Open-air cinemas are a familiar scene in the summer evenings of Greece. But this year, they have seen a declining number of visitors amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic. For over 30 years, the Mouzakioti family has run the Zephyros cinema established in 1932 in the heart of nature, surrounded by the fragrance of Jasmine and the sound of cicadas.
"We used to open the cinema's doors on Easter Sunday," owner of the cinema Georgia Mouzakioti told AFP. However, this year the opening was postponed to the first of June. Konstandina Mouzakioti, Georgia's daughter and manager of Zephyros said: "I don't like this situation. It's not a time of joy."
The mother complained that the investment period is much shorter than it was in the previous years due to the imposed health measures including the sterilization after every show, marks on the ground, fewer seats, and mandatory face masks for employees.
"The cinema accommodates 250 people, however, this year we are hosting only 125 visitors to ensure social distancing," said Georgia Mouzakioti, noting that "tourists are few, and elderlies cannot come. It is a difficult phase."
Greeks, as well as tourists, love to spend summer evenings in open-air cinemas. But the ongoing pandemic, which caused 5600 cases and 213 deaths so far, has significantly affected the industry. Although the mother and her daughter say the sales are similar to those of the past year, the figures reflect a different reality.
In June and July, 356,000 tickets were sold in local cinemas (indoor and outdoor theaters), compared with 1.3 million in the same period last year, according to data by the Greek Film Center.
The turnout has been affected by the imposed measures limiting the number of visitors, and the fears from contracting the infection, in addition to the declining cinema productions in past months.
"The important titles that were expected to attract the audience have been delayed," says Christos Katselos from the Greek Film Center.
"Open-air cinemas have also been affected by the video streaming platforms, which have seen a massive demand during the lockdown," suggests Katselos. Andreas Kontarakis, manager of open-air cinemas Karmen, Stella, and Dafni believes that "all the new movies have failed to attract cinema lovers."
