Nearly 50 Percent Of Independent Cinemas In The UK Are Not Ready To Open With Social Distancing Policies

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JAKARTA - More than 200 independent cinemas in the UK revealed in a new survey they could not reopen their business if social distancing rules were still in place.

In a new survey conducted by the Independent Cinema Office, 497 cinemas responded to their future given the COVID-19 pandemic still striking.

Forty-one percent of respondents said they would not be able to continue business with social distancing rules, even though the government suggested theaters reopen from July 4.

The survey said that many cinemas felt pressure from the commercial and industrial sectors when all of them opened up business again. Given, it is actually not financially feasible, practical or even safe to do so.

Twenty-three percent said they could reopen in September - and only 13 percent answered confidently about reopening theaters in July.

Meanwhile, 15 percent said they could open their business again in August.

More than half of respondents said they could not open their business due to the impact of the reduced seat capacity, while 28 percent said their building configuration would not allow for social distancing adjustments.

However, the British Cinema Association held talks with the government a few weeks ago. They pressed for plans to reopen theaters by the end of June.

Vue Cinemas chief executive Tim Richards hopes theaters will open in mid-July, as most of the major chains are preparing for the release of Christopher Nolan's new film Tenet.

"What we're trying to do is work with the government to show that we don't like sporting events or music concerts," Richards told the BBC.

A number of film and TV projects have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis with many films suspended or postponed on release. Click here for a list of some of the projects affected.