The Federal Government has released the guidelines for the Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund as it opens for applications.
The discounting of cinema tickets among some independent operators, Reading, Hoyts and Event Cinemas is so prevalent that some executives describe the practice as “a cancer” which is threatening at the industry.
As long as people get back into the habit of going to the cinema and exhibitors can put trailers in front of them, the NSW independent sector should recover "quite well", according to Independent Cinema Australia president Scott Seddon.
Australia's independent exhibitors warn that more than 50 per cent face being forced to shut down permanently in the next six months unless they get urgent relief from the Federal Government.
The response of Australian cinemas to the pandemic has inspired new research from the Queensland University of Technology about the connection between audiences and the big screen experience.
Independent cinema operators under financial hardship as a result of the pandemic will be able to apply for one-off grants of up to $85,000 after the Federal Government announced $20 million for the sector.
The current Sydney lockdown and the tightening of restrictions across the country has dealt another blow to exhibitors.
As cinemas across the country do it tough, Sydney Film Festival's Traveling Film Festival has partnered with Independent Cinemas Australia (ICA) to present two curated programs of features and shorts designed to drive audiences back to local theatres.