Theme 7: Who should you relate to

Who should you relate to?

Possible choices:

• Rights holders

To screen a virtual program, you depend on individuals or organizations who own the film screening rights and must grant permission for screening. Parties such as film distributors can also be rights holders for screening their own content.

• Exhibitors 

Without cinemas or platforms showing films online, virtual cinema is impossible. In this sense, film exhibitors and film distributors (who do not screen their content on their own platforms) are dependent on each other.

• Technical partners 

Think ticketing parties, website developers and livestreaming parties, who are needed for a reliable technical infrastructure.

• Lenders

Think investors or grant providers who make virtual film screenings financially possible, especially when it comes to specific content (such as work by local makers) or offerings for a specific audience (such as an educational programme for schools).

• Knowledge and umbrella organizations

These organizations can serve as sparring partners and knowledge centers and provide support in setting up virtual cinema. Examples in the Netherlands include DEN (booster of digital transformation for culture), NFO (association of (medium-)large subsidized film theaters in the Netherlands) and the NVBF (trade association for all cinemas and film theaters in the Netherlands). In Europe this could be Europa Cinemas and CICAE.