The talk about cinemas going digital has been raging for the past 7 years. Major Hollywood studios have also commenced their ‘threat’ to no longer produce in the 35mm celluloid film format for cinemas. Thank God, Nigerian cinemas can now finally say they have joined the big players internationally with the cinema chains of Digital Cinema Technology. Movies are no longer shot and projected on 35mm film or high-definition video standards, but done with digital cameras and digital projectors with servers. Any movie with such technology has digital data representation in best quality. Cinema goers can also for the first time experience 3D features with 7.1 digital surround sound system in Lagos, Calabar and Ibadan, courtesy Filmhouse Cinemas. What is most striking about Filmhouse Cinemas is the series of ‘firsts’ this new company has achieved in a short time. Filmhouse is the fastest growing cinema chain in Nigeria. In December 2012, Filmhouse launched its first two cinemas in Surulere, Lagos and Calabar Marina Resort. And quickly followed with another in Dugbe, Ibadan in May 2013. Filmhouse is also currently in the last stages of construction and fit-out to launch additional five cinemas in the first half of 2014: in Samonda, Ibadan; Port Harcourt, Asaba, Kano and Apapa, Lagos. The cinema comes first in digitalization. They are the only one with the digital capability in all its locations with 3Dfeatures, 7.1 digital surround sound and HRF capability. Filmhouse has also launched a digital laboratory. This has made it very easy for Nigerian film makers, content producers and corporate advertisers to enjoy the highest grades here in Nigeria at reduced costs. This Digi-lab can convert HD films, adverts, commercials and promos to international standard cinema compliant Digital DCP format. Filmhouse again recently reworked Rukky Sanda’s film, Gold Diggin, from a regular HD feature to a high grade DCI compliant DCP feature with an upgrade to 7.1 Surround Sound. Which made the presentation quality of the movie more superior. “The roll-out of Digital Cinema has indeed commenced in a big way, so we can comfortably say that cinema goers in Nigeria are in for a whole new world of digital experience this year. The days of low quality Nollywood films are soon to be a thing of the past,” said Kene Mkparu, Filmhouse CEO/MD.