Back to the Cinemas

While the film industry shows signs of recovery from the epidemic, insiders say it needs to innovate

- Wang Jun

Since the cinema in the popular One Mall in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province in east China, reopened on July 20, Wei Wei, a university student, has been binge-watching movies. In nine days, he had been there three times, watching the same films over and over again.

“I just want to sit in the cinema and watch them again. I really miss the ritual very much,” he told Xinhua Daily. “Besides, like all industries that are reopening, the seriously hit film industry also needs support from everyone.”

After remaining closed for around six months, cinemas began to reopen since July 20 after the China Film Administration issued a statement four days earlier, saying theaters in low-risk areas can resume operation with epidemic control measures. They include selling only 30 percent tickets to ensure social distancing inside and reducing the screening time to two hours. No food or beverages are allowed to be sold inside. Theaters in medium and high-risk areas still remain closed.

Despite the restrictions, in the first week of the reopening, the box-office revenue reached 108 million yuan ($15.43 million) nationwide, according to figures from the National Film Industry Development Special Fund Management Committee. As of July 26, more than 5,000 cinemas had reopened, accounting for 43 percent of the total.

The revenue is a promising sign given the restrictions on the tickets and the fact that no blockbusters were released.

Counting the blessings

On July 25, the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival kicked off with eulogies by industry leaders at the speed of the film industry’s recovery.