Nationwide digital rollout ready one year ahead of schedule
by Annika Pham
Norway’s cinema association Film & Kino has just signed an agreement with local independent distributors over the nation’s future national cinema digital rollout, now set to take place before summer 2011, almost one year ahead of schedule.
Film & Kino had already signed a Virtual Print Fee (VPF) deal with the six major Hollywood studios. “The VPF agreement was conceived for the distribution of commercial films. As distributors of quality arthouse films, it was important for us to find a new agreement that would guarantee the distribution of smaller commercial films and give cinemas the possibility and flexibility to show the best films from all over the world,” said independent distributor Svend Bolstad of Arthaus.
By getting all independent distributors on board, the association now has free reign to equip all of its 400 cinemas with DCI compliant technology. Last February, the digital cinema provider Unique Cinema System, one of Europe's leading digital providers, won the majority of the bids to equip the entire Norwegian screen territory. The cost of full digital conversion estimated at around NOK 390 million (€48.5m) will be shared by distributors, exhibitors and Film & Kino.
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