06/05/2003

One of Brussels’ most famous arthouse filmclubs, the Arenberg-Galeries is in danger of closing as a result of the general crisis afflicting the film industry. Attendance has dropped off dramatically since January and if no preventative measures are taken, Arenberg-Galeries will have lost some 30 per cent of their revenue. The cinema’s managing director, Thierry Abel said that the Arenberg’s current difficulties were a negative knock-on effect of the crisis being experienced by Belgium’s exhibition sector after the introduction of the UGC Unlimited Access Card. It is also a consequence of the lack of arthouse titles after dedicated distributor, Progrès Films went out of business in December. Abel also feels that obligatory taxation of exhibitors is too high. Arenberg-Galeries has been in business for twenty years and has set up a socio-cultural project, operational in the Brussels area, to promote the concept of films as the products of artistic creativity.