19/11/2012 - The Independent Producers’ Syndicate takes a stand against experimentation with day-and-date film releases and online film premieres

In the latest episode in the fiery debate following the announcement of experimentation in Europe with "day-and-date" film releases (on the same day on as many platforms as possible – read more) and the online premiere of two films (read more), the Independent Producers’ Syndicate (SPI) has taken a clear stand in a press release titled Why film theatres must remain the exclusive first destination for cinematic films.

The SPI has stressed "its total and absolute opposition to film theatres being called into question, the latter being venues for the exclusive first screening of films, and demands that the public authorities and members of the profession appreciate the disastrous consequences of these actions, media stunts with destructive political and economic consequences.”

For the independent producers’ syndicate, "a previous or simultaneous online release under the pretext of broadcasting the film to as many viewers as possible is the Trojan horse of a consumerist vision of the sector, to the detriment of its diversity. […] Once they are online, why keep these films in cinemas? Why make the effort of mediation, of exhibition in cinemas when competition is coming from another platform? Why take the risk of not filling up one’s cinemas completely with anything other than blockbusters?Why not finally ask certain films to be released directly on DVD and on Video on Demand?"

The SPI rings the alarm as it believes that "it is not necessary to experiment very long to note that previous or simultaneous film releases only benefit Video on Demand. The conclusion to be drawn from this is therefore that these films (the most fragile) become useless in cinemas. Reasonings that involve viewing for free, the accelerated rotation of works, co-exhibition, and distribution without mediation announce the end of French cinema’s diversity and of its role as first cultural practice for the French. Media chronology is the basis for pre-financing, and therefore independent creation. Each time its intangibility is questioned it is weakened, we are weakened, the film sector ecosystem is weakened.”

(Translated from French)