GBP12 Million Cinema-Going Revolution Begins in UK as Cinemas Turn Digital

GBP12 Million Cinema-Going Revolution Begins in UK as Cinemas Turn Digital

LONDON, May 26/PRNewswire/ --

- World-first Digital Screen Network Will Massively Increase Choice of
Films on Offer to British Audiences

The choice of films on offer to UK cinema-goers is to be
massively increased from later this year thanks to the creation of the
world's first 'Digital Screen Network' involving more than 200 cinemas across
the country, the UK Film Council announced today.

A total of GBP11.7 million from the UK Film Council's share of
National Lottery funding is to be used to install state-of-the-art digital
film projectors and related equipment in 209 cinemas across England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the first cinemas in the network
programming screenings later this year.

In return for the new equipment, the cinemas, which range from
smaller local and 'art-house' cinemas to multiplexes, have committed to
providing more screening time to showing a greater selection of more
specialised (i.e. non-Hollywood), classic, and foreign language movies. As a
result more people will be able to see critically acclaimed films such as
British multiple award winners Touching the Void and Vera Drake, House of
Flying Daggers, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Downfall, Motorcycle Diaries and
Dear Frankie.

The introduction of digital distribution will mean that films
such as these will reach around 30 million people throughout the UK with an
increase in specialised film screenings of up to 75,000 in the first year
alone, rising to 165,000 in four years from now. The overall number of cinema
visits in the UK could be raised by up to 4 million, thanks to the more
diverse range of films available to audiences.

As well increasing the screen time available to non-Hollywood
films, providing films in a digital format will mean that distributors can
make more copies available more quickly to a larger number of cinemas.

Currently, the cost of producing prints of a specialised film
for distribution to cinemas can be anywhere in the region of GBP1,500 per
35mm print, which can often limit the number of available copies of a film
which often has a potentially wide appeal, and therefore the film receives a
limited release and fails to reach a wide enough audience. In addition to
art-house and foreign language films, British produced movies can also suffer
in this way. In contrast, films can be duplicated in a digital format at a
substantially lower cost allowing film companies to increase the number of
film prints available to cinemas.

The Digital Screen Network will also offer audiences and local
communities a range of other benefits, as cinemas will be encouraged to use
the equipment to show, for example, films made by local filmmakers, film
clubs and schools.

Announcing details of the network John Woodward, the UK Film
Council's Chief Executive Officer said that the Digital Screen Network will
change the face of cinema-going right across the UK.

"This initiative is a world first for the UK and is a hugely
exciting and significant development for British cinema and cinema-goers.
Nearly 20 years ago the introduction of multiplexes transformed the choice of
mainstream films on offer to cinema-goers at any one time. We believe that
the Digital Screen Network could increase the opportunities on offer for
people to see more specialised films in the same way."

Welcoming the move, James Purnell MP, Minister for Film said:
"Many cinema goers often only get the pick of a crop of big budget
blockbuster films, particularly outside London. That is going to change.

"The groundbreaking digital network will give film fans more
choice - they'll get to see more British, critically acclaimed and small
budget films, alongside classics on the big screen, where they belong."

In addition to the awards to 209 cinemas, a further 83 cinemas
have been offered the option of buying in to the services provided by the
Digital Screen Network and its management company Arts Alliance Digital
Cinema. These cinemas will be able to benefit from a wide range of services
such as training, installation of equipment and maintenance.

Notes to Editors:

1) A full list of the 209 cinemas is below.

2) The assessment process was conducted by UK Film Council
executives, external advisors who are experts in their own fields and was
rigorously monitored by independent assessors to maintain correct codes
of practice.

3) Cinemas awarded by type:

Sites awarded Screens awarded

By cinema type:

Mainstream independents 31 31
Multiplexes 129 141
Specialised 49 66

Total awards: 209 238

4) UK Film Council - Film is a rich and popular part of our
culture. It also makes a significant contribution to the UK economy with
an estimated annual turnover of GBP5 billion. The industry employs 57,000
people across the UK.

