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Could Cineplex deal boost Canadian-made flicks at the box office?

Ottawa - The deal by Cineplex Galaxy to buy Famous Players is stirring Canadian producers to ask whether the consolidation could put more Canadian films in to theatres. Recent comments by Cineplex Galaxy president Ellis Jacob on the transaction being a “cultural coup,” have producers hoping the Canadian-owned theatres will have a new attitude towards Canadian-made movies.

“English Canadian feature film producers have been struggling for years to get access to theatre screens on their own turf,” said Guy Mayson, president and CEO, Canadian Film and Television Production Association. “We’re looking at this as an opportunity to explore a strategy with Cineplex Galaxy to promote and screen more Canadian content.”

While reduced competition in any sectors raises serious concerns, it is particularly acute in exhibition. Cineplex Galaxy (86 theatres, 775 screens) and Famous Players (81 theatres, 787 screens) are the country’s two largest movie chains. Now combined, they will control 63 per cent of the Canadian market.

“If someone wanted to see a Canadian film on a Friday night they’d be hard pressed to find it. We only have 1.6 per cent of our market in English Canada thanks to the blockbuster mentality south of our border. We’d like to improve that by working with Cineplex Galaxy,” said Sandra Cunningham, chair of the CFTPA’s feature film committee, and co-producer with Robert Lantos of Serendipity Point Films, on Ararat, The Statement, Being Julia and Where the Truth Lies.

The association believes higher Canadian-generated box office receipts can only be achieved if exhibitors, distributors and producers work together to find solutions. Famous Players had maintained a corporate strategy to promote Canadian film, Canadian producers now want to know if Cineplex Galaxy will continue the tradition, and/or improve it. The CFTPA hopes to initiate discussions with Cineplex Galaxy on how we can move forward to build audiences for Canadian cinema.

The CFTPA is a non-profit, trade association representing almost 400 companies in the Canadian production industry. The association promotes the general interests of Canadian producers by lobbying government on policy matters, negotiating labour agreements, and offering mentorship programs and copyright initiatives.

For more information on this, please contact:

Jane L. Thompson
Director of Communications
Canadian Film and Television Production Association

Tel: 613 233 1444 ext 227