CineEurope 2021 - the 30th anniversary of the show - will certainly be remembered as an even more special edition - the first pan-European convention since June 2019 and the earliest opportunity many will have had to meet industry colleagues outside of online videoconferences since the arrival of COVID-19 last Spring.
Welcoming delegates to the convention, Phil Clapp and Laura Houlgatte referenced the unprecedented challenges faced by European cinemas over the last 18 months and offered thanks to all of those who had supported the industry – including governments that had provided financial support and those distributors that had shown faith in the theatrical sector by releasing films during the pandemic.
They also celebrated the resilience shown by the industry and more importantly the appetite audiences have shown in returning to the big screen. In doing so, they placed particular emphasis on the continuing need for a “cinema first model”, arguing that a period of theatrical exclusivity worked “for exhibitors, for distributors and for audiences, and acts to protect content from the scourge of piracy”. As a consequence, they called on distribution partners to recommit to a significant period of exclusivity.
Delegates’ attention was also drawn to the “back to cinema” campaigns that were launched all across Europe and their conclusion “See you at the movies” was followed by a clip of the Italian campaign produced by the trade body ANEC with the support of the Italian Culture Ministry and featuring a wide range of high-profile Italian actors.
Please download the full press release here.