Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

PARAMOUNT THEATRE CLOSED - AGAIN

Kamloops Film Society feels household movie screenings should join approved activities list

Mar 4, 2021 | 4:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — Several weeks ago Interior Health allowed the Kamloops Film Society to host private bookings at the Paramount Theatre.

But KFS Executive Director Dušan Magdolen says this week the health authority called to say these screenings were no longer permitted.

“Basically, they said watching any movie in any sort of circumstance in a theatre this way is considered an event, and events are not allowed right now, so that was the reason they were taking that (permission) back.”

The society says it is not against following provincial health guidelines and recognizes the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Magdolen feels having six people from the same household in either the 507-seat theatre or the 270-seat theatre should be included with other approved activities.

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“I think it’s the tier we fall into. And that’s the part we’d love to have changed, is we would love to be in that tier with pubs and restaurants,” he says. “It’s not an ‘us versus restaurants and pubs’ or anything like that. Most of those are small businesses as well just trying to survive.”

There were roughly 30 bookings that have now been cancelled, which means the theatre will miss out on several thousand dollars in revenue.

“It was getting the theatre going again, we were able to give our staff some shifts, and the theatre was being used again to enjoy movies and some video games — which is what we want,” said Magdolen.

Under provincial health orders, movies fall under the definition of an in-person event. This means until B.C. restrictions are lifted, the Paramount Theatre will remain empty.

“So unfortunately now we’ve got nothing going on until we can get things going for the Film Festival in late April.”

Magdolen says more details will come out this month about the Kamloops Film Festival which, pending any provincial changes, will fit within health guidelines.