Situation der Kinos in der zweiten Welle von COVID-19

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 03.11.2020)

Reopening date

Expected probably at the beginning of March 2021.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 02.11.2020)

Reopening date

Closure extended until end of February 2021.

Supporting measures taken

> The Flemish Government has decided on the distribution of a Flemish emergency fund corona of almost 300 million euros, of which 65 million are given to Culture, running through 411 structurally funded organisations (Jun. 2020)

> Recovery plan of Wallonia-Brussels region announced on 22 May – 6 M€ in favour of the film and audiovisual sector
https://audiovisuel.cfwb.be/actualite/news/plan-de-relance-en-faveur-du-secteur-du-cinema-et-de-laudiovisuel/

Re-opening of cinemas (after 1st Covid Lockdown): measures for the benefit of exhibitors and distributors supported by the FWB 1. Coverage of the cost of health measures linked to the reopening of cinemas : For arthouse exhibitors, the cost of gels, masks, equipment, etc. necessary to ensure a maximum degree of safety in terms of hygiene in cinemas will be covered. 2. Purchase of 20 000 cinema seats: With the purchase of 20,000 cinema seats in FWB-supported cinemas, the CCA will provide additional support to exhibitors and distributors and an additional opportunity for viewers to discover arthouse films. 3. Specific support to distributors for the reopening of cinemas : Specific support will be put in place to encourage distributors who take the risk of releasing arthouse films as soon as theatres reopen, in what promises to be a difficult context. 4. Promotional campaign for the reopening of arthouse cinemas : A press, radio, TV and digital promotion campaign will be launched to encourage spectators to return to the theatres. (May 2020)

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed at the end of November.

Reopening date

Closure extended until end of January 2021.

Supporting measures taken

No measures taken for cinemas.

Situation in the country

Cinemas in Québec are closed (since 29.09.2020)

Reopening date

Expected after 08.02.2021

Supporting measures taken

Some assistance programmes to cover fixed costs (electricity, taxes, etc.). Other aid programmes linked to loans.

Update – December 2020

Quebec is providing financial assistance of $4.6 million to Quebec movie theatres, which have been closed all spring and now since October 1 due to COVID-19. The money will be awarded in the form of grants through a call for projects, through the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC). The amount of financial assistance allocated will vary depending on the type of institution, which must be wholly Quebec-owned. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1757817/subventions-million-fermeture-salles-cinema-quebecoises-covid

Situation in the country

Cinemas are slowly reopening.

Reopening Date

From 19.10.2020, cinemas can start reopening with 50% of their capacity in certain regions of the country.

Measures taken

Situation in the country

The cinemas are open.

Measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are allowed to be open, but many have decided to stay closed to avoid the spread of the virus.

Measures taken

Two major packages of financial measures have been issued by government to support workers and enterprises and help them make it to the other end of the tunnel. It is estimated that together they are on the order of nine percent of the annual GDP and follow on a period of fiscal discipline.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 12.10.2020)

Reopening date

Measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed on 16.12.2020.

Measures taken

The Danish government has announced 3 compensation programmes – they are not specific earmarked for the AV sector – but the film value chain/entertainment sector is included – incl. that cinemas can be compensated + SMEs etc

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open.

Measures taken

Financial support measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 virus outbreak in the cultural and audiovisual sector in Estonia are coordinated by the Ministry of Culture. The full size of the crisis package in the field of culture and sport is 25 MEUR.
The scheme also includes art house cinemas and small distributors who show European films (300 000 EUR, handled by Minsitry of Culture).
https://filmi.ee/en/estonian-film-institute-2/covid-19-measures
(May 2020)

Situation in the country

As of 11 January, the 10 people per screening restriction concerns regions inhabited by 80% of the Finnish population.

Reopening date

Measures taken

The Finnish Film Fund will dedicate extra one million euros to support Finnish cinemas and some film festivals, which had to cancel this Spring.

French arthouse cinemas can contact AFCAE for more information and support.

Information avaiable also on the website of the Federation Nationale des Cinémas Fraçais.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 29.10.2020)

Reopening date

Cinemas will stay closed at least until the end of January 2021.

