New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday that movie theaters in the city will be aligned with the rest of New York State from March 5, which will be allowed to reopen at 25% with no more than 50 people per screen, masks, social distance and other protocols.
These include air filtration and purification standards previously specified by the DOJ. Officials at the governor’s press briefing said no Covid-19 testing is needed, as is the case for large areas such as Madison Square Garden and Barclay’s Center that could reopen later in February. The theaters in New York City follow the same clues that were introduced in the rest of New York State in October. Keeping the state and one of the country’s two largest film markets dark for almost a full year has paralyzed the international schedule for theatrical release.
Related story
‘Saturday Night Live’ Cold Open features embarrassed public figures Ted Cruz, Andrew Cuomo and Gina Carano to be grilled by Britney Spears
As Covid rates fell, and recently looked the lowest levels since November (before the holiday boom), with disappointment, it was with dismay that other venues were allowed to reopen.
The call with the Governor is now direct and will post details as it comes …
EXCLUSIVE: We hear from well-placed sources that Governor Andrew Cuomo may finally give the chance that the movie theaters in New York will be re-admitted after it has been closed for almost a year since mid-March 2020. We do not have the details in what form or form yet . It could be that the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens first open ahead of Manhattan. In the same breath, our sources say you never know with Cuomo: He’s full of surprises. Therefore, if nothing happens today, then it is possible, and it’s an ongoing battle between the exhibit and the NY governor.
Another source tells us that it will take three weeks before the theaters in New York City reopen. Let’s see again what happens to this press person today.
Exhibitors are shocked that Cuomo has not yet given the OK to theaters in New York City after sports areas, amusement parks, indoor family recreation centers, etc. It was allowed to reopen at capacity limits, as well as to allow New York City restaurants to increase indoor eating capacity to 35% from Friday, February 26th.
Exhibition’s fight with Cuomo was epic during Covid: behind-the-scenes movie theaters received help Tenet the filmmaker Christopher Nolan and the Tribeca Film Festival, boss Jane Rosenthal, in conversational sense with Cuomo. When the number of cases in Covid improved in October, he allowed certain provinces to reopen, but only 62 of the state’s 280 theaters had their lights on. Regal, the no. 2-exhibitor, decided to stay closed until the big movie studios offered more products and did not scratch around with the theater window. Last summer, major exhibitors AMC, Regal and Cinemark joined forces and filed a federal lawsuit against New Jersey to reopen during Covid-19, but lost the bid. In late August, New Jersey finally reopened movie theaters in time for Warner Bros. ‘ Tenet at a capacity of 25%.
Again, the fingers crossed that theaters were finally opening in NYC. We will know soon.