APFDC extends support for theatres bandh

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Film Development Corporation (APFDC) chairman Ambika Krishna on Saturday said the APFDC, film producers and film distributors would extend full support for the proposed closure of cinema theatres from March 2 onwards in two Telugu states protesting against the high charges collected by two digital service providers UFO and QubeCinema. Addressing media at the APFDC office in PNBS building, he said more than 2,000 theatres in Andhra Pradesh entered MoU with these two companies.

Highlights:

• More than 2,000 theatres in AP will be closed from March 2 onwards protesting against high charges collected by two digital service companies
• The two digital service providers are charging Rs 27,000 for screening movies from each theatre
• APFDC chairman Ambika Krishna says the theatre managements, producers and distributors have been asking the companies to reduce the charges by 40 per cent

Stating the two companies charge Rs 27,000 for screening movies from each theatre, Ambika Krishna said except Kerala, theatre owners in AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would shut down the theatres from March 2 protesting against the high charges collected by thesetwo digital service providers.

“These two companies earlier stated that they will collect charges up to five years and later stop them. But these companies have not lived up to promise and have been collecting Rs27,000 for screening each movie,” he alleged.

He said the Movie Theatres Associations held discussions in Bengaluru on Friday with the digital companies and requested them to reduce the charges. However, the two companies have refused to slash the charges, he said. Ambika Krishna said the theatre owners, who signed MoU with these service providers could not violate the agreement and must screen movies at any cost and pay Rs27,000 for screening each movie.