TWO local cinemas have received a funding from Screen Australia to support them during the state\u2019s fifth lockdown.<\/p>\n
The first batch of the Federal Government\u2019s $20 million Supporting Cinemas\u2019 Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods funding delivered $8.7 million to 158 independent cinemas across the country.<\/p>\n
Bendigo Cinema has received $85,000, while Star Cinema in Eaglehawk has received $35,000.<\/p>\n
Business manager at Star Cinema Martin Myles said the funding will help support the cinema staff during this \u201cvery tough time\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re scoping out different options we have to use the money for, partly it will be used to support general operating of the cinema and support and retaining staff and more of the operational situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Myles said the funding will also support the cinema as it looks to establish their own annual, themed film festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will give us the resources to explore that in a more substantial way,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been looking to establish an Eaglehawk film festival for a few years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be a different type of film festival and something that belongs to Eaglehawk. We\u2019re aware of the fact that we\u2019re in Eaglehawk\u2019s former town hall and we\u2019d like to use this as an annual event to bridge the gap with the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Myles said it can take about a month for Star Cinema to become profitable after lockdowns, due to public confusion over whether the cinema is open.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the last lockdown we only started to become profitable after about four weeks,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had just seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and we\u2019ve been hit by the sledgehammer again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI, like many people in my position I\u2019m sure at the moment are extraordinarily fatigued but this lockdown ping pong we\u2019re playing at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TWO local cinemas have received a funding from Screen Australia to support them during the state\u2019s fifth lockdown. The first batch of the Federal Government\u2019s $20 million Supporting Cinemas\u2019 Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods funding delivered $8.7 million to 158 independent cinemas across the country. Bendigo Cinema has received $85,000, while Star Cinema in […]<\/p>\n