Cinemagoers Are Back but Theatrical Biz Still Faces Challenges, Say Indie Distributors in Zurich
variety.comEd Meza @edmezavar Industry representatives at the Zurich Film Festival are optimistic that moviegoers are returning to cinemas and signs are aplenty that business is improving as the international theatrical sector recovers from the impact of the pandemic and two Hollywood strikes.
Discussing the disruption and current state of the sector at the Zurich Summit industry forum were Rebecca Kearey, head of international and business operations at Searchlight Pictures; Neon CEO Tom Quinn; Stefanie Fahrion, head of distribution and sales at Film4; and MK2 Chairman Nathanaël Karmitz.
Business may not be back to normal, but it is picking up and there are positive signs, according to Kearey. “The pressures are enormous and have been enormous and continue to be fairly large.
I think though, like everything, resilience and creativity come through, trumping some of that.” The cinema lovers are still out there and still coming to theaters, she said. “It may be taking a little bit longer to get some of them back, but we feel like we are getting them back over time.” The impact of the COVID crisis and the strikes that followed left the sector in a trench, she added.
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