Cinemas in the Corona crisis: The situation is existential for some movie theaters. The Bavarian State Ministry for Digital has now announced that cinemas in Kempten and Oberallgäu will receive more than 166,000 euros in start-up aid. Does that help? And does the help arrive on time? We wanted to know from Andrea Dietel-Sing, managing director of the Collosseum cinema in Kempten, whether this worked well. As early as November, at the beginning of the second lockdown, the Colosseum cinema had filed a complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court against the corona-related closure – and it had failed.
Lockdown support: A little at a time, but the costs are covered.
The cinema did not receive any funding for the entire month of November, the promised November aid could only be applied for on November 25, explains Dietel-Sing. A first down payment on November aid from the federal government in the amount of 10,000 euros was made in December, along with bridging aid and funding from the Free State of Bavaria. With this money, at least the expenses for the Colosseum cinema for December were almost covered.
In January the Kempten cinema received a second down payment from the federal government for the November aid, at the end of January the approval for the remaining amount of the November aid, plus the first down payment for December. “The expenses for January are also covered. We are assuming that the December aid will also be approved,” said Dietel-Sing.
“Confusion” at the federal government: Funding must be applied for through a tax advisor
The Bavarian State Ministry for Digital last week warned that there was “a jumble of different aid programs” at the federal level that should be resolved quickly. It is necessary that the promised federal funds for the cinema industry arrive now, “quickly, unbureaucratically and effectively.”
The Colosseum cinema also feels the “jumble”. “Applying for the various aids and subsidies is very complicated, that’s why we at Kino Kempten handle everything through our tax consultancy,” the managing director explains all-in.de. In the case of federal aid, this is an obligation anyway. The federal government wants to subsequently examine the requirements for the aid paid. “This also gives you the uncertainty factor as to when it will be paid out, because it is difficult to estimate how long the review will take.”
There is also uncertainty regarding the question of what exactly is being funded, i.e. what the Kempten cinema can claim. “Can I only claim the purchase of the Hyla air-disinfecting cleaning device, or also the wage costs of the additional labor that operates this device?”, Is one of the many detailed questions that cinema operator Dietel-Sing is asking herself.
Winter: usually high season in the cinema
The company is currently delaying some investments. Conversions, expansions, upgrading the sound system: “Difficult, because it is never quite certain whether you will even fall under the funding program and when the funding will be paid out.” In the cold season in particular, there is another disadvantage due to the lockdown. The main season for the cinemas is in autumn and winter. Hardly anyone goes to the cinema in summer. Normally now is the time when the cinema builds up reserves for the summer months – not possible this winter.
Overall situation: “hard, but bearable”
Nevertheless, Dietel-Sing is not entirely hopeless about the future. “The overall situation is tough for our cinema at the moment, but it is bearable because we have managed well in the past and we are still supported by our customers by ordering popcorn and buying vouchers,” she describes the mood in the crisis. The encouragement also helps a lot to continue.
Support from the Free State: partly good
“We are helping our movie theaters,” the ministry said. Dietel-Sing confirms this, at least in part. “Normal housekeeping is no longer possible in a company. Nevertheless, the support options are much higher than in other countries. We find it positive that we were informed about aid programs from the ministry in the second lockdown,” she explains. The measures themselves are incomprehensible, however: “Baths were allowed to open before us last summer and we were the first to close in this lockdown, although according to the RKI we are among the safest facilities.”
Was the lawsuit worth it in November?
“I think our popular lawsuit makes sense,” says Dietel-Sing. One judgment is still pending, namely the question of whether the closure of companies is proportionate, the strict conditions of which had led to
that not a single corona incident occurred. “We will probably get the verdict after the cinemas reopen. Nevertheless, it is a tool to show that one does not agree with certain measures.”
Delivery service: “Batman” delivers cinema products
What remains for the Kempten cinema at the moment is a delivery service for cinema products, offered on the website. This also shows that creativity can definitely boost sales: the cinema delivery service delivers in disguise, for example as a rabbit, a Batman or a broccoli. “The delivery service has been very well received since we delivered in disguise. The children are happy about the disguise. They laugh, dance around you and have a special experience. Many parents surprise their children with the order.”
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