Supporting measures taken

The “Film and audiovisual sector plan” within the French Cultural Recovery Plan released on 3 and 23 September (€165M, implemented by the CNC) will include: – Encouraging the release of films during the recovery period to bring audiences back to cinemas by supporting film distribution players (€17,7M) – Ensuring the viability of cinemas in the short and long term by reaching out to tomorrow’s audiences in all territories, with increased support for exhibitors and a strengthening of cultural dissemination and film education actions (€34,3M) In addition, for cinema operators, an exceptional fund managed by the CNC aimed at compensating for the losses due to the drop in attendance from September to December 2020, (€50 M).

https://europeanfilmagencies.eu/images/press_release/23092020_MC-CP-Plan_de_relance_cin%C3%A9ma_audiovisuel.pdf
(Sept. 2020)

The CNC has put online the application form for assistance under the “Reinforced Support” scheme. This mechanism is made up of a “Grant” and an “Exceptional advance” part, as provided for in the recovery plan announced by the CNC, in order to preserve the dense fabric of cinemas, heavily impacted by the health crisis, which guarantees the distribution of works in all their diversity throughout the country. Exhibitors will be able to benefit from additional financial support of up to one normal year of generated support.

Source: AFCAE
(Nov. 2020)

Situation in the country

Supporting measures taken

German arthouse cinemas can contact the AG Kino Gilde team for more information and support. More updated information in German on the AG Kino website.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 02.11.2020)

Reopening date

Expected reopening after the 14.02.2021.

Supporting measures taken

Zukunftsprogramm Kino

The Zukunftsprogramm Kino II supports measures to protect against the spread of the Covid 19 pandemic and forward-looking investments to make cinemas more attractive when they reopen and continue to operate. It aims to strengthen the cinema infrastructure throughout Germany in the long term and thus contribute to the visibility of German and European cinema films in particular.
A total of €40 million from the Neustart Kultur programme is available for this purpose.

The amount of the grant is up to 80% of the eligible costs for investment in conversion, modernisation and equipment measures to reduce the risk of infection (in particular with the SARS-CoV-2 virus) in the public and non-public areas of the cinema. Funding will also be provided for cashless cash register systems, online ticketing systems and sustainable and environmentally friendly methods such as the modernisation and installation of sanitary facilities and air conditioning or ventilation systems.

All about the Zukunftsprogramm Kino II at: www.ffa.de/zukunftsprogramm-kino-ii-1.html

Neustart Kultur: promoting equity services for cinemas

Restart-program for the culture in Germany announced in June 2020 initiated by BKM. From the overall budget of 1 Billion Euro for culture, 165 Million Euro have been earmarked for the audiovisual sector.
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/bundesregierung/staatsministerin-fuer-kultur-und-medien/kultur/kino-film-1774326

A further €30 million will be made available in the form of grants to help resume cinema operations. The aim is to support so-called “equity” services, i.e. everything necessary to maintain the cinema’s operations.

Support to the financial losses

For November and December 2020, German cinemas get as support the 75% of the revenues they had in November and December 2019.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 03.11.2020)

Reopening date

Not announced yet.

Supporting measures taken

Emergency financial aid to independent cinema owners to remedy the imbalance caused by the interruption of their economic activity. Cinemas must meet two conditions: they must be a two-screen cinema theatre and during 2019-2020 season at least two (2) Greek / European films should be part of their programming.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 11.11.2020)

Reopening date

Cinemas are closed at least until February.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 07.10.2020).

Reopening date

Cinemas are closed at least until February.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 26.10.2020)

Reopening date

Expected after the 05.03.2021

Supporting measures taken

The Italian government has taken extraordinary measures (130M€) for the sector (cinema, entertainment) to support professionals and businesses hit by the emergency.
The DG Cinema is accelerating the payments of ordinary funded aids from Cinema Law. That involves tax credit measures (€100m for 2019/2020), €100m to facilitate investments in new and renovated cinemas, €10m for art-house cinemas.

Some other measures to be reported:

* The work support scheme (emergency layoffs) was extended for another 6 weeks between 16 November and 31 January.
* Cinemas, like the other categories admitted to a grant last May, will again receive a contribution that will be double the amount previously received.
* The terms relating to the payments of social security and welfare contributions and compulsory insurance premiums due for November 2020 are suspended.
* Tax credit for rents is confirmed with reference to each of the months of October, November and December (if the decrease in turnover in such months is at least 50%).

