The Cines Verdi film theatres in Barcelona and Madrid have each been fitted with a 2K digital screen. The exhibitor at these two lovely 5-screen film theatres and at the 4-screen Verdi Park in Barcelona, Enrique Pérez Font, talks us through the background to the equipment in these arthouse film theatres, a first in Spain.

You have just introduced 2K into your two film theatres in Barcelona and Madrid. Can you tell us more about this project?

Innovation is essential in film theatres wishing to be at the forefront and to make their mark. This has always been the byword and objective of Verdi film theatres. We are proud to recall that ours are the first 2D art house film theatres in Spain to be fitted with 2K projectors. Given the current confusion in the economic situation, we obtained finance via a lease from ICO, the Official Spanish Credit Institute.
The equipment came from Christie, represented in Spain by the company Suministros Kelonik.
Our aim is to fit out all our film theatres. During 2010 we shall install more and more high definition projectors. We would like to be able to count on the support of Europa Cinemas since the cost of equipment is still very high.

What was your motivation?

I am taking a gamble on new technologies to allow films by new filmmakers (who are already using these new techniques in production) to be screened in the same format on which the film was created. That does not necessarily affect programme schedules which continue to be the most important thing to us and remain the ethos of the Verdi film theatres. We shall keep our 35 mm projectors in the film theatres.
The Verdi film theatres were already pioneers in high definition, not with the DCI standard but with 1.9K equipment, which enables us to screen films from independent distributors who cannot meet the costs of 2K prints. Through the HDCAM master, they can produce prints in Blu-Ray and in this way their films are screened in film theatres.
Thus we can ensure the diversity of cinematographic works regardless of their format.

What is the situation with digital projection in Spain?

Spain is lagging behind. Only the large complexes see a future in which film theatres offer not a film but a show. They are taking advantage of the new technologies to schedule films in 3D, which is not our primary objective.
The majors are offering digital films but, as I have said, these films are not our objective. Verdi film theatres have taken the first steps towards digital projection of original version, subtitled films. In this way we wish to encourage independent producers and distributors to release films d’auteur in digital format.

Will this change in technology be accompanied by a special communications strategy for your audience? Or by a change in admission prices for digital screenings?

We shall indicate that the film is in digital format whenever this is the case. But that will make no difference to admission prices.

What place do European films have in Spain?

Apart from film theatres like ours, whose aim is to protect cultural diversity, or in other Spanish film theatres in the Europa Cinemas network, European films are quite rare in Spain. The majors have very aggressive domination of the market, not just through the imposition of multiple prints of films, but also by applying very high percentages to additional takings. This leaves little room for films from other countries.

Portrait of Enrique Pérez Font by Óscar Carriquí

www.cines-verdi.com

Interview led by Stéphanie Dufour & Jean-Baptiste Selliez,
January 2010

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