02/02/2012

“Dangerous and counterproductive”, that is how Anec - National Association of Italian Film Exhibitors, describes the liberalisation of opening cinemas of up to 3000 seats, as stated in the decree on simplications approved by the Council of Ministers.

“This provision – states Anec’s president, Lionello Cerri - will have devastating effects, aggravating the difficult situation very many cinemas are already in, particularly that of traditional cinemas and those in city centres.

In the course of the last ten years, the growth of the multiplex has concentrated almost exclusively in areas which already had several screens and town cinemas have progressively been reduced. However, according to Anec, this change has not led to a comprehensive growth in audience, which in Italy vouches for around 100-110M viewers.

In a meeting with the Minister for cultural goods and activities, Lorenzo Ornaghi, which took place in Rome on Tuesday, AGIS (an umbrella association within the entertainment industry) also expressed "strong concern and opposition to an unchecked liberalisation of the regime for ooening a cinema, as stated in the decree, which only gives the regions powers of restriction of an urban nature”. Mario Lorini, president of Fice, the Italian federation for arthouse cinema, also says he is perplexed and concerned.

ANEM, the association for multiplex exhibitors, has declared itself as being in favour of the liberalisations. In the view of its president, Carlo Bernaschi, “siding against the liberalisations with corporate and limitative arguments is short-sighted, out of place, and doesn’t demonstrate the entrepreneurial boldness and the competitive spirit of the businesses which have invested in cinema’s growth, adaptation and digitalisation. In order to raise the number of viewers we have to open new and modern cinemas as well as support cinemas in town centres, and not create useless, false and unhistorical conflicts between various structures".

(Translated from Italian)