CinemaCon kicks off its studio program with the premiere of the upcoming “Godzilla Minus Zero,” welcoming Oscar-winning filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki to the convention’s main stage for the first time.
The presentation, sponsored by distribution company GKIDS, will open the “State of the Industry” program on April 14 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Attendees will be able to see exclusive sneak peeks from the next installment of the long-running Godzilla series.
Director Yamazaki, who won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for “Godzilla Minus One,” will make a special appearance and introduce footage that emphasizes the global expansion of theatrical film production.
This moment also marks a milestone for GKIDS, an Oscar-winning distribution company known for bringing international artist-driven animation to North American audiences. The company was acquired by Toho in 2024, strengthening its ties to Japanese film production and the Godzilla series.
“The future strength of our industry depends on a year-round, diverse film production that speaks to audiences around the world,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of Cinema United, which organizes the competition. “GKIDS represents our commitment to diverse movie viewing options.”
GKIDS President David Gesteto added that the event reflects the company’s long-standing support of the theatrical experience.
“Godzilla Minus Zero”, which is currently in production, will reunite Yamazaki with the series as director, screenwriter, and VFX supervisor. Toho will release the film in Japan on November 3rd, and GKIDS will begin wide theatrical release in North America on November 6th.
CinemaCon will be held in Las Vegas from April 13th to 16th.
