Leading VFX Publication ‘Cinefex’ Ceases After 41 Years, A Victim Of Coronavirus
Cinefex, which has long been the standard for visual effects art and technical journalism, announced today that it is ceasing publication after four decades. Its latest print issue, its one-hundred-and-seventy-second, will be its last.
The publisher cites the challenging economic circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Here is its statement:
A year ago this month, Cinefex celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Historically, it was a publishing landmark few magazines achieve, and we were immensely proud of our accomplishment and grateful to those whose support and dedication helped us to achieve it.
Then the world upended.
Within weeks, the coronavirus pandemic swept across the planet, deadly and implacable; and to this day, its inexorable march through countries, communities and families remains largely unchecked.
The human toll has been devastating, but so, too, has been the toll upon businesses, countless numbers of which shut down due to economic necessity or government mandate.
More than 100,000 of those business, in the U.S. alone, will never reopen.
We are deeply sad to announce that Cinefex will be among them.
The pandemic deprived us of subject matter, retail outlets, and most critically, advertisers, many of whom, like us, struggled to remain afloat in a climate of intense turmoil and uncertainty.
We did our best to weather the storm, but ultimately the storm prevailed.
You hold in your hands the final issue of a magazine that has documented and celebrated one of the most vibrant and exciting art forms in entertainment history. It has been our great honor and privilege to do so.
We bid you a fond farewell.
The news of the publication’s end has generated an outpouring of kind words for its impact on the industry. Here’s a small sampling of what people and companies are saying:
Cinefex magazine pulled the curtain back on how movies were made and was significantly responsible for sparking my enthusiasm for filmmaking and nurturing it for decades. This is a huge loss, and I'm very grateful for all of the knowledge and joy it has brought to all of us.
— Todd Vaziri (@tvaziri) February 23, 2021
It's funny, I never thought of Cinefex as a magazine despite its regular publication. The printing and binding on these books was a joy to behold. They did not feel disposable. They felt important.
— Cal Brunker (@calbrunker) February 23, 2021
My collection pic.twitter.com/SHpxesT94B
— Sebastian Tabany (@SebasTabany) February 23, 2021
Growing up, I can think of no publication that fueled my interest in the magic of filmmaking more than the great, and now sadly late, @Cinefex. My back issues will proudly remain as handy reference in my office. Thank you Don Shay, Jody Duncan & Co. for DECADES of excellence. https://t.co/YgWpFMaiRY pic.twitter.com/SUEErCPewi
— Charles de Lauzirika (@Lauzirika) February 23, 2021
Tremendously sad news just dropped. @CinefexNOW, one of the great movie magazines of the last forty years, has published its final issue. An articulate, dependable and inexhaustible source of information for #VFX professionals and fans, we shall not see its like again… #RIP https://t.co/rPrfH6GmXT
— Michael Doyle (@DoyleofDarkness) February 23, 2021
It is with great sadness that we share this news. For 40 years Cinefex served as an incredible inspiration and resource to so many in the industry. We are heartbroken 💔 #vfx
A note from the publisher as printed in Issue 172 (February 2021). pic.twitter.com/X0sJjSgwr3
— ILMVFX (@ILMVFX) February 23, 2021
Cinefex was my Bible when I was a kid, and still is to this day. @cinefexNOW is another victim of this terrible year and I specifically think about my friend Joe Fordham who’s a brilliant writer and Jody Duncan as well. What a sad sad sad day for us all SFX/VFX lovers. 😔 https://t.co/LehwOYGF5I
— Stephane Ceretti (@stefceretti) February 23, 2021
Heartbreaking. Thank you @cinefexNOW for writing so beautifully about VFX artists' work and the craft they love so much over the years. https://t.co/afPkmVhSeB
— Image Engine (@ImageEngine) February 23, 2021
