Big turn-up for first theatrical screening

The English dictionary defines the term ‘dry run’ as a trial exercise or rehearsal. This is exactly what happened Sunday evening on the fourth floor of, Kigali City Tower.The management of Century Cinemas Rwanda had invited members of the public to take part in the first theatrical screening on the Rwandan soil. The film ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ was screened to a full house 233-seater hall.According to Charles Gachagua, the general manager of Century Cinemas Rwanda, the test was a huge success.“We are glad everything went well. We are now going to increase the number of our staff to ensure efficiency in service delivery,” he explainsThe cinema has four different theatres – a 233-seater, 135-seater, a 70-seater and an 18-seater designed for 5D movies, all equipped with the latest digital equipment, massive silver screens and comfy chairs, which gives movie fanatics an unforgettable movie experience. Gachagua, who boasts a decade of experience in the field, is promising the best in terms of quality.“We have some of the best digital equipment in the world. What is being used here is exactly the same that is used in Kenya, America, UK and the rest of the world. So we are promising to give our patrons the best quality. In fact, we are the first to have a 5D screen in East Africa,” he adds.In order to ensure that the cinema screens the latest Hollywood films from different studios, Century will collaborate with Nairobi based Fox distributors and Crimson distributors.Century Cinema is set to officially open on Friday, May 10, when the eagerly awaited film ‘Iron Man 3’ will have it’s world premiere.Tickets fee to the cinema depend on the nature of the movies – a 2D movie will go for Rwf3, 500, 3D movies will cost the patrons Rwf4, 500, while those in 5D will pay Rwf5, 000. Concerning the booking process, Gachagua was optimistic that the ticketing will go online.“With the current technological advancement, we will put our systems online. This will ensure that our patrons can make bookings online and also pay online,” he says.The cinema will also be available for other functions“We want to sell ourselves as birthday destinations. If, for example, your kid has a birthday, you can book a particular movie and watch it with invited friends. Film festivals and seminars are among other functions that we will be hosting,” explains Gachagua.After the screening, the audience shared their experiences. “I think Hollywood has come closer, I have never had such a wonderful experience. I can’t wait for Friday to catch Iron Man 3,” says Nickie Umutoniwase, a fashion designer.George Musoni could not hide his excitement either. “It’s unbelievable that we are now setting pace for other East African countries with a brand new 5D screen– the first one in the region,” he says.“At first, the sound scared me. I have never experienced the Dolby surround system. However, the entire experience was great,” added Shantal Umutoni, a university student.After the film’s credit roll, the screening was declared a successful dry run.

Leisure

Big turn-up for first theatrical screening