Head of UK Cinema Organization Says Lack of Local Films Is Why Cinema Attendance Is Down

Ever since the world has come back from the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, some industries have not seen the profits they once saw in years prior. 

One of these industries, specifically in the United Kingdom, is the cinema industry. The movie theater industry is not seeing the same amount of people coming out to see films like they used to.

According to Deadline, Phil Clapp, President of the UK Cinema Association, says that people used to come to see new films at least six times a year before the pandemic. Since public reopenings, that number has been reduced to three to four times a year. 

Although Clapp mentions that cost of living and inflation are some of the reasons as to why people are not heading out to catch new films, he says that the lack of new British independent films is actually the main reason.

Clapp says that in order for a cinema to have a great year, other films, such as independent, local films, need to do well in the box office, not relying on blockbuster hits from countries like the U.S.

But that is hard to accomplish when only 11 independent British films were released to movie goers last year. Compared to 33 back in 2015, if films are not that interesting to audiences, money will not be made. 

Cinemas are not the only part of the film world that is struggling to return to their pre-COVID state, as independent creators are having a hard time financing new films. 

John McVay, a chief executive of Pact, one of the leading trades of film and TV in the U.K., criticized the U.K government for not giving bigger tax breaks to lower-budget films between £1M to £15M. 

In turn, this is causing some directors and independent creators hardships when financing new stories to share with British audiences. 

There are some positives that British cinema is continuing to see, such as being number six in box offices across the globe. Films are also getting recognition locally for their unique performances and works. All of Us Strangers was one of those films, winning seven awards during the British Independent Film Awards, according to Variety. 

But for British cinemas to hit numbers in both people and profits in the pre-COVID era, more independent films, both in good quantity and quality, will be needed to reach that goal.