Big Screen Experiences Offer Perfect April School Holiday Entertainment For Families

Kids’ Cinema and IMAX family titles offer up all the entertainment fun you need

It’s the April break, it’s school holiday time, and there’s no better way to spend quality time with family and friends than by watching a great story unfold on the big screen. With a line-up of fun, adventure, and animated magic on offer, Ster-Kinekor is inviting you to spend a few special hours together, enjoying ‘great moments at their greatest’.

While all the kids' movies will be playing in cinemas across the country, the younger kids will love the experience of enjoying the film in the special fun-filled Kids’ Cinema spaces that feature their own foyer area with activity tables and catering counter, brightly coloured beanbag seats (with bigger seats for parents at the back!), and a slide and ball pool. The Kids’ Cinemas can be found at Ster-Kinekor The Zone @ Rosebank, Sandton City, Fourways Mall, Carnival City and Irene in Gauteng, and at Blue Route, V&A Waterfront and Capegate in Cape Town.

The holiday movie line-up is packed with exciting titles for kids and families alike. First up is something for children young and old alike, when the delightful Enid Blyton fantasy book is brought to life on the big screen. Releasing on 27 March when schools break up, The Magic Faraway Tree should bring back wonderful memories for the child in all of us.

In this updated version, soon after the Thompson family’s arrival in the countryside, the three children – Joe, Beth, and Fran – discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot, and Saucepan Man.

At the top of the tree, they're transported to spectacular and fantastical lands, and, through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learns to reconnect and value each other again for the first time in years. The film, directed by Ben Gregor, stars Andrew Garfield, Clare Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Jennifer Saunders, Michael Palin, Rebecca Ferguson, Nonso Anozie and Dustin Demri-Burns.

Watch the trailer here

In addition to the big screen experience, there will also be fun activations around The Magic Faraway Tree at select malls during the Easter weekend, including Fourways Mall, Vaal Mall, MooiRiver Mall, Baywest Mall and Garden Route Mall.

Releasing on 01 April and bringing the immersive IMAX Experience® to Ster-Kinekor’s biggest screens is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom. To enjoy this adventure-filled film in the biggest format, head to one of the following sites: Mall of Africa, Cradlestone and Eastgate in Johannesburg, The Grove in Tshwane, Baywest in Gqeberha, and at V&A Waterfront, Blue Route and Capegate in Cape Town.

View the trailer here

If you want to get a little closer to Mario and Luigi without having to embark on some intergalactic travel, head to the following Ster-Kinekor cinemas over the Easter weekend to meet them: The Zone @ Rosebank, Sandton City and Mall of Africa in Joburg (01 – 04 April) and at V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on 01 and 02 April. In addition, other Ster-Kinekor sites will be hosting fun and interactive activities that could earn you karting or Magic Company vouchers.

Already on circuit, these films also make for perfect holiday viewing: Finnick 2: Little Monsters follows the adventures of careless Finnick who loses his invisibility after awakening an ancient staff's magic. Now, all finns are in danger. He and Christine must embark on an adventure to restore his invisibility and save the finns.

Watch the trailer here

Hoppers introduces young cinema audiences to animal lover Mabel. She uses clever new technology designed to 'hop' human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals to communicate with beavers, uncovering mysteries within the animal world beyond anything she could have imagined.

Watch the trailer here

Shrek Forever After returns to the big screen from 27 March for two weeks, as part of the Throwback Cinema promotion, with the ticket price of just R50. A midlife-crisis burdened Shrek, longing for the days when he felt like a real ogre, makes a pact with magic deal-maker Rumpelstiltskin. But when he's duped and sent to a twisted version of Far Far Away where Rumpelstiltskin is king, ogres are hunted, and he and Fiona have never met, he sets out to restore his world and reclaim his true love.

Watch the trailer here

Ster-Kinekor offers screening options for everyone in the family, from relaxed, fun-filled viewing for the little ones to epic, larger-than-life experiences for older kids and parents. The different cinema formats mean families can choose the screening that best matches their children’s ages, and appetite for spectacle.

So, whether you’re watching your favourite animated heroes come to life in the cool comfort of the Kids’ Cinema together, a matinee with the besties, or experiencing the latest blockbuster release with the full IMAX Experience, Ster-Kinekor’s big screen offering is your family’s go-to destination this school holiday.

Younger cinemagoers can also make the most of the loyalty programmes on offer for great value, with free movies until 19:00 for under-18s who are Discovery Vitality members, while The Epic Deal for SK Club members (free sign-up) gets you a movie ticket, small drink and popcorn for just R149,90 from Monday to Friday.

And, if it’s your birthday during the holidays, why not invite your friends to a party with a difference at your favourite Ster-Kinekor cinema? Ster-Kinekor offers the perfect venue to host your party, special ticket prices and you get to watch a cool movie with your besties.

If you’re in Joburg, and you need to spend some energy, why not try out the SKX-PERIENCE Powered by Jozi X at The Zone in Rosebank. This indoor adventure hub offers activities including axe throwing, gel blaster, splatter room and escape room, adding a new interactive dimension to the Ster-Kinekor entertainment experience.

Catch all your favourite holiday movies at Ster-Kinekor. Book your tickets now on the new-look website at www.sterkinekor.com or download the new-look SK App on your smartphone.  For news and updates, go to Facebook: Ster-Kinekor Theatres | follow Ster-Kinekor on Twitter: @Ster-Kinekor. For all queries, call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437).

#DoMoviesRight   #sterkinekor   #KidsCinema   #IMAXExperience   #schoolisout   #holidaytimeismovietime

ENDS

Issued by:                                             aHead PR                                                      

On behalf of:                                        Ster-Kinekor Theatres                                                               

For media information:                     Janet de Kretser                                                 

Tel:                                                         083 973 3531

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About Ster-Kinekor Theatres

Ster-Kinekor Theatres is the largest movie exhibitor on the African continent. To most South Africans, the word ‘movies’ is synonymous with the name ‘Ster-Kinekor’. The company operates 32 commercial cinema complexes in South Africa that house 249 large-scale screens, with 33 147 seats and the largest 3D footprint featuring 99 state-of-the-art 3D screens in South Africa (Commercial, 3D, IMAX, Kids Cinema and Cine Prestige). It also operates four cinema complexes in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, with 23 screens and 3 014 seats.

As the industry leader, Ster-Kinekor has pioneered cinema concepts such as Cinema Nouveau, a dedicated art-house multiplex cinema, and the luxurious Cine Prestige theatres, the first ‘business class’ cinema experience in South Africa; and has headed the return of the IMAX® Experience, with eight IMAX® Theatres across the country. Ster-Kinekor has expanded its cinema innovation to launch the first Kids’ Cinema complete with slides and bean bag seating (currently seven screens) as well as D-BOX which brings movie experiences to life with motion seats. Most recently, Ster-Kinekor introduced SKX-PERIENCE Powered by Jozi X at The Zone in Rosebank, an indoor adventure hub offering axe throwing, gel blaster, splatter room and escape rooms, adding a new dimension to the Ster-Kinekor entertainment experience.

As one of South Africa’s most loved brands, it is Ster-Kinekor’s ongoing mission to become synonymous with the unrivalled magic of the cinema experience, by providing ‘Great Moments at Their Greatest’. During 2013, the company embarked on a massive roll-out project to convert and equip every cinema with the very latest in digital projection and sound technology. The result of this upgrade is that every cinema now boasts state-of-the-art cinema technology that encompasses 2K and 4K digital projection and 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems.

The SK Club loyalty programme rewards members with redeemable points when they swipe their card when buying movie tickets or catering, as well as half-price tickets on Tuesdays. Combined with industry-leading loyalty programmes from Edgars Club and Discovery Vitality, these give Ster-Kinekor a strong consumer value proposition and competitive advantage. Ster-Kinekor has extended its loyalty offering to include the first subscription model in South Africa: SK Subscription Club, which offers members a limited or unlimited number of movies per month at a set cost whilst also enjoying the benefits of SK Club.

As the market leader, Ster-Kinekor aims to spearhead the advancement of cinema across both South Africa and the rest of Africa, to ensure that consumers continue to experience movies as they were made to be seen – on the big screen.

See more at: www.sterkinekor.com