In a historic move to safeguard the future of the silver screen, film exhibitors from across South India convened in Bengaluru for a strategic summit. Hosted by the Karnataka Film Exhibitors’ Association and TheatreWorld, the meeting brought together key industry representatives from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala to address the evolving challenges facing the theatrical sector.
The delegation reached a consensus on several critical reforms designed to strengthen the theatrical ecosystem and ensure the long-term sustainability of cinema halls in the region.
Key Policy Mandates:
- Standardised 8-Week Theatrical Window: In a unified effort to preserve the exclusivity of the cinema experience, it was collectively resolved that all films must adhere to a minimum 8-week exclusive theatrical window before debuting on OTT, Satellite, or other digital platforms. This move brings South Indian cinema in line with existing national standards followed by the Hindi and Punjabi film industries.
Note: Films with pre-existing contractual obligations will be exempt from this immediate rollout. - Uniform Revenue-Sharing Model: To foster a more equitable financial environment, representatives agreed in principle to adopt a percentage-based revenue sharing system across all participating states. This transition aims to create uniformity in exhibition practices, ensuring a fair distribution of risk and reward between exhibitors and distributors.
Industry Commitment and Next Steps
The exhibitors emphasised that these measures are essential to providing theatres with the necessary time to sustain successful theatrical runs and to counter the “wait-for-digital” trend that has impacted footfalls in recent years.
“Our priority is to maintain the sanctity of the cinema-going experience,” the collective body stated. “By aligning our practices across the five Southern states, we are creating a stable and predictable environment for producers, exhibitors, and, most importantly, the audience.”
The meeting concluded with a commitment to engage in immediate consultations with Producers’ Councils and other industry stakeholders to ensure these decisions are implemented in a structured and collaborative manner.
The exhibitors reaffirmed their dedication to working as a unified front to promote the growth, stability, and cultural significance of the theatrical exhibition sector across South India.
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