FINAS Wants Full Cooperation From Local Cinema

By Alia Tenor

Due to the huge competition of films from overseas, the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) Compulsory Screening Scheme Committee has been conducting a visit to local cinemas to communicate and ensure that local films can compete and gain equal opportunities in the open market.

FINAS Board Member Onn Norshal Hamzah said it was necessary to increase communication and identify registered cinemas under FINAS where cinemas across the country including Bintulu were among the major performers to screen local films.

He said this during a visit to the FINAS Compulsory Committee and the Malaysian Film Producers Association (PFM) to Ashtar Galactic Cinema Bintulu in Commerce Square Mall, Parkcity Commerce Square on Tuesday.

Onn Norshal said the compulsory screening schemes were set up to ensure local films were always guaranteed to be screened at the cinema nationwide and as a FINAS initiative to bring the image of local films throughout the country so that they can compete in the open market.

According to him, when a film is approved under the Compulsory Screening Scheme, it must be screened at the cinema for 14 days. However, there are additional requirements within the 14 days: if in the first three or four days the film does not reach the cinema’s target competency percentages, then the cinemas has the right to decide whether they would continue the film’s screening.

>Source: TVSarawak