The Brussels-based International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), which represents European cinema’s main trade associations, is launching an appeal for more government support to face an estimated 70.6% drop in total 2020 box office grosses across Europe, which it says accounts for a loss of €6.2 billion ($7.5 billion) in theatrical revenues compared to 2019.
“National governments and European institutions have introduced various support schemes since the start of the crisis, which have been crucial to cinema operators,” UNIC acknowledged in a statement on Thursday. “But the crisis is far from over, with most European cinemas still closed.”
“UNIC urges policymakers at the local, national and European level to enforce strong recovery strategies to ensure that European cinemas — of all sizes and all locations — can survive this challenging period and be once again the vibrant home of culture, freedom and community that they always have been,” the statement added.
Source: https://variety.com/2021/film/global/europe-cinemas-box-office-pandemic-unic-1234894454/