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April 17, 2021 "Over 100 films are ready for theatrical release". This was announced to the Agi by the president of the National Association of Cinema Operators (Anec), Mario Lorini.



"The films on the starting blocks ready to be released are many and important, the production to restart from May and arrive at Christmas is there - he assures - this year the Italian sets have been very numerous, there has been talk of over 200 productions and we also have the return of American and European works with new releases in May, June and July ".



According to Lorini "we must have the patience to always consider step by step. We will have to continue to monitor together with the institutions - he concludes - continuing with the constant dialogue with the minister that has always been there". 



The date of April 26 "is a new beginning", but it cannot be considered the restart of the sector, if anything "the first symbolic step of its path". So at the Agi Lorini.



"Of the 4,000 screens that count the indoor halls - he explains - only 10-15% have outdoor spaces, which are fine, but they are not enough for the conditions to re-start the market in a structured way and therefore the release of all ready-made films ".



For the association, however, "the increase in capacity obtained by Minister Dario Franceschini is a goal achieved - adds Lorini - we go from 25% to 50% of the seats that can be occupied in the room with a maximum of 500 indoors and 1000 at open (previously these limits were 200 and 400) "but the obstacle of the protocol to follow remains, which" remains that of March 26, with the curfew imposed at 10 pm and the ban on the consumption of food and drinks ".



Hence the hope "that the cinema market will be able to reopen at least by the second half of May. If the vaccinations continue and the pandemic progress has a positive course, the measures will certainly be eased" concludes Lorini.