“Yesterday a man in his 80s came to buy a ticket to watch. We told him at the box office that he was entitled to reduced fares because he was over 65 years old. However, he insisted on paying the entire €8 ticket because he wanted to support the hall.” This is what the person who “runs” historical cinema conveys, referring to “K”, George Spences, clearly touched by the pulse of the days in ideal, which has been in a state of uncertainty for several months.

So much for this Ideal and also for Astor there is a fear that the end credits may even be close. This is evidenced by the events of the past few months, which we are constantly following. after o electronic EFKA and the current owner of the historic Athenian theaters launched a tender a few months ago for the buildings housing the two cinemas, their future automatically considered uncertain.

And from there, mobilization began with a request to the authorities Ministry of Environment and Energy announce that two cinemas have been saved, and the world of cinema, as well as ordinary moviegoers, send an SOS signal.

Initially, there was an assurance that, despite the restructuring of the buildings, the use of the two cinemas would not be affected. His city council Municipality of Athens unanimously supported the preservation of two sites important to the cultural history of Athens. However, a few days ago, e-EFKA filed an objection with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting that the two cinemas in the center not be declared mothballed, as he argued, this would affect the necessary repairs for the new use of the buildings.

As expected, this caused a new wave of negative reaction from the owners of two cinemas –Andreas and Babis Kontarakis from Astor, George and Spyros Spentzos from Ideal– develop your quick reflexes.

So her Sunday, April 2 initiative will be implemented “Our cinemas, our city.” A series of spin-offs and free screenings that will act as support call from the threatened halls, at the same time they will gather signatures. Not only in Astor and Ideal, but also in Iris, the hall of the EKPA student club, which supports the project, since some time ago its own future was also threatened by article 296 of the law of the Ministry of Education “New Horizons in Universities”, which provided for changes in the way university clubs work. and doubts continue to exist. Her Tuesday 4 April will follow press conference from the owners of Astor and Ideal.

The closure of these halls will mean their complete end. As explained Babis Kontarakis from astor, it’s not just a business that someone can so easily take and move elsewhere. As for his own cinema, he insists on how can keep working even with a new use of the building, as it does not affect it in any way. He does not hide his disappointment, since at his discretion e-EFKA’s arguments are not convincing.

When asked by the owner of the arcade cinema Korai how ordinary people who come to see a movie react to all this, he is accurate: “He was the one who wanted to collect the book of signatures.” It is obvious that the audience, who loves the dark room and has kept many memories of the two historical cinemas, is excited along with the owners of the hall. Giorgos Spentsos gives the example of a disabled spectator who a few days ago, having crossed the threshold of the Ideal, asked himself: “And if you close, where will we watch movies?” You see, “Ideal” is one of the halls that offers full access for people with disabilities.

In a similar way, “support for all cinematography has been total all along” as confirmed by Babis Kontarakis. In the end, the support of various cameramen is of practical importance, since some screenings on Sunday premiere nights, V cinematheque, V Athens Ethnographic Film Festival, V Khameni Greek Cinema Avenue And Francophone Film Festival.

A gift, of course, will also give Greek Film Academy, who has been on the side of the halls since the beginning, having already sent two letters ensure the operation of the cinemas of Stoa Korai and the University.

“Perhaps these activities are a little romantic, on the other hand, there is nothing else to do,” concludes the President of the JAC, Lefteris Kharitos, when essentially “this is the expected solution”. As Giorgos Spences adds, what he sees is an “extension” of this decision – it is significant that the committee, which will meet at the Ministry of the Interior for two cinemas, has hopefully received three extensions.

Nevertheless, Lefteris Haritos invites us to look at the big picture and the future of not only the halls in question, but also the cinema itself. What a big controversy is being opened, unfortunately, more and more often.