Increased support

“The resources for supporting cinemas, unfortunately still closed due to the measures adopted in the Decree of the Prime Minister of 3 December, increased by 50 million euros, reaching a total of 110 million euros to compensate for lost ticket revenues”.

This was stated by the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, Dario Franceschini, who signed a decree which increased by a further 50 million euros the share of 60 million euros of the Emergency Fund for Entertainment and Cinema, established by the Decree Law Cura Italia, destined with the Ministerial Decree of 5 June, 10 July and 7 October 2020 to refresh the lost ticket revenues of cinemas. These resources are in addition to the non-refundable contribution that the cinemas have received from the State with the relaunch and refreshments.

As a consequence, the fixed contribution to each cinema will be increased to 25,000 euros, to which will be added the variable contribution based on the loss of income.

Source: MiBACT Press Office (Dec. 2020)

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 09.11.2020)

Reopening Date

Date of reopening scheduled for 07.02.2021

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 07.11.2020)

Reopening Date

Expected on 31.01.2021.

Supporting measures taken

The Lithuanian Film Centre granted support of 2.8 m EUR for cinemas and film distributors to compensate for losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, 18 cinemas, operating 71 screens in Lithuania, received 2.24 m EUR.

Government made a decision to allocate additional 2 M€ to the film sector. LFC will administer this amount.
The support is going to be distributed:
• to provide additional financing for projects that are financed by LFC in 2020, because they could have or having problems with other sources of financing (but the rules about intensity and maximum support amounts will be followed);
• to support new content;
• to provide individual grants for film makers;
• to expand support program for distribution;
• to create a new programme for audience development in cinemas.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open since 11 January 2021.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed since March 2020.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed again on 14 December (for at least 5 weeks), after being closed between 4 and 19 November (they reopened with the “30 visitors per screening rule”).

Reopening date

Cinemas are expected to reopen on 09.02.2021.

Supporting measures taken

Financial support has been provided at various times in the Netherlands. The national government has supported sectors including the cultural sector with various generic measures aimed at job retention and compensation of fixed costs. In addition, a specific budget has been made available from the Ministry of Culture for further support of the cultural sector. The national film fund and performing arts fund have divided the support and the subsidized film theaters have received ample support. The condition was that the national resources were matched by local authorities.
New funds have now been created for the current period with a run-through to 2021. It remains to be seen to what extent the cinemas can make use of this again.

Timeline the Netherlands:
– closing from mid-March to June 1
– from 1 June open to 30 people per room and 1.5 meters away.
– From 1 July open to 100 people per room and reopening of stages / theaters. 1.5 meters distance remains valid.
– by October number of visitors back to 30 people per room and catering and shops completely closed.
– from November 4, all cinemas and theaters are completely closed for 2 weeks.
– planned reopening: November 19.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

In Oslo region cinemas are closed since 06.11.2020.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 07.11.2020)

Reopening Date

Cinemas in Poland will be allowed to operate from 12 February 2021 on a two-week conditional basis, with a limit of 50% capacity.

Supporting measures taken

The Polish Film Institute will start accepting applications for their next batch of aid for producers, distributors, and studio/small cinemas on 1 February 2021.
The aid also covers co-financing for entities running studio cinemas and small cinemas (micro-entrepreneurs) where Polish films are shown. The expected budget is also up to EUR 8.8 m / PLN 40 m. The studio cinemas can count on monthly subsidies for each screen they own, with the obligation to open within 7 days of lifting sanitary restrictions and maintaining at least 50 percent of Polish repertoire. http://filmneweurope.com/news/poland-news/item/121282-polish-film-institute-to-spend-26-5-m-eur-on-covid-19-aid-for-cinema-industry

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed in 121 municipalities, since 04.11.2020.

Supporting measures taken

Expected on the end of November.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since 20.10.2020)

Reopening Date

In Bucharest area cinemas can open starting 23.01.2021.

Supporting measures taken

The Romanian Government will distribute 100 m EUR for the culture sector, including cinema, with the requirement that all the applicants should register by 25 November 2020 in the Cultural Sector Register, the creative industries map launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2020.

