The Azadi Cinema Complex in Tehran announced on Tuesday that henceforth, its theaters will offer free admission every day for the first screening.

The decision has been made to encourage people to watch films at theaters, complex director Reza Saeidi told the Persian service of MNA.

“Other institutions and organizations should get on board with some promotional activities to draw people into theaters,” he added.

He said that the culture of going to see movies should be restored to provide economic benefits for the cinema industry.

“There were 500 theaters in Iran before the victory of the Islamic Revolution and people used to line up in front of the theaters to watch films. But today, only 200 theaters are active in Iran and people seldom go to see films at theaters,” Saeidi stated.

Iranian institutions concerned with cinema have conducted many promotional activities get people to return to theaters.

Factors such as easy access to free download of the latest Iranian and foreign films and TV series from Internet, the severe depression in the society, and weak domestic productions have stifled movie attendance in Iran over the past five years.

News ID 186936