City to Implement New Standard for Film Industry

The Addis Abeba Bureau of Culture and Tourism will begin implementing new standards for film and theatre beginning May 28, 2013. The Cultural and Tourism Service Providers Licensing and Registration Regulation passed in January of this year.The Bureau had been enforcing regulations that were passed in June 2009 that officials said were not effective. The new standards primarily focus the spotlight on the music and film industries but also affect tourism in general.

Among the new requirements, cinemas now have to build multiple fire exits that are able to accommodate the number of seats in each viewing space. Additionally, chairs within the spaces have to be placed at equal and measured intervals, catering to the comfort of paying customers.

According to Fortune’s sources that are close to the issue, cinemas that clearly did not meet standards were previously permitted to operate with the understanding that they would fulfil the necessary requirements once they had been passed as law.

“The previous regulations did not take into consideration the development of the industries in the country,” Abebe Sahelu, Legal Drafting & Research officer of the Bureau told Fortune.

Of the 270 film producers registered by the Bureau only 35 met the set standards.
Source: AddisFortune.com