Finas finalising new compulsory screening scheme for Malaysian cinemas

“KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) is in the final stages of introducing a more dynamic Compulsory Screening Scheme ( Skim Wajib Tayang ) 3.0 to balance the screening needs of commercial and festival films. Finas chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib said the draft of the new policy is being finalised for presentation to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil for approval, with the aim of avoiding adverse effects on cinema operators’ businesses. “We have held several series of discussions with cinema operators and the Malaysian Film Producers Association (PFM). “This new policy will align with the regulations under the Finas Act, which is expected to be introduced this year,” he told Bernama after attending a meeting chaired by Fahmi with the chief executive officers of Malaysian cinemas at Menara Maxis here today. Also present were Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, Finas Chairman Datuk Hans Isaac, and Film Directors Association of Malaysia (FDAM) Chairman Datuk Afdlin Shauki. Commenting on the cinema industry’s performance, Azmir Saifuddin said there is a clear gap between local films’ box office collections and overall cinema attendance. He said that although the local film industry recorded a proud achievement with five to six local films successfully raking in box-office collections exceeding RM10 million this year, the cinema sector still faces post-Covid-19 survival challenges. Some operators continue struggling to repay loans taken to sustain their businesses. “Data from cinema operators shows a downward trend in viewership, with a decline of about 16 per cent in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year. Factors include intense competition from digital streaming platforms and current economic pressures,” he said. Azmir Saifuddin added that the financial burden on operators has also intensified, with technology investment costs doubling to RM3 million to build a single new cinema hall with advanced sound systems like Atmos and high-definition (HD) screens, up from RM1.5 million previously, to meet audience demands. Consequently, he said Finas is intensifying efforts to collect comprehensive data covering viewership trends and the socio-economic impact of cinema closures on the supply chain ecosystem and employment opportunities. “When a cinema closes down, the ripple effect is felt not only by the cinema workers but also by the supply chain, such as popcorn suppliers. We want to evaluate how this industry impacts job creation. “The cinema sector has a huge multiplier effect on economic growth. When moviegoers go to a cinema inside a shopping mall, they also spend on dinner and shopping. The cinema acts as an anchor to that ecosystem,” he explained. Azmir Saifuddin said the collected economic impact data will be thoroughly analysed soon and submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) as proposals for incentives or assistance programmes before the upcoming budget presentation. — Bernama

Summary generated from the RSS feed of Malay Mail Education. All article rights belong to the original publisher. Click through to read the full piece on www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia.