German distributors group signs VPF agreement

by Birgit Heidsiek

02/07/2012 - A group of German distributors, led by Constantin Film Verleih, StudioCanal Germany, Central Film Verleih GmbH and Tobis Film , has signed a deal memo with dcinex about the terms and conditions of a Virtual Print Fee agreement.

The distributor group, which represents 20 per cent of the German market in terms of box office, joined forces in 2011 to improve their negotiation processes. All members of the group can distribute their films on screens that have been digitally converted by dcinex, the joint venture of XDC, FTT and Bewegte Bilder. The conditions negotiated are available to all distributors in Germany, regardless of whether they had joined the group or not.

"I’m very pleased that we have now reached an agreement with these major and smaller players on the German market providing an even wider range of content to VPF-financed cinemas," said dcinex Chief Executive Officer Serge Plasch.

The German distributors are happy to have a VPF agreement that takes into account the needs of the independent film distribution model and which can be an example for other negotiations. "We are all aware of the benefits of a fully digitized distribution and exhibition chain, but it was important to find a VPF solution with dcinex that works for all distributors in our group," stressed Central Film Managing Director Peter Sundarp. "I think we have achieved this."