Cinemas in crisis as film imports quota runs out

Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe 

• Industry calls on National Film Corporation to temporarily bring issuance of quotas under it until restrictions phased out
• Five circuits collectively have only quotas to import 160 films for year
• SL movie enthusiasts may miss upcoming future blockbusters
• In pipeline for approval is “Oppenheimer” biographical thriller by Christopher Nolan of theoretical physicist who helped develop first nuclear weapons

 The rebounding cinema industry has run out of quotas for imports of films, prompting calls for the National Film Corporation (NFC) to temporarily take over the issuance until restrictions are fully phased out. Sri Lanka has five circuits for distribution and the collective quota comprises 65 English movies, 70 Tamil movies and 25 of any other language movies. Industry sources said each circuit is only allocated 13 English films, 14 Tamil and 5 other language movies including Hindi.

However with the number of cinemas increasing and the short running time of 2-4 weeks per movie, the industry said the present quota allocation is inadequate.

The crisis could delay the screening of latest blockbuster movies including upcoming biographical thriller “Oppenheimer” directed, written and co-produced by Christopher Nolan. This movie, up for approval for release, is about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who helped develop the first nuclear weapons.

Other upcoming movies include “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”, ‘Redemption’, ‘Whitebird, ‘GOLDA’, ‘The Exorcist’, ‘Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’,  ‘BARBIE’, ‘Blue Beetles’, ‘Equalizer 3’ and many more till end of 2023.

Sources pointed out that foreign film importers as well as domestic producers prefer to work with registered circuits of their choice based on confidence in their services and contracts with registered importers to distribute films to cinemas.

They are also responsible to ensure that the agreed share is correctly accounted for and paid in time.

With quotas exhausted and restrictions imposed on the cinema industry, the industry finds it difficult to operate.

The five circuits are Cinema Entertainments Ltd., Lanka Film Distributors Co Ltd., EAP Films and Theatres Ltd., Ridma Circuit - (under the National Film Corporation), Skyline Entertainments and Consultancy Ltd., and Liberty Cinemas Ltd.

At least some of them have no more quota to import English films and another has no quota to import Tamil films.

The industry has made joint representation to the NFC to bring under it the issuance of quotas until a decision is made to abolish the quota system.