Despite the closure of all its cinemas, Kinepolis offers 10,000 seats in its 13 French cinemas to front line staff during this health crisis. How is this operation?
Anne-Sophie LE GUIADER, Director of Box Office, Sales and Marketing at Kinepolis : We all applauded from our windows these caregivers, firefighters, delivery drivers, staff of food businesses or in charge of waste collection and we were looking for a way to thank them. The idea is to make a clip with them that will be broadcast on our screens and our social networks. For this, they have until May 31 to complete a online form on our website and send us a photo of them at their workplace with a poster that says “Super” and their first name. Two places will be offered to each participant.
Economically, what situation plunges you into this health crisis?
This lack of activity is not obvious. Most of the staff are partially unemployed. But our society is healthy and prudently managed. We are not in danger or under obligation to fire.
Do you have an idea of a reopening date?
In some countries like the Netherlands, Spain or Luxembourg, this could be done in June. In France, we have no visibility at the moment but we are preparing for July. This social leisure and sharing is sorely missed by the French. This crisis has had the merit of showing its importance.
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What will post-coronavirus cinema look like?
Many actions will be implemented. We are working on several protocols for welcoming employees and the public according to government directives. They will probably be communicated to us in late May-early June. Before confinement, we had already imagined limited access room plans to respect the distancing. The time between two sessions will also be extended to ventilate and clean the rooms.
Will the programming also be different?
This summer, it will indeed be atypical. The productions have been suspended since mid-March. The release of many films has been postponed and those whose potential has not been fully exploited have been released on video-on-demand platforms. This summer, from a cinematographic point of view, there will be Mulan an American film by Niki Caro , Tenet the last Christopher Nolan and a lot of French films. But due to the cancellation of festivals and concerts, there will also be alternative content.
Is the creation of a drive possible?
We are also working on it. But it is complicated in terms of costs, authorizations and technical means for optimal projection. If we do, it will remain an event.
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