Cinema is this country's most popular and powerful form of
entertainment. In 2004 there were 171 million visits to the cinema in the UK,
the second highest for 30 years. British films are watched by millions of
people around the world promoting Britain abroad and boosting tourism.

As the lead agency for film, the UK Film Council aims to
stimulate a competitive, successful and vibrant UK film industry and culture,
both now and for the future.

For this reason, we use National Lottery support to develop
new filmmakers, fund exciting new British films such as Touching the Void and
Vera Drake and give audiences the opportunity to see a wider choice of films
such as The Motorcycle Diaries and The House of Flying Daggers.

The UK Film Council also helps to promote Britain as a
filmmaking location and to raise the profile of British films abroad.

Cinema Operator
Arts Picturehouse Cambridge City Screen Limited
Barbican Barbican Centre
Brewery Arts Centre Kendal Brewery Arts Centre Trust Ltd
Broadway Cinema Letchworth Broadway Cinema Ltd
Broadway Cinema Nottingham Broadway Media Centre
Carlton Cinema Westgate on Sea Reeltime Cinemas Ltd
Chelsea Cinema Artificial Eye (Chelsea Cinema Ltd)
Cineworld Ashford Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Ashton under Lyne Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Bexleyheath Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Bishops Stortford Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Bradford Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Braintree Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Burton on Trent Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Bury St Edmunds Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Castleford Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Cheltenham Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Chesterfield Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Chichester Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Didcot Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Falkirk Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Feltham Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Huntingdon Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Ilford Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Llandudno Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Luton Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Milton Keynes Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Newport Isle of Wight Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Rugby Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Runcorn Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Shrewsbury Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Solihull Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld St Helens Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Stevenage Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Sunderland Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Swindon Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Wakefield Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Wandsworth Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Weymouth Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Wolverhampton Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Wood Green Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Yeovil Cine-UK Ltd
City Screen York City Screen Limited
Clapham Picturehouse City Screen Limited
Cornerhouse Manchester Cornerhouse
Curzon Cinema Loughborough Curzon Cinemas Ltd
Curzon Mayfair Curzon Cinemas Limited
Curzon Soho Curzon Cinemas Limited
David Lean Cinema -
Croydon Clocktower David Lean Cinema
Dorset Film Touring, Cinemobile Dorset Film Touring Ltd
Everyman Cinema Club Everyman Cinema Club
Filmhouse Edinburgh Filmhouse
Genesis Cinema, Mile End Genesis Entertainment Ltd
Glasgow Film Theatre Glasgow Film Theatre
Greenwich Picturehouse City Screen Limited
Harbour Lights Picturehouse,
Southampton City Screen Limited
ICA Cinema ICA Cinema
Kino, Hawkhurst Kino Holdings Ltd
Leeds (The Light ) Ster Century Ster Century (UK) Limited
Light House Wolverhampton Light House Media Centre
Macrobert, Stirling macrobert
Majestic Cinema Kings Lynn C & R Cinemas Ltd
Metro Cinema Derby Metro Cinema
National Film Theatre London British Film Institute
New Picture House, St. Andrews New Picture House (St Andrews) Ltd
Odeon Chelmsford Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Colchester Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Covent Garden Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Guildford Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Kingston Upon Thames Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Lincoln Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Panton Street London Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Southend Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Tunbridge Wells Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Wimbledon Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Orpheus Cinema Bristol Reeltime Cinemas Ltd
Parkway Cinema Cleethorpes Parkway Entertainment Company Limited
Pavilion Cinema Galashiels Andrew Poole
Peckham Multiplex Movieshack Ltd
Pendle Stairway Cinema Pendle Stairway Cinema
Perth Playhouse Caledonian Cinemas, Cairnstar Limited
Phoenix Arts Leicester Phoenix Arts
Phoenix Cinema London Phoenix Cinema Trust Ltd
Phoenix Picturehouse, Oxford City Screen Limited
Picture House Cinema Keighley Northern Morris Associated Cinemas
Plaza Cinema Dorchester Reeltime Cinemas Ltd
Plaza Cinema Skipton Northern Morris Associated Cinemas
Plymouth Arts Centre Plymouth Arts Centre
Regal Cinema Melton Mowbray Regal Cinema
Renoir Cinema Artificial Eye (Renoir Cinema Ltd)
Rich Mix Cinema, Bethnal Green Rich Mix Cultural Foundation
Rio Cinema Dalston The Rio Centre (Dalston) Ltd
Ritzy Cinema Brixton City Screen Limited
Romford (The Brewery) Ster Century Ster Century (UK) Limited
Roxy Cinema Oldham Roxy Cinema Ltd
Royal Cinema St Ives Merlin Cinemas Limited
Royalty Cinema Bowness Northern Morris Associated Cinemas
Screen at Reigate Bloom Theatres Ltd
Screen On The Green Bloom Theatres Ltd
Screen on the Hill Bloom Theatres Ltd
Showcase Teesside National Amusements (UK) Ltd
Showcase Walsall National Amusements (UK) Ltd
Showroom Cinema Sheffield Showroom Cinema
Stamford Arts Centre Stamford Arts Centre
The Aldeburgh Cinema The Aldeburgh Cinema Limited
The Barn Cinema Dartington Dartington Arts - a department of
