It is a call for help that cinemas and distributors launched this Friday following the implementation of the health pass in places of culture and leisure. According to the National Federation of Film Publishers (FNEF) which brings together the main French distributors, this new measure has led to a drop in attendance since Wednesday.
The FNEF denounces “an industrial disaster”, indicating that admissions to cinemas fell sharply by 70% between Tuesday and Wednesday, the release day of new films including the highly anticipated Kaamelott – First part.
The return of aid?
“A massive plan in favor of distribution” is then demanded by the FNEF. “If a signal is not given to the economic players in the sector in the coming hours, we will have to expect to have in the theaters only a black screen. Without the investments of distributors, film production is doomed and theatrical exploitation cannot survive, ”she says.
The National Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF) is also calling for “massive emergency aid for cinemas”, and the return of aid put in place during the health crisis, including the partial activity mechanism.
The health pass, which attests to a complete vaccination or a negative test, is required at the entrance of all places of leisure and culture capable of accommodating 50 people or more since Wednesday. These include cinemas, theaters, concert halls, sports halls, swimming pools, marquees, game rooms, amusement parks, exhibitions, fairs or shows.
The bill which provides for the extension of the pass in early August to bars, restaurants and large shopping centers passed the Senate on Friday after a first vote in the Assembly.