Executive Summary: How to support Canada’s independent cinemas

Executive Summary: How to support Canada’s independent cinemas

How to support Canada’s independent cinemas

  1. Executive Summary
  2. What is the independent cinema sector?
  3. Canadian film needs Canadian cinemas
  4. The shift back to theatrical
  5. What independent cinemas bring to Canadian communities
  6. Independents need support with: Cineplex and ‘zones’
  7. Independents need support with: ‘Clean runs’ from studios
  8. Independents need support with: Capacity to grow
  9. Act now: Write a letter to support your favourite independent cinema!

Independent cinemas across Canada do the important work of sharing stories and building community.

Many of your favourite cinemas are labours of love, run by people who work hard to create unique experiences their audience will love. 

Today, independent cinemas need structural support and policy changes in order to thrive, or even survive. The Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE) has collaborated on the below summary defending our important industry—before it’s too late.

Act now: Write a letter to support your favourite independent cinema!

Independent cinemas play a key role in Canada’s cultural and economic landscape.
  • Independent Canadian cinemas are connected to their communities, show a range of films they know their audience will love and are located in both rural areas and urban centres. Learn more
  • Despite Cineplex having 75% box office market share, independent cinema locations outnumber Cineplex locations by more than 2:1.
  • Independent Canadian cinemas support their communities with economic, cultural and health benefits. Learn more
  • Film exhibition is a recognized industry in other countries. In February 2023, the BFI in the UK awarded £67 million in funding to support film exhibition over three years. Learn more 
Canadian films need Canadian independent cinemas.
  • The broader cultural landscape is shifting back towards theatrical releasing. Learn more
  • Audiences trust their local cinemas to introduce them to movies they will love. Learn more
  • Canadian film sees great investment on the production side. Once the films are produced, how are we ensuring that they are seen by their domestic audience? With barriers removed and independent cinemas supported, the audience and star system around Canadian film will be able to grow in a self-reinforcing manner.
But independent cinemas face institutional barriers. Policy changes can keep the sector alive, and create room to grow.

Canadian independent cinemas face unfair barriers to being able to show the films that they know their audience will love.

In order to create a fair marketplace and a national box office that represents the results of competition and flexible programming, NICE submits the below recommendations.

Remove barriers:

  • Eliminate ‘zones’ and allow independent cinemas to book films at the same time as multiplexes. Learn more
  • Limit ‘clean runs’ and empower cinemas to schedule their own screens in a way that maximizes box office for the entire film ecosystem and creates opportunity for Canadian film. Learn more
  • Commission a study around impacts of Cineplex market dominance and restrictive booking practices by major US studios on Canadian independent cinemas and the Canadian film industry as a whole.

Build capacity:

  • Invest in NICE as an industry body to represent and support the sector. Learn more
  • Create ongoing support for NICE through revenue generated via new policies implemented upon the successful passing of Bill C-11


How to support Canada’s independent cinemas

  1. Executive Summary
  2. What is the independent cinema sector?
  3. Canadian film needs Canadian cinemas
  4. The shift back to theatrical
  5. What independent cinemas bring to Canadian communities
  6. Independents need support with: Cineplex and ‘zones’
  7. Independents need support with: ‘Clean runs’ from studios
  8. Independents need support with: Capacity to grow
  9. Act now: Write a letter to support your favourite independent cinema!