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Ster-Kinekor reopens South African cinemas

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Theatre, cinema, concerts thrive in Madrid despite virus
Theatre, cinema, concerts thrive in Madrid despite virus
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  • Ster-Kinekor has reopened 19 of its cinemas since Tuesday and will reopen its remaining 33 venues on Friday, 30 July.
  • The cinema chain is currently in business rescue and in June implored the government to allow cinemas to reopen.
  • Ster-Kinekor says all its cinemas countrywide will continue to operate with "all Covid-19 safety procedures" and that "each theatre will be permitted a maximum of 50 guests per auditorium".


Like Nu Metro, Ster-Kinekor is also reopening its cinemas in South Africa following Monday's move from Level 4 to an adjusted Level 3 of lockdown in the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday night that South Africa is moving back to an adjusted level 3 lockdown with cinemas, casinos, gyms, theatres, museums, and libraries are allowed to open and with restaurants that can once again cater to sit-down patrons.

Nu Metro told Channel24 on Monday that the cinema chain will reopen its movie theatres on Friday 30 July, including its specialised cinema formats like 4DX, VIP and Xtreme. Nu Metro will initially only have its cinemas open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Ster-Kinekor told Channel24 on Wednesday in response to a media enquiry that it has now opened 19 of its cinemas since Tuesday and will reopen its remaining 33 venues on Friday, 30 July.

The cinema chain in currently in business rescue and in June implored the government to allow cinemas to reopen since the mandated closure of cinemas meant "a devastating blow" to South Africa's movie theatre industry.

READ MORE | SA cinemas desperately need movie fans back as the pandemic delivers yet another devastating blow to the industry

Ster-Kinekor says all its cinemas countrywide will continue to operate with "all Covid-19 safety procedures" and that "each theatre will be permitted a maximum of 50 guests per auditorium".

"Ster-Kinekor will continue to screen all our staff before we open the cinemas each day, as well as at each shift with regular sanitising breaks during their shift.

"We will wear face masks and gloves where required, and our staff have been trained on safe work practices to ensure safety for themselves and for our guests. We will continue to sanitise the cinemas before and after each show and have increased our cleaning times between every show to make sure all our seats and surfaces are clean and safe."

Showing on the big screen

Ster-Kinekor will return Fast & Furious 9 for only its second week on the circuit after the film had a successful opening weekend before the adjusted level 4 lockdown restrictions, which were implemented on 27 June.

The Looney Tunes gang in Space Jam: A New Legacy will be releasing on 30 July, while Ster-Kinekor will pre-release screening Disney's Jungle Cruise on Saturday, 31 July ahead of the national release on 6 August.

James Gunn's DC movie The Suicide Squad will flicker onto Ster-Kinekor's digital projectors from 6 August, long after the film had already been released in East and West Africa as well as other parts of Southern Africa and will be in IMAX theatres in South Africa from 13 August.

Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy will release on 20 August, after which Hardin and Tessa return for a third instalment of the After franchise in After we Fell, releasing at Ster-Kinekor cinemas on 3 September.

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