Texas-based Premiere Cinemas received top honors last night, being named "Exhibitor of the Year" in a gala awards banquet held in Tunica, MS. The distinguished award was announced by Tri-State Independent Theatre Owner Association board member Fred Blank.

The Tunica trade show and convention has become one of the nation's most popular industry events as both theatre companies and studio executives gather with vendors each year. Sharing the spotlight with Premiere this year was Paramount Pictures which was honored by the association as "Studio of the Year".

Mr. Blank, a Tri-State Hall-of-Fame Member himself, told the audience that Premiere was singled out this year for its outstanding commitment and contribution to the association and the industry. "Premiere has done so much to enhance our seminars through the years sharing their vast experience with our members. They are truly a class-act and their innovation and designs are changing the way theatres are being built. My good friend Gary Moore started in the theatre business at age 12 and hasn't slowed down since, buying his first theatre in 1985 . . . the list of towns in which he's built and owned theatres today reads like a road Atlas!"

"It's a great honor to be recognized by so many of our peers," said Kobe Bone, Premiere's Tri-State Area Director. "What I love about Premiere is it's a round-table company where ideas are shared and everyone contributes to the dialogue and that has gone a long way toward the innovations we've been able to develop."

Premiere has received recognition recently for its designs which encompass digital cinema technology directly into its new architecture. In 2008 Premiere opened the world's first two completely "mezzanine-less" cinemas, eliminating the traditional upstairs projection booths and powering its state-of-the-art auditoriums from a "digital command center", a high-security glass pod in the lobby that not only houses but showcases racks of laser-lit terabyte servers and digital sound systems to movie-goers, giving them a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the technology that sets digital cinema apart from film projection.

The awards banquet wrapped with a lively auction of movie memorabilia, sporting excursions and other exciting prizes with proceeds going to the Variety Club, the motion picture industry's long-standing charity which benefits children across the world.