Titus Heckel wants Canadians to see his next film B次元官网网址淐hainedB次元官网网址� on the big screen, but the director fears a looming takeover of Cineplex Inc. might stamp out those lofty ambitions.

Landing a nationwide theatrical release for his Canadian crime-thriller was always a long shot, since few homegrown films get such a massive platform. But if the countryB次元官网网址檚 biggest film exhibitor is sold to global powerhouse Cineworld, some in the domestic film industry worry Canadian cinema may lose a valuable avenue to audiences.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 already so difficult,B次元官网网址� the Vancouver-based filmmaker said of the struggle for meaningful Canadian distribution and support from exhibitors.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like adding another 100-pound weight onto a 1,000-pound weight.B次元官网网址�

Beyond the financial details of CineworldB次元官网网址檚 $2.8-billion offer to buy Cineplex, announced this week, Canadian film producers say thereB次元官网网址檚 another conversation theyB次元官网网址檙e still trying to comprehend: how deeply the acquisition could ripple through the local film market, affecting everyone from creators to distributors.

CineworldB次元官网网址檚 chief executive Mooky Greidinger emphasized in a call with investors on Monday that B次元官网网址渟cale mattersB次元官网网址� for the U.K.-based company as it negotiates deals with Hollywood studios. That means heB次元官网网址檚 interested in leveraging his companyB次元官网网址檚 strength to broker agreements for Marvel superhero movies and other huge blockbuster franchises that would play on Canadian screens, at its U.S. chain Regal and other brands it owns in Ireland, Israel and across Europe.

Those international distribution agreements could squeeze out the thinning number of Canadian distributors, including Elevation Pictures, which owns the domestic rights to mid-size films that include B次元官网网址滺ustlersB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淢idsommar,B次元官网网址� and plays an instrumental role in Canadian-made projects, such as the upcoming B次元官网网址淎merican WomanB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏lood Quantum.B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址�

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Greidinger didnB次元官网网址檛 address how wide-release Canadian productions, which in the past included the Inuit lacrosse drama B次元官网网址淭he GrizzliesB次元官网网址� and hockey comedy B次元官网网址淕oon: Last of the Enforcers,B次元官网网址� would factor into his business model, nor how Cineworld would handle the Quebec market where French-language cinema is a major part of the cultural landscape.

Representatives for Cineworld did not return requests for comment. Cineplex is in a seven-week period that allows it to solicit, evaluate and negotiate other acquisition offers from third parties, which could include a Canadian buyer.

On Tuesday, a group of independent Quebec movie theatres lambasted the Cineplex acquisition in a statement that called on Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault and provincial Culture Minister Nathalie Roy, to B次元官网网址渧igorouslyB次元官网网址� defend the countryB次元官网网址檚 cultural industries from outside influence.

B次元官网网址淲e must take all available means to prevent foreign content from suffocating our domestic film production,B次元官网网址� said the group of signatories, which included Mario Fortin, who oversees three Montreal independent cinemas.

B次元官网网址淕oing to the movies is the most important leisure activity for Quebecers and Canadians. Are we going to let a foreign multinational decide which films we are going to see? Are we going to leave it to Cineworld Group to decide the future of our cinema?B次元官网网址�

The head of the union representing Canadian performers said that while Cineplex, which represents 75 per cent of the nationwide market, hasnB次元官网网址檛 always wholeheartedly supported Canadian films on its screens, theyB次元官网网址檝e offered a valuable outlet in a changing entertainment industry. He said while the streaming boom has led to an uptick in domestic production led by Netflix, that hasnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily done much to amplify Canadian representation on those U.S.-owned platforms.

B次元官网网址淲here the streaming services are failing us is actually telling Canadian stories,B次元官网网址� said David Sparrow, president of ACTRA.

B次元官网网址淐anadian writers arenB次元官网网址檛 being employed to the same degree because the streaming services are focusing largely on American content.B次元官网网址�

Ron Mann, co-founder of independent distributor Films We Like, said heB次元官网网址檚 already lost confidence in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 exhibitors and doesnB次元官网网址檛 predict any positive change if Cineworld steps into the market.

The Hollywood monoculture has already swallowed up the interests of most independent theatres, he said, pointing to the recent opening of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Paradise theatre, which he hoped would aspire to the art-house footprint of New YorkB次元官网网址檚 Film Forum or Metrograph, which prioritize indie and foreign films. Instead, he said programmers at Paradise are leaning heavily on B次元官网网址渟illyB次元官网网址� comedies such as B次元官网网址淲ayneB次元官网网址檚 WorldB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淯ncle Buck.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址�(Most exhibitors) want to sell alcohol and charge $10 for butter-layered popcornB次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 just a horrible experience. You have to wait for 30 minutes to see your movie after all the trailers. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how they make their money,B次元官网网址� Mann said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e cinephiles. WeB次元官网网址檝e lost the war, but that doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean weB次元官网网址檙e on the wrong side.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver filmmaker Warren Sulatycky suggests itB次元官网网址檚 time federal leaders seriously consider imposing a screen quota system that could bolster the local film market against the perceived cultural threat of Hollywood. ItB次元官网网址檚 a concept thatB次元官网网址檚 been used in many countries, including France, South Korea and Spain, to ensure local stories are given space, though critics question the conceptB次元官网网址檚 success.

Screen quotas mightB次元官网网址檝e helped elevate awareness for his independent film B次元官网网址淎pril in Autumn,B次元官网网址� which played in four independent Canadian theatres earlier this fall after Cineplex rejected his application to show it on their screens. He released the film using a roadshow model where he travelled to each city where it played.

B次元官网网址淚t was so hard to get into theatres B次元官网网址� to get any time B次元官网网址� in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal,B次元官网网址� Sulatycky said.

B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 going to be harder now.B次元官网网址�

David Friend, The Canadian Press

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