70mm films, announced today a partnership with MetaMedia, one of the fastest-growing entertainment technology companies in the U.S., to bring educational films to conventional commercial theaters and drive-ins in new markets beyond those where the films play exclusively in museum-based giant screen theaters.

A number of MacGillivray Freeman’s films will be shown at theaters throughout North America, including Into America’s Wild, America’s Musical Journey and Great Bear Rainforest, among others. The partnership will expand the reach of these films beyond the markets where the films play exclusively in museum-based giant screen theaters. All the included films will be available together packaged with marketing materials and specially-developed educator lesson plans. 

“In an effort to meet the growing demand for educational screenings and field trips in non-traditional places, we’re excited to partner with MetaMedia to offer opportunities for school groups and other educators to experience our educational films,” said Shaun MacGillivray, producer and president of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “Our films provide powerful, inspiring learning experiences that can be offered to schools and families across the country, potentially reaching thousands of students and young people.”

“This partnership will enhance our ability to reach new audiences in new markets while also honoring our long-term partnerships with the museums and science centers where our films play exclusively in their giant screen theaters,” said Patty Collins, Director of Global Sales at MacGillivray Freeman Films.

“We’re proud to partner with MacGillivray Freeman Films to bring selections from their impressive catalog of educational content to our exhibitor partners throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Chuck Goldwater, MetaMedia President, North America. “We designed our platform to provide more opportunities for exhibitors to expand and increase their audiences through a diverse collection of programming.” 

MetaMedia will distribute the films to conventional commercial theaters, drive-ins, and other theatrical venues. 

About MacGillivray Freeman Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant screen 70mm films with more than 40 films for IMAX and giant-screen theatres to its credit. Throughout the company’s 50-year history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award® nominations for The Living Sea and Dolphins and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame, including Everest, the highest grossing giant screen film of all time. MacGillivray Freeman’s films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one-billion-dollar benchmark for worldwide box office. Visit https://macgillivrayfreeman.com/. 

About MetaMedia 
MetaMedia is an entertainment technology company that creates next-generation technologies and new revenue-generating opportunities for content producers and cinemas. MetaMedia created and launched the MetaMedia Entertainment Network™ the first global, cloud-based distribution platform for out-of-home venues. Powered by Microsoft Azure, the MetaMedia Entertainment NetworkTM provides for the secure, rapid and cost-effective delivery of movies, live-streamed events, trailers and advertising, and other big-screen programming to cinemas, drive-ins, arenas, and other out-of-home venues. For more information, visit www.metamedia.global.

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Jason Brenek

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Leveraging two decades of senior executive experience across multiple sectors of the film and entertainment industry, Jason Brenek assembled a group of powerful industry leaders with incomparable experience and relationships to forge the building blocks of MetaMedia. As Chief Executive Officer of MetaMedia, Brenek focuses intently on realizing the operational, economic and programming benefits of creating a next-generation distribution network, which are mutually-beneficial to content producers and cinemas around the world.

Prior to MetaMedia, Brenek was President of IMAX HOME at the IMAX Corporation, where he led business and engineering teams around the world to develop and launch multiple new products, technologies, and platforms. Before IMAX, Brenek spent over a decade in senior management roles at The Walt Disney Studios. While serving as Senior Vice President of International In-Home and Head of Global Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Brenek established partnerships with global brands including Netflix, Google, Amazon, Apple. and Samsung to distribute Disney-owned content across new digital/OTT platforms, television, and retail. Brenek previously served as Disney's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Digital Cinema and Cinema Programming, overseeing the company's global transition from analog to digital cinema. Brenek also developed and co-produced two Disney feature films and multiple live sporting events in cinemas with ESPN. Brenek received his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Prior to MetaMedia, Goldwater was co-founder and CEO at cinema chain New Vision Theaters. Before that, Goldwater served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Carmike Cinemas, which acquired Digiplex Destinations, a cinema chain where Goldwater served as Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors. At New Vision, Carmike, and Digiplex, Goldwater was an energetic and effective advocate for alternative programming and “event cinema” as a means of increasing seat utilization and creating incremental revenue for exhibitors. Before Digiplex, Goldwater was President of Cinedigm (formerly known as AccessIT), the company credited with deploying the first digital cinema infrastructure and electronic delivery network. Previously, Goldwater was selected by the then seven largest Hollywood studios to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Digital Cinema Initiatives (“DCI”), a joint venture that created the industry-wide specifications and the technical quality and security architecture for digital cinema systems. Goldwater was also inducted into the industry’s ShowEast Hall of Fame and is a Will Rogers/Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation Board Advisory Member.

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Prior to MetaMedia, Priyadarshi was CTO of IMAX Home, where he developed the world's highest-quality, internet-delivered video playback system needed to support IMAX Corporation’s pioneering technologies. Before IMAX, he served as CTO of PRIMA Cinema where he led the research, development and approval processes of the world's first and only movie service that was authorized to distribute new Hollywood movies to private home theaters. And previous to PRIMA Cinema, he worked as director of engineering at DivX, where he led the development of new technologies that power many leading streaming services today. Priyadarshi received his Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Electronics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.