Diana Schmeltzer, director of cinemas at the KuK in Schweinfurt, was delighted when she learned of the award for financing this year’s film programme. The small art-house cinema opposite the FH in Schweinfurt receives €15,000 this year instead of €7,500 in previous years. “First of all, it’s an acknowledgment of the efforts we’ve all made in the film industry over the past year,” she says. “This is a major cash injection for our small business. That’s why we were obviously very happy.”
Difficult year for the film industry
The second lockdown ended in July and the regulations have changed continuously since then. Also, many guests were obviously still very cautious. In 2021 there were many program highlights such as “Nomadland”, a film about an American migrant worker or the two literary adaptations “Schachnovelle” and “Fabian”. “Last year we selected the films more carefully because fewer spectators arrived. At the same time there was a significantly higher number of films that were postponed due to the lockdown,” says the cinema director.
Important cash injection from Monaco
The cinema director estimates that there will be 40 percent fewer spectators than in a normal year. The KuK in Schweinfurt has two cinemas, one with 100 and one with 150 seats. For cost reasons, the small art-house cinema, which is celebrating its 25th birthday this year, is only open four days a week. Otherwise, the business with two permanent employees and six temporary workers could not be maintained. That is why the liquidity injection from Monaco is even more important than usual this year and even the politicians have recognized this. A total of €1.35 million will be distributed to a total of 91 arthouse cinemas in Bavaria.
Additional funds from the Free State of Bavaria
450,000 euros come from the regular funding of the fund for television cinema. In addition, the Bavarian state parliament has made available a one-off budget of €900,000 this year. Thus, not only is the total amount significantly higher than last year, but so are the individual premiums. The first prize of €30,000 goes to the City-Atelier cinemas in Monaco. In addition to the KuK in Schweinfurt, ten other Lower Franconian arthouse cinemas are awarded: Casino in Aschaffenburg, Stadtsaal Lichtspiele in Bad Königshofen, Kino Passage in Erlenbach am Main, Burg-Lichtspiele in Karlstadt, Roxy in Kitzingen, Movie in the Luitpoldhaus in Marktheidenfeld , Schloss-Theater in Miltenberg, Casablanca in Ochsenfurt, Central in the Bürgerbräu in Würzburg and the Capitol Theater in Zeil am Main.
Promotion of cinema not only in big cities
The aim of cinema financing is to ensure attractive venues and a high-quality program offer throughout Bavaria. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Bavarian Ministry for Digital Affairs and FFF Bayern have repeatedly and intensively supported the cinemas, which have had to completely close twice and have only been open under strict conditions for many months.
