German distributor Kinowelt will be acquiring 15 more screens in Germany, giving it a total 70-screen spread by year end 1996, Rainer Koelmel said at the AFM.
In its production capacity, Kinowelt has also taken an equity stake on Chris Sievernich´s Cuban project, as well as UK project, Crimetime, directed by George Sluizer.
The purchase will be handled by Michael Koelmel at Studio Gmbh which oversees Kinowelt´s exhibition interests. Kinowelt intends to continue strengthening its market presence in German exhibition. "An ideal number of screens would be 150," said Rainer Koelmel. "It´s absolutely essential to have screens if you want to distribute quality cinema."
The added exhibition power further establishes Kinowelt as it comes to the AFM as one of the most powerful indie distributors for art-house or upscale fare in Europe.
No other German art-house distributor has a significant exhibition presence. Kinowelt's corporate tentacles now reach production (Film Produktion), distribution, theatre ownership (Studio Gmbh), licensing (Lizenzverwehings, established in October 1995) and Video (Art House).
Once concentrating on straight art-house fare Kinowelt has now moved into buying upscale comercial fare such as Mighty Aphrodite, Four Rooms, Beautiful Girls and Richard III. It acquires 20-40 films a year.
John Hopewell
