According to the representatives of the cinema industry, cinemas are a specific venue for public events with a very low risk of infection, which has been confirmed by the experience of last year’s summer-autumn season. They call for restrictions on cinemas to be eased, allowing cinemas to be resumed gradually.
The authors of the proposal point out that, given the technical capabilities of cinema premises, cinemas are prepared to provide high security measures to prevent crowding and congestion, while minimizing the risk of infection.
According to the cinema industry, cinemas could provide a safe distance between visitors during each individual cinema screening. In turn, in multi-screen cinemas, it is planned to ensure the separation of separate film screenings in time and space, thus reducing the intensity of mutual meetings between visitors. The proposals also provide for continuous ventilation during and between screenings, as well as the cleaning and disinfection of cinemas between screenings. It is also planned to provide a personalized seat for each visitor.
The authors of the proposals emphasized that control of the flow of visitors at the entrance to cinemas could also be ensured and that epidemiological requirements could also be met.
In the opinion of professionals in the Latvian film industry, one of the tools that would promote the survival and recovery of the industry would be a reduction in VAT on a cinema ticket, which would make cinema more accessible to a wider audience.
The authors of the proposals noted that a standard VAT rate of 21% is currently applied to cinema tickets in Latvia. They call on the CFR to consider applying a reduced VAT rate. Film professionals also pointed out that twenty out of twenty-seven countries in the European Union have taken advantage of this opportunity. According to them, the reduction of VAT would make it easier to prevent the economic losses caused by Covid-19 for cinemas, film distributors and Latvian film producers by slightly increasing the amount of working capital of the respective companies.
Film distribution specialists and authors of the initiative Ilze Roķes prepare a presentation of proposals supported by Aija Bērziņa, President of the Latvian Film Producers Association, Ieva Romanova, Chairwoman of the Board of the Latvian Cinematographers’ Union Forum Cinemas Latvia OR Chairman of the Board Kristjan Congo, SIA Apollo Kino Member of the Board Tadas Račkauskas.
The letter is also supported by SIA Cinamon Operations Latvia cinema manager Indra Strode, SIA Movie gallery KSuns Chairman of the Board Aida Zviedre, Ltd. Kinoteātris Us Member of the Board Māris Prombergs, SIA Rio- Stalkers K Board member Alla Drozdova, Ltd. Light- 3D Cinema Chairman of the Board Feliks Paulauskas, Ltd. Vidzeme Concert Hall board member Laura Klapare and others.
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