The Italian film industry is filled with equal parts hope and trepidation following an announcement by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on May 16 that the country's cinemas will finally be allowed to reopen on June 15 amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Cinema owners are eager to get back to business after a months-long shutdown — the longest lockdown in Europe — but fear it may be harder than ever to make money.
Italy's independent industry, in particular, has warned that current and preexisting conditions in the market could prove a fatal combination.
All Italian art house distributors, and some 150 indie movie theaters, have jointly published an open letter calling for solidarity and support for independent cinemas.