Italy Gradually Reopens Movie Theaters, Starting With Oscar Titles ‘Minari,’ ‘Mank’

Movie theaters started to gradually reopen in Italy on Monday, serving up Oscar-winning titles such as “Minari” and “Mank” in a fraction of the country’s venues, just as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease.

For the moment, it’s a few mostly arthouse venues in Italy’s biggest cities that are becoming active again, while Italian multiplexes remain closed until mid-May when UCI Cinemas, which is the country’s top exhibitor, has announced they will be back in business.

The cinema re-openings are allowed to go ahead on the basis of pre-ordered ticketing, distanced seating, obligatory mask-wearing inside the venues, and no popcorn.

Italy’s gradual easing of restrictions also sees museums reopening to visitors, with reservations required. Restaurants and bars in most Italian regions are allowed to serve people at outdoor tables for both lunch and dinner, although Italy’s 10 p.m. curfew remains in effect at present, though it’s expected to soon be lifted if all goes well.

The hope is that from today onwards, there will be a “constant, gradual growth in screens reopening,” the president of Italy’s distributors, Luigi Lonigro, who heads RAI Cinema’s 01 Distribuzione outfit, told national news agency ANSA.