Sony Pictures Acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema & Fantastic Fest By In a surprising announcement on Wednesday, Pictures Entertainment has acquired Cinema, the theater chain known for its dine-in options and strict no-phone policies, the company announced. The theater chain will be managed by a new division within SPE, Sony Pictures Experience, and will also have Fantastic Fest, the genre film festival owned and operated by Alamo, included in the acquisition. Alamo Drafthouse’s current CEO Michael Kustermann will remain with the company in the acquisition, and Tim League, the founder of the cinema chain, will also remain, to help “expand our company vision to be the best damn cinema that has ever, or will ever, exist,” according to League.
What does it mean for Sony Pictures’ Alamo Drafthouse Cinema? In a statement on the move, Sony Pictures Entertainment says this “reinforces” their “long-held commitment to theatrical exhibition.” They also assured fans that content from “all studios and distributors” would be welcome in the theaters. “We believe strongly in engaging entertainment fans outside the home in fun and distinctive ways as seen most recently with our Wheel of Fortune LIVE! traveling tour, and the opening of Wonderverse in Chicago,” said Ravi Ahuja, President and COO of SPE.
“Alamo Drafthouse’s differentiated movie-going experience, admired brand and devoted community fit well with this vision...
We look forward to building upon the innovati.