Ontario’s reopening plans have left theatre operators in the lurch this summer, with indoor cinemas unable to open for at least another nine weeks while U.S. studios bring their blockbusters back to the big screen.

“Keeping cinemas closed despite zero cases being attributed to movie theatres anywhere in the world simply defies all reason,” said Nuria Bronfman, executive director of the Movie Theatre Association of Canada, in a statement. “We have been the safest form of indoor business throughout the entire pandemic, but we continue to be the first to close and the last to reopen. Ontario should take the locks off movie theatres and join the rest of the world.”

Announced by the provincial government yesterday (May 20), the “Roadmap to Reopen” includes a three-step process, with step one expected to begin on June 14. To enter step two, at least 70% of Ontario residents must have received one vaccination dose, and 20% be fully vaccinated. Step three requires between 70-80% of Ontario residents given one dose and 25% fully vaccinated. The province has set a minimum of 21 days between steps.

Under the guidelines, indoor cinemas aren’t eligible to open until step three, while drive-in cinemas are allowed to open in step one. “Outdoor cinemas and performing arts” are also eligible to be open in step two.

Cineplex president and CEO Ellis Jacob called the decision “absurd” in a statement. “The science and evidence is literally on Ontario’s doorstep. We have been operating safely in Quebec since February – throughout the entire third wave – while allowing 250 guests per auditorium. Based on what we heard today, cinemas will be locked down in Ontario longer than any other jurisdiction in the world, all due to a government that ignores the facts.”

Ontario isn’t the only province with restrictions on theatres. Cinemas are currently closed in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia in the face of the ongoing third wave of the pandemic in Canada.

Pacific Northwest Pictures president Mark Slone says the continued increase in premium video on demand (PVOD) sales has helped indie distributors weather the storm, naming Academy Award-winning film Sound of Metal and festival darling Shiva Baby as examples of well-performing titles.

“My concern is falling behind the U.S. release dates, or be faced with no theatrical revenue once again,” he tells Playback Daily. “For this summer, we’ll be as opportunistic as possible in provinces where theatres are open and continue our partnerships with digital cinemas elsewhere. I’m also looking forward to whatever outdoor screenings are cooked up by creative Canadians.”

Studios in the U.S. are starting to roll out their long-delayed summer releases in the coming weeks. Among them are A Quiet Place II (Paramount Pictures) on May 28, In The Heights (Warner Bros. Pictures) on June 11, F9 (Universal Pictures) on June 25 and Black Widow (Marvel Studios) on July 9. Under the current guidelines, zero Ontario theatres will be open in time for the releases, although titles such as In the Heights and Black Widow will be available for PVOD day and date with theatrical.

The reopening guideline also addressed production restrictions. While production has been allowed to continue during lockdowns and the stay-at-home order, no more than 50 performers are currently allowed to be on set. That restriction will lift once the province enters step two of the plan. Studio audiences will be allowed in step three with restricted capacity. Safety measures on production will otherwise remain the same.

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