The Dartington Hall Trust
The Cameo Edinburgh City Screen Limited
The Capitol Horsham Horsham District Council
The Corn Exchange Newbury The Corn Exchange Trust (Newbury)
The Courtyard, Hereford The Courtyard Trust
The Curzon Community Cinema Clevedon The Curzon Community Cinema Ltd
The Duke of York's
Picturehouse Brighton City Screen Limited
The Dukes, Lancaster The Dukes
The Gate Cinema, Notting Hill City Screen Limited
The Grosvenor Cinema Glasgow The Grosvenor Cinema
The Other Cinema City Screen Limited
The Palace Cinema Malton Ryedale Entertainments Ltd
The Plaza Cinema Truro The Capitol, St Austell Ltd
The Ritz (Belper) The Ritz
The Screen at Oxted Bloom Theatres Ltd
The Screen at Winchester Mainline Pictures Ltd
Theatr Mwldan Theatr Mwldan
Tyneside Cinema Tyneside Film Theatre Trust
UCI Cardiff United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Greenwich United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Hatfield United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI High Wycombe United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Maidenhead United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Norwich United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Port Solent, Portsmouth United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Printworks, Manchester United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Surrey Quays United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Whiteleys United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UGC Aberdeen Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Bedford Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Birmingham Broad Street Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Boldon Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Bolton Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Brighton Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Cardiff Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Chelsea Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Chester Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Crawley Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Didsbury Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Dundee Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Eastbourne Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Edinburgh Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Enfield Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Fulham Road Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Glasgow Renfrew Street Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Gloucester Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Harlow Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Haymarket Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Hull Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Ipswich Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Liverpool Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Middlesbrough Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Newport Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Northampton Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Nottingham Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Rochester Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Shaftesbury Avenue Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Sheffield Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Slough Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Staples Corner Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Stockport Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC West India Quay Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Wigan Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
Vue Acton Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Basingstoke Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Belfast Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Birmingham Star City Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Blackburn Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Bristol Longwell Green Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Bury Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Carlisle Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Cheshire Oaks Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Croydon Purley Way Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Dagenham Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Doncaster Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Finchley North Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Finchley Road Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Fulham Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Hamilton Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Harrow Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Hartlepool Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Inverness Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Islington Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Leeds Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Leicester Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Livingston Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Newcastle Under Lyme Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Plymouth Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Preston Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Reading Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Scunthorpe Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Shepherds Bush Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Southport Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Staines Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Thanet Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Thurrock Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Watford Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue West End Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Worcester Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Watershed Cinema Bristol Watershed Media Centre
Wells Film Centre Wells Entertainment
West End Cinema, Boston Savoy Cinemas (Boston) Ltd
Wotton Electric Picture House Wotton Electric Picture House Ltd
Zeffirellis Ambleside Zeffirellis

www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

Source: UK Film Council

Ian Thomson/Caroline Nagle, UK Film Council Press Office, T: +44-207-861-7901/7508/7861, E: press@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

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