02/11/2012 - Bernd Neumann, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, announced the good news at the presentation of the German arthouse cinema and distributor awards 2012 in Bamberg

At the presentation of the German arthouse cinema and distributor awards 2012 in Bamberg, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Bernd Neumann had some good news for the industry. “I am delighted that now also the distributors are going to share the costs of the digitization of the cinemas with the FFA,” underlined the minister. “This way we can make sure that those of us who have the main benefit of the digitization of the cinemas will also participate in financing.”

Two more US major companies have signed the trust agreement with the federal film fund FFA and Neumann’s BKM ministry so that, according to the market share of the distributors, there are already 88.8% in place. The only signature which is still missing is the one of Sony Pictures Releasing. “The digitization is especially for the arthouse exhibitors a huge financial challenge,” said Neumann. “We started this support program for the cinemas with 20 million euro in 2011. So far it was possible to supply 15 million euros for the digitization.”

The arthouse cinema and distributor award would clearly show the dedication of the exhibitors and distributors for film as a cultural asset. “Without arthouse cinemas the film culture in Germany would be much poorer,” added Neumann. The arthouse cinema awards were given out to 204 theatres - the prize of €1.5 million was divided into 335 awards. More than three quarters of the decorated cinema are members of the arthouse exhibitors union AG Kino – Gilde. The Schauburg Kino in Karlsruhe (photo) received the main award for the best film programme of the year which includes a prize money of 20,000 euros.

The independent German distributors NFP marketing & distribution, Pandora Filmverleih and Piffl Medien won the distributor awards with a value of €75,000 each.

In his speech, Neumann also addressed the new cinema communication which is still a work-in-progress at the European Commission. “There can‘t be a question mark over the public cinema support. I don‘t share the opinion of the Commission to look on the support of cinemas primarily as economic promotion. Cinemas are important because they maintain the national and regional variety in the film sector. I will keep insisting on that the impact the cinemas have on the exhibition of film will be affirmed and that the cinemas are accepted as cultural sites.”