The process of digitalization in cinemas, albeit with considerable differences from territory to territory, is reaching its final phase and the so-called "switch-off" for traditional film is almost complete. But which cinemas have not yet converted to the new technology? And why? This column has been opened to find answers to these questions, presenting portraits of cinemas in Europe that have not yet digitalized or that are still looking for a way to deal with the shift.

In this issue our column hosts the portrait of a site visited by Nicola Curtoni and Emilia Desantis on their "Giro dei Cinema (Tour of Cinemas)".
See also the link https://www.girodeicinema.it/

Postmodernissimo

The population in the centre of Perugia, a city of 168,000 inhabitants at the heart of Italy with a wealth of artistic and cultural heritage, has gradually drained away over the past 20 years: the choice of re-introducing a cinema meant swimming against the current.
The idea started to take shape in 2013. On their return from the Venice Film Festival, Giacomo and Ivan, friends of over 20 years, decided to try opening up a theatre. They had already worked in cinema exhibition but were looking for a personal project, centring around social life and the films they loved.
Almost by chance, thanks to the support of the Perugia Municipalit too, the opportunity came from the owners of a cinema in the old city centre, famous for art-house films but closed since 2000. They decided to extend the group and were joined by Andrea, who returned from France to take part in the project, and another Andrea, "the secret partner".
"Each of us", explains Giacomo, "contributed his own peanuts but we didn't have a big margin." Partly for economic reasons it immediately became necessary to build a community around the project. A participatory financing campaign was launched: in exchange for financing (from 10 to 1,000 euros), contributors received bags, T-shirts, subscriptions or other benefits. The choice was made to manage the venture as a non-profit, social co-operative, giving those interested the opportunity to become partners by paying a quota of 100 euros.
Citizens can therefore take part in the life of the new venue and decide at the meetings which direction to take. These forms of financing produced 10% of the 400,000 euros required, whilst also being proof of a collective need.
Regional funds for business enterprises by young people (50,000 euros) and a European fund accessible through the Regional Authorities of Umbria (150,000 euros) covered another part of the financing necessary. "Without interest?" "Eh, vain hope!" Basically these are loans which, in comparison with bank loans, offer more favourable interest rates (1%) but also more precise conditions regarding spending. The only interest-free income for the project was a reimbursement for setting up businesses and 50% of the first year's rent, thanks to regional support for business ventures by young people. A loan from Banca Etica made it possible to cover the rest of the costs. The result: in December 2014 the cinema opened. It had been restructured to produce 3 auditoriums from one single one.
Programming ranges from art-house movies addressing the public in general, to pure indie, experimental or niche movies. On a Wednesday the films are shown in their original language and a discount is offered. Special showings take place on a Monday and focus on authors (sometimes wholly monographic) or on countries, succeeding in attracting audiences even from outside the province.
The third auditorium, built from a storehouse, seats 30 people and is equipped not with a digital projector but with a LED video-projector.
"The third auditorium allows us to keep long runs or offer more niche products", continues Giacomo. After their initial doubts, distributors provide blue-ray more willingly and the film can remain on the screen for long. "In the same way as the third page of a daily newspaper, the third auditorium is created to make room for research (video-art as well), historical film weeks and special focuses."

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