06/10/2005

Pathé Distribution and Picturehouse Cinemas –operated by the leading independent exhibitor in the UK- have launched this week the World Cinema Passport (WCP) to encourage young cinemagoers between 8-18 years-old to broaden their film taste and see non-Hollywood movies, including foreign language films.

Four London cinemas are taking part in this new initiative: Greenwich Picturehouse, Clapham Picturehouse, the Ritzy in Brixton and Stratford Picturehouse. Every week, Picturehouse chooses a selection of interesting titles from world cinema, including documentaries and festival titles, suitable for two specific target age groups: 8-14 year olds and 15-18 year olds. Those films are then highlighted with a P in the cinemas’ brochures and on their website, with further background information available for each title.
The WCP costs £2 (€ 3) and thereafter, each film selected will be £3.50 (€ 5) for 8-14 years old and £4.50 (€ 6.60) for 14+s. For each film they watch, passport holders also accrue points leading to some exclusive film items and free cinema tickets.

The first titles screening this week as part of the WCP programme are the two Pathé releases Oliver Twist [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Roman Polanski, opening tomorrow nationwide, and Argentinean film Bombon el perro by Carlos Sorin, as well as the feature debut of French filmmaker Lucile Hadzihalilovic Innocence, an Artificial Eye release.