November 22, 2017—IMAX Corp. has
awarded $5,000 grants each to five U.S. high school film programs as part of
its broader effort to educate students about key environmental and societal
issues impacting the world and to inspire them to become advocates for change
through filmmaking. Each student film program has been challenged to create
inspiring documentaries to further IMAX's commitment to drive awareness of the
global issues outlined in the United Nations' Sustainable
Development Goals
(SDGs).

The grants are being awarded for
the school's participation in IMAX In Focus, a
multi-faceted philanthropic program unveiled by IMAX last year to benefit the
student film programs and help the next generation of filmmakers develop their
creative abilities and use the power of film to drive positive change.

This year's participants for the
2017-18 school year, listed below, encompass a diverse cross-section of American
high school students geographically, demographically and economically:

  • Cedar Crest High School; Lebanon, Penn.
  • Digital Arts & Cinema Technology High School; Brooklyn,
    N.Y.
  • A collaboration of The Marvelwood School in Kent, Conn., and
    Stamford Academy in Stamford, Conn.
  • Henry J. Kaiser High School; Honolulu
  • The Kinkaid School; Houston

Launched in October 2016, In
Focus
arose from IMAX's unique private-public partnership with UN
Environment, the UN's agency that oversees environmental issues, which seeks to
educate audiences about key societal and environmental issues impacting the
planet.

Each school will create an
eight-minute documentary and related social media content on one of the UN's 17
SDGs, which range from eradicating poverty and promoting gender equality to
ensuring universal access to clean water and modern energy.

To ensure that a robust library of
student-created content is available for global audiences, IMAX has chosen to
address three new goals:

  • Zero
    Hunger
    , the collective endeavor to
    end hunger, ensure access to safe food supplies, improve nutrition, and
    promote sustainable agriculture.

  • Good
    Health and Well-Being
    , efforts to promote healthy
    lifestyles and overall well-being for all – regardless of age or
    domicile. 

  • Sustainable
    Cities and Communities
    , the quest to make cities and
    other population centers inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. 

“We are honored to work with
another group of talented and deserving student filmmakers to help them unlock
their creative abilities and see, first-hand, the power that the big screen can
have in promoting positive change,” said IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond.
“We're proud to continue and expand the In Focus program, and
fulfill IMAX's commitment to empowering the next generation of filmmakers.”

Since starting the program last
year, IMAX has worked with the All-American High School Film Festival to
identify exemplary schools, with IMAX ultimately selecting the final five
schools to participate in the In Focus program.

“Our partnership with IMAX
proves that the industry is invested in the next generation of talented
filmmakers,” said All American High School Film Festival Executive
Director Tom Oliva. “This unparalleled opportunity offers students
real-world education, a chance to create content with purpose and a platform to
share their unique perspective with the world.”

In June, IMAX released five
thought-provoking documentaries made by the 2016 inaugural class of the In
Focus
program. The students explored issues ranging from poor air quality
in D.C. and water pollution in the Everglades to the declining honeybee
population and angst in some U.S. cities over dwindling sources of drinking
water.

The young filmmakers deployed an
array of film techniques, including creatively interspersing interviews with
officials from the EPA, the National Parks Service, the NOAA, the Coastal
Watershed Institute, and state legislators. The full library is available on
the IMAX website.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator
in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and
equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a
world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres
to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network
is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms
for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto
and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
As of September 30, 2017, there were 1,302 IMAX theaters (1,203 commercial
multiplexes, 11 commercial destinations and 86 institutions) in 75 countries.
On Oct. 8, 2015, shares of IMAX China, a subsidiary of IMAX Corp., began
trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code
“HK.1970.”

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®,
Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience®, IMAX Is
Believing® and IMAX nXos® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information
about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on
Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax)
and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

About All American High School Film
Festival
The All American
High School Film Festival is the premiere destination for talented high school
filmmakers and media arts enthusiasts from around the world. Our mission is to
provide immersive education with a profound impact, connecting the filmmakers
of the future with the rewards, respect and recognition they deserve.

Each year,
in the heart of New York City, we present the world's largest high school film
festival. We offer a grand stage for the next generation of talented filmmakers
where they can: screen their amazing creations, learn from top industry
professionals, connect with the latest technology, explore myriad higher
education opportunities, receive scholarships and technology prizes, and,
perhaps most importantly, create a community of shared passions and lifelong
relationships.

We believe
in the voices of our youth.

We invest
in the stories they have to tell.

We empower
young artists to share their stories and transform their world through digital
media.

 

Source: IMAX Corporation