Chris Buchanan To Present Keynote At NAB Conference

Chris Buchanan, director of new business development at Samsung Electronics America, is to present the keynote at the 2018 NAB Show's Future of Cinema Conference.

The conference will take place April 07-08 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and is produced in partnership with SMPTE.

"It's an honor to be a keynote speaker at the Future of Cinema Conference, especially during this exciting time as new innovations shape the future of cinemagoers," said Mr Buchanan. "Cinemas are transforming from movie houses into immersive entertainment experiences, attracting younger generations while still delivering quality programs that appeal to longtime audiences. At Samsung, we're eager to continue developing technologies that deepen the cinematic experience, and I look forward to sharing my perspective on the nature and impact of emerging technologies for cinema."

The keynote will address the future of cinema, and how technologies ranging from LED screens to sensory immersion transform the viewing experience. Likewise exploring the future of movie-making and media consumption, additional conference sessions will dive deep into shifting models and opportunities for monetization, featuring hot topics such as next-gen cinema, high-dynamic-range (HDR), and immersive media (AR/VR/MR).

"Chris has a rich history as a media executive, having managed companies, content and artists, as well as the strategic partnerships, technologies and consumer engagement tactics critical to revenue generation in today's media marketplace," said Barbara Lange, SMPTE executive director. "He is a wonderful addition to a strong conference program, and we're excited to hear his thoughts on the future of media and how we'll get there."

Prior to joining Samsung, Mr Buchanan served in business development, sales and marketing roles for global social media marketing company Thismoment, with responsibility for the company's partner network. Earlier, at Amazon he contributed to an original content initiative now known as Amazon Studios. As a part of the content acquisition team, he also licensed film and television programming for Amazon Video On Demand.

Mr Buchanan was president of Joss Whedon's Mutant Enemy at 20th Century Fox, where he oversaw the critically acclaimed series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," and "Firefly." He also produced Mr Whedon's feature debut, "Serenity," at Universal Pictures. While at Warner Bros., Mr Buchanan ran Jerry Weintraub Productions, where he developed a slate of films including "Ocean's Eleven."

In 2000, Mr Buchanan co-founded Flixer, a venture-backed technology startup that provides digital marketing services to major media clients. He also founded the United Talent Agency's independent film department, where he represented cutting-edge filmmakers and packaged their productions. He began his career as a programming and acquisitions executive for Sony Pictures Entertainment in New York.

The 2018 NAB Show's Future of Cinema Conference, produced in partnership with SMPTE, will be held in the Upper South Hall meeting rooms. Conference session details and registration are available here: nabshow.com/education/conference/future-cinema-conference.