How to support Canada’s independent cinemas
- Executive Summary
- What is the independent cinema sector?
- Canadian film needs Canadian cinemas
- The shift back to theatrical
- What independent cinemas bring to Canadian communities
- Independents need support with: Cineplex and ‘zones’
- Independents need support with: ‘Clean runs’ from studios
- Independents need support with: Capacity to grow
- Act now: Write a letter to support your favourite independent cinema!
NICE vision statement
The future of independent film exhibition in Canada is bright: More exhibitors, more audiences, more films.
NICE is the industry body for independent film exhibition in Canada, collaborating across stakeholders to encourage growth.
In order to create the positive future that we envision, NICE needs operational support to create and manage programs, funds and resources. Currently, NICE is largely a volunteer organization with no operational funding.
Sonya William, director of NICE
Episode #15 of the Canadaland Commons Monopoly podcast
We talk so much about just preserving the cinemas and film exhibition spaces we have now, but the dream is: More of them. More new people coming in, bringing the films that they love, the communities that they come from. And having those spaces within your neighbourhoods and cities.
Internationally Acknowledged Industry
In the US, industry group Art House Convergence connects and bolsters independent film exhibitors, with an annual conference and year-round support.
In the UK, the Independent Cinema Office and the BFI Film Audience Network support film exhibitors.
In February 2023, the BFI awarded £67 million in funding to support film exhibition over three years. (Source: -Deadline, BFI Sets $18m Funding Award For 11 UK Partner Organizations, February 1, 2023)
NICE is the organization for independent film exhibition in Canada. We need funding and infrastructure in order to manage programs and advocacy that will build this sector.
Funding Opportunity with Bill C-11
As Bill C-11 aims to bring revenue and ownership back to Canadian productions from major US-based streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, NICE sees an opportunity to generate support for cinemas.
Instead of a collection on a massive streaming library dedicated to “Canadian film,” independent cinemas do the bespoke work of programming Canadian film screenings in ways that will reach local audience with context.
As the streaming services have bought sustainability through venture capital and global expansion, the hardiest cinemas have stayed alive by nurturing and building trust with their local audience. As demonstrated in this blog series, staying alive has been even more difficult in Canada due to unfair market conditions.
It’s time to level the playing field in order to make room for Canadian film.
Bill C-11 creates the perfect opportunity to directly support a social good by funds raised through the system that has unfairly limited it.
Solutions:
Invest in the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE) as an industry body to represent and support the sector.
Create ongoing support for NICE through revenue generated via new policies implemented upon the successful passing of Bill C-11.
Act now: Write a letter to support your favourite independent cinema!
How to support Canada’s independent cinemas
- Executive Summary
- What is the independent cinema sector?
- Canadian film needs Canadian cinemas
- The shift back to theatrical
- What independent cinemas bring to Canadian communities
- Independents need support with: Cineplex and ‘zones’
- Independents need support with: ‘Clean runs’ from studios
- Independents need support with: Capacity to grow
- Act now: Write a letter to support your favourite independent cinema!
