It's just been announced that Australian independent cinema operators can look forward to getting a share of a new $20m grants package from the Morrison government. Meanwhile their counterparts in New Zealand continue to struggle post lockdown, with fewer and smaller new movies to show.
One of those Kiwi operators is Allan Webb whose Regent Cinema in Te Awamutu has just celebrated its 89th birthday. He's run it since 1974 but says he's now hoping the community will take it over as a trust. Right now it's running on loans and his mortgage.
Even before Covid-19, Allan was subsidising each patron at about $2 per admission.
Since the lockdown things have got even tougher, and now there's a Givealittle page to help the cinema through these tough times.
Lynn Freeman asks Alan Webb about the Regent's history:
