Bowing down to pressure from producers and distributors and also in order to show solidarity with the film industry which is just about limping back to normalcy after the lockdown, UFO Moviez yesterday (9th November) announced that it would waive the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) and the Content Delivery Charge (CDC) for all new films released this month (November). The VPF has long been a bone of contention between cinemas, digital projection system companies (like UFO) and producers/distributors. The fight over VPF came to the forefront after cinemas reopened as producers and distributors demanded the long-standing abolition of the same. However, multiplexes and digital projection system companies pleaded inability to waive the same, citing huge losses during the lockdown closure of cinemas for seven months.
The VPF has long been a bone of contention between cinemas, digital projection system companies (like UFO) and producers/distributors.
Since neither party was ready to budge, producers refused to announce their new film releases. Their logic was that if they had to release their new films in cinemas in the face of diminished footfalls, they deserved to get the VPF concession, at least. After a lot of going back and forth, UFO Moviez took the lead in announcing that it would not charge VPF for all films released in the month of November. Other digital projection system companies will, of course, toe the UFO line. National multiplex chains like PVR, Inox and Cinepolis are expected to follow suit either in toto or on similar lines. For the uninitiated, the three national multiplex chains have installed their own digital projection systems in their properties and, therefore, the VPF is pocketed by them for all those properties.
National multiplex chains like PVR, Inox and Cinepolis are expected to follow suit either in toto or on similar lines.
Of course, logistics and licence/KDM management charges of Rs. 1,500 per film per property for delivery of non-DCI content and of Rs. 2,000 for DCI content will be charged by UFO alongwith applicable taxes.
P.S.: Real Image has also waived VPF on the lines of UFO.
