Christie has announced that Phenomena Experience, the iconic Barcelona cinema recognised with the 2025 Carlo Lizzani Europa Award for Best European Theatre during the Venice Film Festival, has installed a Christie CP4435-RGB 4K RGB pure laser cinema projector as part of the renovation of its iconic venue. Founded and led by filmmaker Nacho Cerdà, Phenomena Experience has become one of Europe’s most distinctive destinations for cinema lovers. Located in Barcelona’s former Cine Nàpols, the single-screen theatre is known for its carefully curated programming, combining first-run titles, classics, retrospectives, special screenings, and 35mm and 70mm film presentations. The upgrades to the auditorium, projection booth, sound system, acoustics, seating, lobby, and bar preserve the theatrical character and passion for cinema that have defined Phenomena since its inception.
At the heart of the upgrade is the Christie CP4435-RGB, a 4K RGB pure laser cinema projector featuring RealLaser illumination and CineLife+ electronics. The projector delivers up to 35,000 lumens, high contrast, and more than 95 percent of the Rec. 2020 colour gamut, along with long-term operational stability and a low-maintenance design. It also supports Christie VDR, a software-enabled technology that further enhances the on-screen experience and increases the projector’s operational efficiency and lifetime. For Phenomena, the move to RGB pure laser projection was a carefully considered choice shaped by its close relationship with filmmakers, cinematographers, distributors, and other AV professionals. “We’ve used other brands, but we were interested in exploring Christie because of its reputation in premium cinemas and its connection with Dolby,” says Nacho Cerdà, founder and director of Phenomena Experience. “Our integrator Kelonik recommended a specific laser model, and the technology was very appealing to me.”
Cerdà explains that the transition from traditional Xenon lamp projection to RGB pure laser was widely discussed within Phenomena’s community. “A large part of our audience works in the audiovisual industry, and for them, this change was comparable to the transition from 35mm to digital,” he says. “There was some initial reluctance among industry colleagues, but after seeing the results, their response has been positive.” Because Phenomena’s auditorium also hosts test screenings, laboratory corrections, sound tests, and other professional sessions, colour accuracy, reliability, and optical consistency were central to the choice of projector.
The Christie CP4435-RGB has delivered an immediate on-screen improvement while giving the Phenomena team greater flexibility for its varied daily programming. “I was surprised by the outstanding contrast and exceptional focus we could achieve with its lenses,” says Cerdà. “We’ve also seen a significant reduction in speckle compared with previous models, and the speed of format changes is extremely useful for us, given how varied our programming is throughout the day.” Phenomena’s screen measures 15 metres wide (49 feet) by approximately 6.2 metres high (20 feet), with a projection distance of around 20 metres (65 feet). The cinema required a solution capable of delivering the necessary brightness and optical performance at that scale.
The new RGB pure laser projection system now complements Phenomena’s continued commitment to 35mm and 70mm film. For Cerdà, the aim is not to choose between past and future, but to use each format to serve the most compelling cinematic experience. “That is part of what makes cinema exhibition so powerful,” he says. “It is about respecting the filmmaker’s vision while considering every part of the audience experience, from the venue’s decor and lighting to the way the film is presented.” Together with the projection upgrade, the renovation has strengthened Phenomena’s role as a cultural venue for festivals, presentations, premieres, and special events. “Despite all the predictions of the cinema industry’s decline, I want to speak up and say it’s still very much alive,” he concludes. “But that future depends on bringing back the grandeur and glamour that characterized the cinemas of our childhood.”
