Cinema halls across the country will be permitted to operate at full capacity from February 1 with adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols, Union Ministe.
Mumbai : Film exhibitors, producers and cinema hall owners on Sunday hailed the Centre's decision to permit movie theatres across the country to operate
The insiders said the move would help the industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic-induced losses. On Sunday, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar released a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to help functioning of cinema halls with adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols. Adequate physical distancing, mandatory face masks and sanitisation of auditorium after every screening are among the latest SOPs issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Sunday, after the government allowed cinema halls to operate at 100 percent occupancy from Monday. Digital booking of tickets and staggered show timings to avoid crowding will be encouraged, the minister said, releasing a set of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Between the year that has been, and the New Year that beckons, one thing is for certain – the world cannot do without entertainment.
The year 2020 witnessed a nationwide shutdown of cinema halls for over seven months, permanent closure of at least 500 single screens, investments stuck in delayed movie releases and halted film productions.
The upshot of the developments induced by a pandemic of global proportions, was losses that ran into thousands of crores and had daily wage employees struggling for survival. The situation also led to proliferation and adoption of new distribution mediums and unusual audience consumption patterns.
Year 2021, industry experts believe, will be marked by new ways, backed by new learnings. The calendar will have a slate of big releases across languages and genres. Content will be paramount. Formats will be reviewed and budgeting will be smart. Evolution of the dynamics of film distribution will continue and film marketing will tilt more