The Fläxl family has been running cinemas for four generations since 1912. The Fläxl film theater companies own the multiplex cinemas in Erding, Neufahrn and Vilsbiburg with a total of 33 cinemas. There are ten of them in Erding. Not a single film has been shown there since the beginning of November. And it will probably stay that way for a while. Managing director Veronika Fläxl does not believe that the cinemas will be allowed to reopen before March. However, she rejects rumors about the final closure of her cinemas: “We can somehow manage this and we will still be around afterwards – but I can no longer remove that ‘somehow’ from the sentence.”
Due to the corona, Fläxl already had to lay off 80 of the previously 200 employees. Only in administration is there still a lot to do. The other employees who were otherwise employed in ongoing operations and have not yet been given notice are on short-time work. The coming weeks would be tough again, fears Fläxl. Her company got over well over the turn of the year, and that will also be the case over January and February, with “probability bordering on certainty”. However, the change of month from February to March will be exciting.
When Fläxl looks ahead, she also looks back on the time after the first lockdown: “Our concept was actually very successful and can be successful again, we dare to say that.” In the weeks that the cinemas were open last year, “we may not have worked profitably, but we have continuously worked our way towards the black zero.” On a good Sunday, 3,500 to 4,000 guests used to come to the Cineplex-Kino Neufahrn. Most recently, at best, there were 800 visitors. But Fläxl is certain of one thing: “People want to go to the cinema. We could have sold significantly more tickets than we were allowed to. We assume that people will continue to be interested and that the range of films will be right again this year – if they Allow cinemas to reopen. “
In order to make ends meet with lower fixed costs, the entire company has been restructured, says Fläxl. “We turn every little screw.” How to proceed, however, is a look into a cloudy crystal ball: “We don’t know when we can open again and under what conditions. We don’t know how much staff we will have or need. If you only have a third Guests, they would actually have to pay three times as much to be reasonably economical. ” However, only short-term and temporary openings made no sense for a cultural establishment such as a cinema.
All of the family company’s reserves have been used up, says Fläxl. You have to go to private assets or take out a loan if the state aid comes too little, too late or not at all. Obtaining loans is not easy, however, as the banks are very restrictive when there is no collateral. The state aid did not flow as it was promised, says Fläxl, it was not only the case with them. Nothing has yet arrived from the November aid. There are different pots that can be tapped. The formalities are sometimes very complicated and the money comes from different offices and programs. “Smaller companies in particular will find it very difficult.”
“At the moment money is being burned in huge amounts in all businesses,” says Fläxl, “but I can’t just do without giving my landlord money, or paying for insurance, electricity or the telephone. That’s why we have been extreme recently Stepped on the brakes on costs and kept the money together very, very strongly. Accordingly, we are not bankrupt, but the account is very empty. ” So far, the next funding amount has arrived at some point and it was just enough. That will also be the case in the coming months. The turn of the year is bitter for many companies, however, says Fläxl, because the promised state support is not yet there. From a legal point of view, many companies would actually have to file for bankruptcy.
Veronika Fläxl hopes for a conciliatory year. 2021 have a very nice range of films, as many film releases have been postponed to this year in 2020. “There is a lot in the drawer. And there is a lot more to come, there are some real delicacies. There will be no end to the cinema.”
– .
