Europa Cinemas is part of the EU’s MEDIA Desk program, a network that connects the cinemas of current and future member states. Any cinema can become a member that meets   the primary criteria and volunteers   to screen a given percentage of European films, which varies by cinema type. Membership may mean support, and cinemas that are successful in attracting large numbers of viewers or offering a diverse programming may receive additional financial rewards.

Jeanne Moreau and Ferenc Port Photo: Klára Zalán

Successful Art Cinemas

The Hungarian aspect of this year’s conference is that one of the three annual prizes distributed by Europa Cinemas was awarded to Ferenc Port, general manager of Budapest Film for the outstanding program of the Művész, Puskin and   Szindbád cinemas, which attracted an annual 450 000 viewers.   The winner of the prize for „The best European film program” was selected based on statistics, while the other two prizes are awarded by a committee. Estonian cinema Kino Sõprus received an award for its youth-oriented activity, while the „Best Entrepreneur” award went   to Anne-Marie Faucon and Michel Malacarnet for the operation of the French cinema network Utopia for nearly thirty years. The prizes were distributed by Jeanne Moreau and Claude Miller, the chairman of Europa Cinemas.

However, the core of the conference was constituted by lectures at the Hotel Royal, which focused on the future of European cinemas, the consequences of switching to digital cinema, the possibilities of increasing audience numbers and the future of   Europa Cinemas. The crisis of cinema was the subject of discussion during the lectures and in the breaks as well. However, although according to the survey of the European Audiovisual Observatory the year 2005 showed a decline so far, the number of cinemagoers has been increasing since the 1990s. Moreover, the decrease affects American movies more than European films. The other front where the Europa Cinemas network must fight is against the dominance of American films.

Movie Pirates

The conference also discussed the dark side of technological development, piracy, in detail. The head of the France-based anti-piracy association, ALPA, suggested raising the awareness of young people and providing legal alternatives in order to decrease the amount of free downloads from the internet and P2P networks. France, where one third of the downloaded films are locally produced, is currently contemplating screening the IP addresses of illegal downloaders by all available means and sending them a warning through the service provider.   Should the downloader continue the illegal practice, he would have to pay a fine. Chris Marchic, the director of MPAA’s European unit suggested shortening the time between the cinema and the DVD release of films in order to fight piracy, but his idea was not well received by the cinema operators present at the conference. Finally, participants agreed that downloaders should not be considered criminals, but since peer-to-peer networks have created the illusion of free films, it might be necessary to decrease the price of DVDs.

Many think that the key to making cinema more popular is to switch to digital cinema, since operators could own the films for a longer time and adjust their programming to viewer demand. Digital technology would allow young filmmakers who have no means to shoot on film to present their works at cinemas.   Although digital cinema offers significant savings, like the cut in copy expenses, the transition itself is expensive, which might result in more expensive cinema tickets. The maintenance of the standard is also important, which requires the training of professionals.

Conversation with Fatima Djoumer

We maneged to sit down with Fatima Djoumer, the director of international relations of Europa Cinemas on the day before the closing of the conference to speak about the use and the future of the existing cinema network.

Filmhu: Why did you decide to hold the conference Budapest?

Fatima Djoumer: Budapest is not new to us, we’ve been present here for 12 years already. Europa Cinemas   has had Hungarian members ever since its launch in 1992, the first ones were the cinemas of Budapest Film. So we were able to keep an eye on the changes of the situation of Hungarian cinemas, and the conference offers a great opportunity to greet Hungary in the EU. Moreover, the visitors arriving from other European countries can see what’s happening in the new member states, especially in Budapest and Hungary.  

 

Fatima Djoumer, the director of international relations at Europa Cinemas

Filmhu: What is the role of cinema in conveying films nowadays, when there are a number of new ways of accessing films?

F.D.: People can meet in cinemas, they can share the same feelings. If someone watches a DVD at home or gets hold of a movie through the internet, he is alone in front of the screen. Of course, in certain areas where the nearest city is 600 kilometers away,   DVDs and VDs are extremely important, because they are the only means of watching films.

Cinema operators must be able to sell the place, so that people won’t only go to the cinema to see a film. I think that films will always be released in cinemas first, because that is the best place to launch a movie. That’s why I’m not pessimistic,   DVD and VD will never push cinema out of the market. DVD sales only supplement film distribution, the two are operating parallely.

Filmhu: What percentage of cinemas are members of the Europa Cinemas network?

F.D.: We currently have 1,600 screens, and there are altogether     25,000 screens in Europe. It’s not too much, but the network is constantly expanding.

Filmhu: How big of a growth do you expect?

We should not only watch movies at cinemas

F.D.: About 2,000-2,500 screens. There’s a new program in the making, which would support multiplexes thatpresent European films.   I think that we will be successful in this respect. The current decline will make cinema operators think twice about the films they release, about making their films attractive for the audience, about involving young audiences, and that is not only true in case of art cinemas but multiplexes as well.   That has a positive effect - in time of crisis, there are new solutions born, some some cinemas will close, and new ideas will materialize.

Filmhu: What do you think about piracy? Should or could those who download for private use be stopped?

F.D.: Piracy should be restricted, online services should be regulated. When Apple’s online music store was launched, and people started paying for the music – it’s the same case. The same will happen in case of film, legal ways should be found. There will still be pirates, but less than now.

We have to take a look at the supply and the demand, we may have to reconsider how films are being sold, and how much a film is worth.   Music CDs already cost 10 euros less than before, because people can buy even a single song on the internet, they can create their own mix or listen to music on mp3 players. I have one and I buy music every week, more than I did before. That will be the case with films as well, they will be first released in cinemas, which will establish their reputation, because a film premier becomes an event through the cinema, and we can later watch it at home, through the internet. We live in the age of the digital revolution, the market will regulate itself.

Nora Strommer