Cinemas, "frightening" figures: from March to date, sales dropped 91%

Government-imposed closures, the difficulties of restarting, the mistrust of the public that despite reopenings has often stayed away from theaters: the cinema has experienced a year of severe suffering. Outlining the situation was Simone Gialdini, director general ofANEC (National Association of Cinema Exhibitors) at a Senate hearing on the restorations decree last Nov. 6.

Gialdini pointed out that exhibitors are reporting a loss of 60 million moviegoers from March to the present, which has translated into a 91 percent drop in overall sales compared to the previous year. These are, according to Gialdini, “frightening figures to be able to guarantee market resilience.”

“All the big international box-office films,” Gialdini pointed out, “have slipped to 2021, desertifying our proposal palimpsest, which has had to turn only to domestic titles. In the reopening period from June 15 to October 25, more than 20 percent of the theaters did not reopen. This means that we are in danger of losing 25 percent of the theater stock when there is a restart. That is why it is crucial to help us.”

ANEC has therefore called for assuming a waiver of the limit on non-repayable contributions or raising the limits set for activities with Ateco code 59.14, the one that indicates “Film projection activities,” to no less than 500,000 euros in turnover. In addition, “directly connected to the cinema sector,” Gialdini added, “there are numerous satellite activities represented by advertising concessionaires, suppliers of technology and furnishings, of products for the refreshment areas in the theaters, and satellite carriers: enterprises for which we ask that the benefits provided by Ateco code 59.14 be extended as of now, so that the cinema system does not find itself in difficulty at the time of reopening by losing corollary assets of fundamental importance.”

ANEC is also calling for facilitations in the use of dimposta credits recognized to movie theaters. “It is fundamental and strategic,” the ANEC director explained, “to be able to also use them for payments or assignment to suppliers, similar to the uses defined for dimposta credits established specifically for the Covid-19 emergency. In addition, swift action is needed to close the legislative gap that does not define Emergency Fund contributions as emergency benefits.”

Cinemas, "frightening" figures: from March to date, sales dropped 91%

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