The cinemas in North Rhine-Westphalia are to open uniformly on July 1st. The preparations are underway – cinema fans can look forward to it.
Update, June 29th (Tuesday): NRW – On Thursday (July 1st) the time has come: the cinemas in NRW will open again. In order to be prepared for a possible rush, the cinemas start with the preparations for the upcoming opening – as well as in the Cinestar in Dortmund.
Cinemas in NRW: nothing stands in the way of openings – operations start on Thursday
There, according to theater manager Matthias Teroerde, the room checks have already been made, the cleaning is in full swing – he told the opposite Radio 91.2. Accordingly, nothing stands in the way of being able to enjoy that cinema feeling again in Dortmund in many other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. At best, customers can obtain precise details from the cinema of their choice.
First report, June 1st (Tuesday): Let yourself fall comfortably into the cinema armchair and grab into the bag of popcorn – this has no longer been possible in NRW * since the end of 2020. The Corona * numbers are now falling. The NRW state government allows the opening of the cinemas below an urban incidence of 100 subject to conditions. But the industry does not want to open until later. RUHR24.de * explains why that is.
| Land | NRW |
| Current corona incidence in NRW | 40.2 (May 31) |
| Currently infected people in NRW | 26.900 |
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Cinemas in North Rhine-Westphalia only open much later than currently possible due to falling corona numbers
All cities and districts in NRW are (as of May 31st) with their incidence below 100. The cinemas should theoretically open there already now. In the NRW Corona Protection Ordinance of May 28 *, the following rules apply:
- Incidence 100 to 50.1: According to the seating plan, cinemas are allowed to open their halls for up to 250 people for people with a negative corona test or complete vaccination with seating arrangements according to a checkerboard pattern.
- Incidence 50 to 35.1: According to the seating plan, cinemas are allowed to open their halls for up to 500 people for people with a negative corona test or complete vaccination with seating arrangements according to a checkerboard pattern.
- Incidence below 35: According to the seating plan, cinemas are allowed to open their halls for up to 1000 people for people with a negative corona test or complete vaccination with seating arrangements according to a checkerboard pattern.
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Although cinemas are likely to open everywhere in North Rhine-Westphalia, the five cinema and distribution associations in Germany have agreed that they will not open until July 1st – “regardless of the patchwork of different opening dates and requirements”, as one current statement of the Main Association of German Film Theaters (HDF) called.
There is a simple reason why cinemas cannot open overnight. The distributors first have to buy the latest films from filmmakers and make them available to the cinemas. But precisely these were in short supply in the pandemic.
NRW: Cinema opening in Corona times dependent on film production
The production of large films has often been postponed in recent months due to Corona. Starting a film in the middle of the pandemic would have been a losing proposition for producers. Except for the drive-in theaters, there were no buyers for films. A simultaneous nationwide opening of all cinemas promises filmmakers and distributors a secure source of income. Cinemas can also hope for a wider selection of films – a win-win situation.
And so the cinema machinery in NRW is slowly starting to get going again. The advancing vaccination campaign and the falling corona numbers in many countries around the world give the industry hope. Distributors are coming back to a variety of films, which in turn makes the operation of cinemas attractive. Because very few cinemas want to reopen their doors with old strips or a mini selection of films. Irritations and disappointments of some cinema fans should be dispelled.
But it is already clear: the cinemas do not have to adhere to the decision of the associations. It is said that anyone who wants to open now can do so. This could especially affect small art house cinemas.
The following film releases have already been scheduled for the opening of the cinemas in July:
- Catweazle (1. July)
- A Quiet Place 2 (1. Juli)
- Cats & Dogs 3 – paws united! (July 1)
- Conjuring 3: Under the Spell of the Devil (July 1st)
- Godzilla vs. Kong 3D (1. Juli)
- Peter Hase 2 – A hare leaves the field (July 1st)
- Rosa’s Wedding (July 1st)
- Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (8. Juli)
- Croods 2 – Everything at the beginning of 3D (July 8th)
- Fast & Furious 9 (15. Juli)
- The Intoxication (July 15th)
- Space Jam: A New Legacy (15. Juli)
- Cash Truck (22. Juli)
- Hotel Transylvania – A Monster Transformation (July 22nd)
- East Wind – The Great Hurricane (July 29th)
- Kaiserschmarndrama (August 5th)
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In addition to the selection of films, the conditions under which they are allowed to open are also decisive for the cinemas. The cinema associations in North Rhine-Westphalia want an opening under “conditions with a sense of proportion”. Means: There should be no mask requirement at the seat. At best, visitors should eat goods there that they buy in the cinemas: popcorn, nachos and the like.
Corona: The cinema industry in NRW refers to openings abroad
This is the only way to mitigate the enormous damage and the “continuing economic threat to the cinema industry” *, according to the industry, which refers to successes from abroad. The cinemas in Austria are open again nationwide. In France, cinemas will be allowed to open 100 percent from June 30th.
Pilot projects with ventilation systems have shown that cinema operations can work despite the pandemic, according to the “Cinestar” chain, which also operates a cinema in Dortmund.
The Cinestar at the main train station in Dortmund will open its doors again on July 1st.
© Florian Forth/RUHR24
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Its director Matthias Teroerde points out that the opening of a cinema requires up to four weeks in advance. “For example, we have to replenish the completely emptied inventory, test processes and plan the deployment of our employees. The new films must also be advertised in advance so that the guests can find out what they can look forward to in June. “
Terörde is optimistic that the cinemas in North Rhine-Westphalia will fill up again quickly – especially since the start on July 1st is only four days before the start of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia. Teroerde is certain: “Especially because people will definitely be taking more holidays in Germany this year, going to the cinema together is certainly very popular as a leisure activity.” * RUHR24 is part of the editorial network of IPPEN-DIGITAL.
Headline list image: © Andreas Solaro / AFP
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