Will the coronavirus epidemic have the skin of independent cinemas? Last week, the Syndicate of Cinemas of Art, Repertory and Test (SCARE) published a forum in which it calls for a real emergency plan for the sector. Because several cinemas, which counted on large productions to bring back the spectators, ultimately rejected for the most part, will have to close their doors at least temporarily.
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And cinemas showing films by authors seem to be doing a little better. Dragan Klisaric runs two cinemas: one in Paris and the other in Coulommiers, in Seine-et-Marne. Spectators want big productions there. Result: the cinema opened at a loss, and Dragan Klisaric was forced to draw the curtain. "A cinema is joyful when there are people, when there are children, spectators", he confides to the microphone of Europe 1. "What is really sad is when we opened and we saw that there were one or two spectators per session, that's the disaster. This is horrible. We couldn't attend that any longer. " And to conclude: "There at least, it's a period of hibernation. We are just waiting for the carrier films, those which allow us to open in good conditions".
Aid from the Paris city hall
In Paris, on the other hand, the customers of its cinema feed exclusively on the type of films which are being released at the moment. And so, no problem. "It's art and essay. Films in original version. It works pretty well, we have a drop in attendance too, but limited, which makes it quite bearable", explains Dragan Klisaric, stating that they can benefit from the aid put in place by the Paris city hall.
Aid such as rent exemption for 6 months. And we find this pattern everywhere. Small independent cinemas show fewer losses, in proportion, than cinemas that usually broadcast blockbusters.