Another requirement is that the applicants (companies which were active in the last two years, but not independent or freelance artists) should add 20 percent to the 80 percent provided by the grant to their application projects.

Situation in the country

Cinemas are open.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed furing the second lockdown from 15 october to 16 November 2020.
Then closed again for the third lockdown on 19 December 2020.

Reopening Date

Not yet announced.

Supporting measures taken

Slovak cinema operators, who were stunned by the government’s decision to close them for a second time as of 15 October 2020, will receive 500,000 EUR as a part of the extraordinary 11 m EUR aid package of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic for independent culture. The Slovak Audiovisual Fund has decided to allot this amount from the 700,000 EUR support it received from Ministry of Culture.

For cinemas/events and distributors that face the harshest immediate consequences (they were forced to be closed/cancelled/suspend their activities by the state): there are horizontal measures prepared on the level of state for example by the Ministry of Economy (possible exemption from social and health care contributions for employees affected); also the fund is planning case by case according to individual needs of the companies to apply some of the following measures (e.g. admission of certain expenses even when an event is cancelled or moved, postponement of payments for loans or levies, specific short-term loans to small cinemas).

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed (since mid-October)

Reopening Date

Not yet announced.

Supporting measures taken

Not existing.

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed and opened differently according to the regions.
Cinemas in Barcelona reopened after exhibitors challenged the decision in court. Catalonia required all cinemas to close for two weeks from October 30; they were eventually allowed to reopen from November 23. In Andalusia, cinemas had to close from November 10, with the shutdown further extended to December 10. In Asturia they were closed until December 3.

Reopening date

Supporting measures taken

A fund of 13.252.000 euros for cinemas was announced in August. The call closed on September 2.
https://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/cultura/areas/cine/espacio-covid-19/actualizaciones/ayudas-exhibicion-cortos.html

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed on 24 November 2020.

Reopening date

Cinemas stayed closed at least until 22 December 2020.

Supporting measures taken

The Film Institute will distribute around 35 million euros (SEK 375 million) to the film industry. Some of the funds will go to compensate cinemas, distributors and film festivals for loss of income. The crisis support will also go to producers of film and drama series, to cover the extra costs caused by the pandemic.

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed on 12.12.2020.

Reopening strategies

Reopening expected after the 22.01.2021.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas closed on 08.01.2021.

Reopening strategies

Reopening expected after the 24.01.2021.

Supporting measures taken

Situation in the country

Cinemas are closed in all level 3 areas (since 05.11.2020). Since 2 December, they were allowed to open in level 1 and 2 restricted areas.

Cinemas in London closed again from 16 December, as the capital again moved to level 3.

On 4 January 2021, the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

Reopening date

TBC (England, Scotland, Wales); February 6 (Northern Ireland).

Supporting measures taken

Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas in England, which will be administered by the BFI for the Government. This fund is part of the UK Government’s cultural recovery package providing £1.57 billion to support world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions.
£30m has been allocated to the Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas in England – applications from Monday 10 August to Friday 30 October 2020.
https://www.bfi.org.uk/get-funding-support/culture-recovery-fund-independent-cinemas

The Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy, Campbeltown Picture House and Regional Screen Scotland’s mobile cinema, the Screen Machine, are among 30 independent cinemas and two touring operators serving communities across Scotland to receive £3.55million from the Scottish Government’s Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund and The National Lottery, through Screen Scotland.

The Fund, which aims to bridge the immediate financial gap faced by independently owned cinemas as a result of COVID-19, will now support these cinemas who can operate in the short-term, within Scottish Government guidelines, and help others towards reopening, when it is safe to do so.

https://www.screen.scot/news/2020/11/emergency-funding-to-secure-the-immediate-future-of-scotlands-independent-cinemas

Extra £750.000 of the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund, launched last August, will be given to 140 independent UK cinemas. (15.12.2020)

https://www.screendaily.com/news/bfi-awards-750000-to-uk-exhibitors-to-support-diverse-film-programming-exclusive/5155665.article

You can follow the trend in US on Art House Convergence website.

Situation in the country

Open in areas.

Reopening date

Varies according to state.

Supporting measures taken