Exhibitor-distributor Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) is to open its 16th multiplex in Malaysia later this year.

The new complex, located on the island of Penang in the north of the country, will be a 12-screener with a total seating capacity of 1,850. GSC's investment in the new complex is some $3.95m (RM15m).

Like the company's flagship site in capital Kuala Lumpur, with 18 screens, the Penang multiplex will include specialist screens for award-winning festival films and foreign-language titles. It also includes multi-functional screens capable of hosting seminars and conferences.

As distributor GSC recently acquired Odyssey Entertainment's Phantom Of The Opera to be directed by Joel Schumacher, Boogeyman and The Grudge (a remake of Japanese horror flick Juon) both from Senator International and family film Racing Stripes from Summit Entertainment and Alcon Entertainment. It also has two big-budget English-language pictures featuring major Asian stars Bulletproof Monk with Chow Yun-fat from Lakeshore Entertainment (originally Signpost) and Jackie Chan vehicle Around The World In 80 Days from IS Film Distribution.