The trade union The international union of cinemas, Unic, calls in the joint call on national governments to "do everything they can in the coming weeks and months to ensure that European cinemas can survive and overcome the challenges never before seen".

Peter Fornstam is chairman of the Swedish Cinema Owners' Association which is part of Unic. He believes that financial support from the state is crucial to the survival of many cinemas.

- It is also important for those who have produced films that there are cinemas where their films can be shown when all this is over, so that producers and talent can get their income, he says.

Meeting with the Minister of Culture

The Swedish Cinema Owners' Association has during the day met with politicians and representatives of the film industry.

- The entire industry has been meeting today with the Minister of Culture and discussing these issues. I feel that the state power in Sweden takes this seriously, says Peter Fornstam.

In the call, Unic urges governments to do everything they can to help cinemas during the crisis of the restrictions of the spread of the coronavirus.

- The needs look a little different for different cinemas, but everyone needs financial support to meet the fixed costs, says Peter Fornstam.