Aus indie cinemas make historic pact with NZ indies [Mon 31/05/2010]

Australia’s largest independent cinemas group, the Independent Cinemas Association of Australia (ICAA) today announced a pact with the New Zealand independent exhibitors association – the New Zealand Motion Picture Exhibitors Association (NZMPEA)
Under the terms of the pact, New Zealand independent exhibitors will become members of the Australian association with a permanent seat on the ICAA board.

“The film industry is a global industry and many of the issues that affect exhibitors locally are increasingly being played out on a global stage” said ICAA Chief Executive, Mark Sarfaty.

“This historic affiliation between Australia and New Zealand is a response to the fact independent cinemas in both countries faces many of the same challenges and working together we will be able to present an Australasian regional response to those challenges”

“Film piracy, digital cinema transition, changes to theatrical release model and the development of new business and new content offers to the public are among the many areas we will be approaching jointly” said Mr Sarfaty

Independent cinemas in both Australia and New Zealand form nearly 30% of their national Gross Box Office dollars and span a diverse range of content from mainstream to arthouse.

The combined membership under the pact will represent over 600 screens across 160 cinema locations.

Read more at Inside Film