According to data from the consultancy Comscore, the percentage of open cinemas in Spain nowadays does not exceed 39% with a huge plummet of spectators. The tragic global pandemic has also devastated a sector that has already been badly affected in recent times. In many cases, it has been a definitive “shovel”.
After the 2020 closed with a global drop in box office revenue of over 72%, expectations remain dramatic for the present 2021. A comeback seems, at the moment pure “science fiction”, appealing to a cinephile terminology.
The new restrictions with curfews, reduced capacity in theaters (up to 50%) combined with the absence of both international and national premieres blocked by distributors, have forced the main film exhibition chains –Chinese, helmet, Ocine, MK2 Y Kinépolis– temporarily close most of their cinemas in Spain. These five chains represent, according to the Federation of Entities of Film Entrepreneurs of Spain (FECE), 55% of the market.
In Catalonia, the decrease in viewers in the month of January was around 74% compared to the same dates in 2020. Last year 1,350,000 people had attended. This January 2021 they have not exceeded 350,000 fans.
El emblemático cine Texas barcelonés ha bajado definitivamente el telón @FJMonfort
From the Guild of Cinema Entrepreneurs of Catalonia It is noted that many rooms have had no choice but to temporarily lower the blind, so as not to derail, with the hope of reopening in the coming months with renewed strength. They trust in an effective vaccination process and a substantial improvement in the current health situation so that movie theaters will once again offer their best offer … and distributors decide to release.
Unfortunately, very iconic and specialized Catalan cinemas such as the Texas and Méliès cinemas in Barcelona or El Punt in the Vallesan town of Cerdanyola have definitely drawn the blind. The admired filmmakers and entrepreneurs Ventura Pons and Carles Balagué, in the first two cases, have fought until their last breath to continue with their exciting activity but the tragic crisis generated by the global pandemic has ended up sentencing them.
In the case of cinema Texas (who took the witness again successfully, a few years ago, of the tireless work of another no less illustrious promoter who is no longer with us, Antoni Llorens, founder in 1980 of Lauren Group) various groups of the active “Vila de Gràcia“They are carrying out actions and initiatives aimed at their” salvation. “For now, the harsh reality is inactivity and a bleak image of the closed room in Barcelona’s Calle de Bailén. Especially cruel if we remember the massive response that the neighbors and a lot of Barcelona citizens in general, wanted to offer to the initiative of reopening this room.
As (optimistic) counterpoint, from the Guild of Entrepreneurs of Catalonia It is hoped that a certain normality can be resumed in the coming months with the recovery of Spanish film premieres. It is recalled that before the devastating irruption of digital platforms in recent times, 2019 ended with the highest box office results of the decade in movie theaters, starting in 2020 with 10% above the previous year and platforms in clear ascent. The hope is that once the health nightmare is over, cinemas will continue to operate in minimal conditions.
Very worrying indicators
In this haunting setting, the Observatory of Culture of the Contemporary Foundation has revealed this Wednesday that the cultural sector has lost in Spain 29% of budgeted income in 2020, a more pronounced drop in the private sector (35%) and independent professionals (38%) compared to the public sector (22%).
Also this Wednesday, the Minister of Culture of the Generalitat, Àngels Ponsa, has announced a first aid package of 23.7 million euros in 2021 for the cultural sector. The Catalan government puts global losses in the sector at 24% in Catalonia, seven points less than that registered in Europe.
It has been confirmed that, indeed, the sectors most affected economically, with 70% losses, are the performing arts and cinema.
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