A cinema in downtown Toronto had to halt screenings of a new movie after the film’s distributor suddenly withdrew access. The Carlton had already sold tickets for the first week of showings of ‘Tony,’ a film by Canadian director Matt Johnson when they were informed that the distributor, A24, would no longer be providing the film. The reason given was a clearance issue, as another nearby theatre was already showing the film.
This incident is not isolated, as it was the third film recently pulled from the Carlton, according to Stefan Kern, the director of operations for Imagine Cinemas. The practice of restricting which theatres can show new releases first in Canada has been a longstanding issue for independent theatres. Sonya Yokota William, director of the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors, explained that this system dates back to a time when studios produced limited film prints, leading to competition among theatres for early access.
Cineplex, a major player in the Canadian cinema industry, controls a significant portion of the country’s box office revenue and screens. This market dominance has influenced distributors to prioritize Cineplex theatres for new releases, creating challenges for independent cinemas. Yokota William highlighted the need for awareness and advocacy to address this issue, suggesting that industry stakeholders and the government should raise concerns even if legislative action is not immediately feasible.
While Cineplex declined to comment on the zone system or the ‘Tony’ screenings at the Carlton, A24 did not respond to inquiries about their decision to revoke access to the film. The Competition Bureau has not confirmed any investigations related to the zone system but encourages complaints about unfair distribution practices in Canada. The hope is that shedding light on this issue will eventually lead to positive changes in the industry.
