Should cinema-goers come back sooner? These Czech film groups think so

The film industry is asking the Ministry of Health to be reclassified in order to allow limited audiences back sooner.

Currently they would not be able to open to spectators during the third stage of the PES system as they are designated in the culture section, but producers, distributors and cinema chains are calling for them to be placed in the same category as restaurants, this would allow them to open to a limited number of spectators at an earlier date.

The Association of Audiovisual Producers (APA), Association of Cinema Operators (APK), Union of Film Distributors (UFD) and Association of Animated Film (ASAF) have released a joint press release.

The release was sent to CTK and says film screenings aren't part of living culture and that they believe that the creators of the current COVID rating system have forgotten them. 

Vratislav Šlajer , Chairman of the Board of the APA said:

"In addition, during the first wave, according to available information from cinemas, there were no outbreaks of infection at all, “

The statement says that the re-closing of cinemas during the second wave has a “fatal impact” on the entire audiovisual sector, for which a large part of cinemas represent a basic income.