Annual Report 2019 Promoting the big screen UK Cinema Association office Phil Clapp James Connor Seema Saujani 3 Soho Square London W1D 3HD United Kingdom T 020 7734 9551 E
[email protected] W www.cinemauk.org.uk @cinema_uk Registration number 5144256 2019 Introduction 1 01 UK cinema performance – an overview 3 02 Strategic issues 7 03 Legislation and lobbying 12 04 Public advocacy 16 05 Promotion and marketing 19 06 Operational issues 22 07 Partnerships 33 08 Finance 37 Past Presidents 39 Executive Board Members – April 2019 40 This Annual Report reflects the work of the UK Cinema Association during 2019. As such it does not cover the impact in 2020 of the COVID-19 outbreak. INTRODUCTION 2019 was another exceptional year for the UK cinema sector. While the 2019 General Election provided an opportunity to promote the economic, social and cultural value of the UK A diverse film slate and continued investment by cinema cinema sector, elsewhere chances to engage with politicians operators in all aspects of the big screen experience once and policy-makers remained at a premium. That said, the again saw audiences respond in huge numbers. By the end decision by the Government to offer many cinemas in England a of the year, admissions had almost matched the 50 year high 50 per cent reduction in business rates represented a welcome seen in 2018. return on several years of lobbying on this issue. Across the year, a series of highly-anticipated sequels, During the year, the Association continued to work on a wide conclusions to popular franchises and new presentations of range of strategic and operational issues relevant to the familiar classics, complemented by original British stories, all sector.