18 MAY 2020

MIA DIGITAL: WHAT’S AHEAD FOR FILM DISTRIBUTORS AND CINEMAS?

A new webinar has taken place in the new online platform MIA Digital where independent distributors-exhibitors have exchanged ideas and experiences on how creatively responding to cinemas closure.

18 MAY 2020

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In the middle of a crisis to share ideas and experiences is fundamental. Taking into account this, MIA Market has launched a new webinar called “Braving The Coronavirus Crisis: What’s Ahead For Film Distributors And Cinemas?” on its new online platform MIA Digital and in a moment where Italian government has officially confirmed the reopening of cinemas from June 15th.

During the virtual event, four independent distributors-exhibitors together with Europa Distribution and Europa Cinemas joined to exchange ideas and experiences on how creatively responding to cinemas closure: safety protocols for the re-openings, the evolving quality cinema streaming platforms and strategies to keep alive.


Andrea Occhipinti from the Italian company Lucky Red and Antonio Medici from BIM Distribuzione declared that the news of cinemas opening next June 15th was unexpected. “It was a little kind of sad news, we are not expecting to be so soon because we were talking about mid-summer, so we have to be ready,” opined Occhipinti. In Medici’s view, the cinemas have to consider many elements for its reopening. “The risk, the cost that it would be involved for the opening, we are really a little bit shock by the news, so we are not ready to understand what will be the situation,” added.

Louisa Dent from Curzon-Artificial Eye has described the scene in the UK and opined about the possibility of the movie theaters will open in July. “I think is wait and see, we have to prepare the things and take it slowly. Maybe test the rules in one cinema. It’s difficult because it depends on the cinemas, because with social distancing and the screen, they need enough screens to make to work well”.

Kim Foss from Grand Teatret and Camera Film has given details about the landscape in Denmark. “There is a rumor that the cinemas will be open 8th of June but maybe they will be allowed to open even earlier, there will be a Government meeting next Wednesday”, he anticipated. “The feeling in Denmark is that everybody is trying to push collectively and every cinema is joined in it”.

Finally, Christine Eloy from Europa Distribution asserted that from the beginning of the lockdown they were in touch with the European Commission with Creative Europe to try to find solutions based on the difficulties of the cinemas. “We’ll pay the 2019 supports, the cinemas have to send us first the result of their programming to get the support and the payment will do as soon as possible”.