Vue Cinemas UK move into distribution after Hollywood strikes limit film supply

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Europe’s largest privately owned cinema operator Vue International is moving into film distribution following a lack of supply after the Hollywood strikes.

The company set up a distribution arm in the UK last month with the goal of rolling out British, foreign and independent films on its own screens and those of rivals. Vue also announced during the Cannes Film Festival last month that it would team up with UK producers Andy Paterson and Annalise Davis, and virtual production company Dimension Studio, in a project to distribute films they produce. “Because of the Hollywood strikes, we are suffering this year with a number of movies, [as] we have a supply issue,” chief executive Tim Richards told the Financial Times. “As a consequence, we thought it was a very opportune time to start bringing our own movies in.”

He added that Vue would eventually expand its distribution business to continental Europe and that it was hiring for the business.

Moving into distribution is a relatively unusual move for a cinema chain, but the new arm will allow Vue to gain greater control of films after a period of limited supply.