IMAX Corp and IMAX China Holding, Inc announced an agreement with Bona Film Group, a leading film distributor and vertically integrated film production company in China, for 30 new IMAX theatres to be located in new complexes throughout China. The Companies plan to open five theatres annually beginning this year through 2022. Today’s agreement significantly increases Bona Film Group’s IMAX footprint to 35 from five and positions the Company among the top five IMAX exhibitor partners in China.

In 2012, Bona opened its first IMAX theatre in Tianjin followed by installations in Beijing, Taiyuan and Wuhan with a fifth theatre slated to open in Dalian. Bona Film Group first partnered with IMAX on the release of the martial arts epic Flying Swords of Dragon Gate in 2011, which marked the first IMAX 3D presentation of a Chinese-language movie. The film became second-highest grossing IMAX film of 2011 in China. Released in 2014, White-Haired Witch was the second Bona Film Group title presented in IMAX.

“Today’s agreement is a direct result of the tremendous success of our existing IMAX theatres and IMAX film releases,” said Yu Dong, Founder and Chairman of Bona Film Group. “As we aggressively expand our cinema circuit, IMAX will serve as a key entertainment attraction in our new locations that we believe will strengthen their overall performance. IMAX has become one of the strongest entertainment brands in China and we are proud to associate ourselves with the premium IMAX brand and the superior cinematic experience it offers.”