The head of Picturehouse Cinemas, Clare Binns, has called on filmmakers to make their movies shorter if they want them shown in cinemas. The statement comes as concerns grow over increasingly long film runtimes, which are reportedly creating scheduling problems for cinemas.
Binns pointed out that some recent blockbusters have pushed the boundaries of traditional cinema length, with Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" clocking in at 206 minutes and Brady Corbet's "The Brutalist" a whopping 215 minutes. Binns believes that many films could be trimmed to make them more comfortable for viewers.
"I talk to producers about this and say: 'Tell the director you're making the film for an audience, not the directors,'" she said. "There's always exceptions, but I look at a lot of films and think: 'You could take 20 minutes out of that.' There's no need for films to be that long."
The concern over long film runtimes has significant implications for cinemas, as extended showtimes limit how often they can screen movies. Binns noted that in the past, she was only able to offer one evening show per day due to these restrictions.
"It means you only get one evening show," Binns said. "I think it's a wake-up call to directors. If they want their films in cinemas, people have to feel comfortable about what they're committing to."
Despite the challenges facing the film industry, including industry consolidation and the rise of streaming services, Binns expressed optimism that cinemas are finding new ways to adapt.
"Cinemas were badly hit by Covid closures and the slow return of audiences," she said. "But we're working with streamers to bring people in." Recent trends have shown a renewed interest in repertory programming, which is bringing young audiences back into cinemas.
However, Binns warned that the closure of local cinemas would be a significant blow to communities.
"Local cinemas are fantastic resources... they get people out of their houses, they're community hubs. If that disappears, it's a tragedy."
As part of her work to support independent filmmakers, Binns has led initiatives to bring cinemas into their local communities. She is now set to receive the prestigious Bafta award for outstanding British contribution to cinema.
Binns' commitment to supporting independent film-makers and keeping cinemas alive is being hailed as inspirational by industry insiders. The chair of the Bafta film committee described her work as "profound" and said that she was a "hugely talented and beloved visionary".
Binns pointed out that some recent blockbusters have pushed the boundaries of traditional cinema length, with Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" clocking in at 206 minutes and Brady Corbet's "The Brutalist" a whopping 215 minutes. Binns believes that many films could be trimmed to make them more comfortable for viewers.
"I talk to producers about this and say: 'Tell the director you're making the film for an audience, not the directors,'" she said. "There's always exceptions, but I look at a lot of films and think: 'You could take 20 minutes out of that.' There's no need for films to be that long."
The concern over long film runtimes has significant implications for cinemas, as extended showtimes limit how often they can screen movies. Binns noted that in the past, she was only able to offer one evening show per day due to these restrictions.
"It means you only get one evening show," Binns said. "I think it's a wake-up call to directors. If they want their films in cinemas, people have to feel comfortable about what they're committing to."
Despite the challenges facing the film industry, including industry consolidation and the rise of streaming services, Binns expressed optimism that cinemas are finding new ways to adapt.
"Cinemas were badly hit by Covid closures and the slow return of audiences," she said. "But we're working with streamers to bring people in." Recent trends have shown a renewed interest in repertory programming, which is bringing young audiences back into cinemas.
However, Binns warned that the closure of local cinemas would be a significant blow to communities.
"Local cinemas are fantastic resources... they get people out of their houses, they're community hubs. If that disappears, it's a tragedy."
As part of her work to support independent filmmakers, Binns has led initiatives to bring cinemas into their local communities. She is now set to receive the prestigious Bafta award for outstanding British contribution to cinema.
Binns' commitment to supporting independent film-makers and keeping cinemas alive is being hailed as inspirational by industry insiders. The chair of the Bafta film committee described her work as "profound" and said that she was a "hugely talented and beloved visionary".
cinemas are struggling with long film runtimes, it's like they're asking viewers to stay for an entire dinner 
, some films can def be trimmed down without losing the essence 
, i think 20 mins is a good target, anything more than that feels like a chore 
like wut r they even doin out there? i mean i get it, some movies need more time 2 develop the story or whatever but 20 minutes extra is just excessive 
and cinemas are sufferin cuz of these long runtimes... they can only show one movie per day if its too long 
so yeah cut it down a bit, directors! 
cinemas need a break from all the extra screen time and binns is totally right about trimming it down to make it comfy for viewers. also i'm so glad she's supporting indie filmmakers and keeping local cinemas alive - those places are treasure troves of community spirit! 
cinemas being hubs for people to come together is just the best, let's keep them going 
. And cinemas are struggling because of these long films 
, it's like, you can only show one movie per evening, that's crazy 
. We need more diverse programming and not just the same old blockbuster 
.
That's just crazy talk! You can take so much out without messing up the story. And I feel you, Clare Binns, as a cinema owner yourself, it's tough to deal with long films limiting showtimes. But at the same time, some blockbusters are like events, people want to sit down and be fully immersed. It's all about finding that balance.
That's what we need more of. Let's support those who want to tell stories that matter.
I mean, it's not like the audience can't follow along with some extra 20-30 minutes of exposition or whatever. It's all about prioritizing the viewer's experience, you know?
She definitely deserves it for all her hard work in keeping cinemas alive and thriving. Now if only more filmmakers would listen...