News / Bond and Madagascar this month
THE FIRST movie blockbusters to be shown in Shetland on their nationwide release date hit the screen at Mareel this month.
Dreamworks’ 3D cartoon Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted and the new James Bond movie Skyfall will be premiered on 19 October and 26 October respectively.
Mareel’s cinema opened six weeks ago since when it has been catching up with the big hits of the summer.
Shetland Arts head of development Kathy Hubbard explained that film distributors are strict when it comes to showing big budget movies, insisting they are screened for one or two whole weeks.
The general policy for films at Mareel will be to show them a few weeks after their official release dates to allow more flexibility, letting the cinema offer a variety of films for all tastes. Only the biggest films will be shown at the same time as everywhere else.
“The programming process is a collaboration between ourselves and City Screen, who do their very best to get us what we ask for, but ultimately, if we want a film on its release date, we have to accept the terms set by the distribution companies,” Hubbard said.
City Screen, which owns the Picturehouse cinema chain, negotiates with film companies on behalf of Mareel. Negotiations take place on Monday mornings to decide which films to continue showing from the previous week based on audience demand and box office figures across the country.
City Screen senior programmer Jo Blair said: “I look forward to working with Kathy and the team at Mareel in the long-term to provide a varied film programme, and also some of the key films of each year on their UK release dates. It is a pleasure to book films into such a stunning venue.”
Mareel will hold regular weekly slots such as Babes in Arms screenings on Monday mornings, Senior Screenings on Wednesday afternoons, and Film Wednesdays, where you will find the best of world cinema, classic films and documentaries.
Tickets go on sale for film from the previous Tuesday via Shetland Box Office or at Mareel itself.
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