The end of mini-theaters?

[Jasper Sharp]

This is tragic news, of course, but I don't think the situation is really unique to Japan. When I compare the number of independent cinemas when I first arrived in London in 1989 to now - well, really the only venues for indie/foreign/arthouse/alternative films now in the centre of the city are the BFI, Barbican and ICA, all of which receive a substantial amount of funding from the taxpayer, and even then, the ICA was in crisis last year due to the low footfall at the venue. 
This might be a good time to remind London-based appreciators of Japanese film to head to the Japan Foundation touring season when it kicks off at the ICA on Feb 4th (see: http://www.jpf.org.uk/whatson.php#307). The only way these venues and events are going to continue through these tough economic times are if people support them, otherwise the powers that be will quite rightly assume that no one is interested.

Jasper Sharp: Writer & Film Curator Homepage
http://jaspersharp.com/

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> Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 09:19:17 -0500
> From: aaron.gerow at yale.edu
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Subject: The end of mini-theaters?
> 
> The news services announce that Cine Saison, one of the most important  
> mini-theaters in Tokyo since the 1980s, will be closing at the end of  
> February. This follows the announcement about the Ebisu Garden Cinema,  
> which will close at the end of this month. While both specialized in  
> foreign films, the news only adds to speculations and fears that mini- 
> theaters, one of the only venues for alternative foreign and domestic  
> cinema in Japan against the stranglehold of the multiplexes, are dying  
> off.
> 
> Aaron Gerow
> KineJapan owner
> 
> Associate Professor
> Film Studies Program/East Asian Languages and Literatures
> Yale University
> 
> For list commands, send "information kinejapan" to
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> 
> 
> 
> 
 		 	   		  
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