Arthouse cinema industry records visitor growth in the first half of 2024

The arthouse cinemas bucked the market trend in the first half of 2024 and achieved an increase in admissions. According to the industry association AG Kino, popular festival films such as "The Zone of Interest", "Poor Things" and "Anatomy of a Case" attracted a good ten percent more visitors to arthouse cinemas than in the first half of 2023.

The market as a whole was down by a good eight percent. However, audience figures are still below the pre-corona level.

The arthouse cinema industry will meet in mid-September for the 24th Leipzig Film Art Fair. Around 1,000 trade visitors will be presented with the new films for the fall. Cinema operators can put together their program on this basis. Around 80 productions will be shown from September 16 to 21. "We have certain hopes that the autumn will also pick up", said the managing director of AG Kino, Felix Bruder.

Personnel worries in arthouse cinemas

In addition to the cinema screenings, there will also be panels and discussion rounds on industry topics at the Filmkunstmesse. These include the succession of cinema operators, which is increasingly becoming an issue.

Cinema operators in smaller towns and rural areas in particular have problems finding a successor, said Bruder. In addition, there is often a lack of employees - for the box office, for example. There are cinemas that close because there is no staff, Bruder said.