- Home
- Cinema industry events
- GSCA International Conference
GSCA International Conference and Trade Show
The Giant Screen Cinema Association's annual conference and trade show for giant-screen, dome and museum theatres. The 2026 edition was held in Los Angeles in May.
| Runs | Annually, usually in May |
|---|---|
| Organised by | Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) |
| Who goes | Giant-screen and science-centre theatres, filmmakers, distributors and technology suppliers |
Dates and venues change. Confirm against Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) before booking travel. Last verified 26 September 2026.
A niche with its own economics
Giant-screen cinema — IMAX-format theatres, domes and planetarium screens, many run by museums and science centres — operates differently from commercial exhibition. Programmes are built around documentary and educational titles with long runs, and the distributors are specialists. GSCA's conference is where that community meets.
The 2026 edition in Los Angeles brought together filmmakers, distributors, exhibitors and technology partners for screenings, looks at films in production and projects in development, professional development, innovation sessions and networking.
What an operator gets out of it
For a giant-screen or dome venue, the previews are the core: this is where you see the upcoming slate from distributors such as MacGillivray Freeman Films and SK Films before you commit. The GSCA Achievement Awards include categories for theatres themselves — Best Film Launch by a Theater and the Big Idea Award for marketing — alongside the IMAX Hall of Fame, voted by the IMAX theater network.
For a mainstream multiplex with a single premium large format screen, it is less relevant; CinemaCon and CineEurope cover PLF from a commercial angle. Dates and location for the next edition had not been announced as of 26 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next GSCA conference?
Not announced as of 26 September 2026. The 2026 edition took place in Los Angeles in May, with the awards presented on 21 May.
Who runs it?
The Giant Screen Cinema Association, a membership body for the giant-screen industry.
Who votes the awards?
Film awards are voted by GSCA member organisations on films submitted by member distributors; marketing awards are reviewed by marketing professionals from member theatres.
Other cinema industry events
IND/EX
A joint conference from Art House Convergence and Film Festival Alliance for independent cinemas and film festivals. It…
Western EuropeFNCF Congress
The annual congress of the Fédération Nationale des Cinémas Français — French exhibition's main gathering, held in…
UK & IrelandUK Cinema Association Annual Conference
The annual conference of the UK's cinema trade body — two days in London where UK operators of every size discuss…
Latin America, Middle East & AfricaExpocine
Latin America's cinema convention, held in São Paulo with distributor line-up presentations and a business fair of more…