IN LIEU OF VPF WAIVED OFF FOR 2 WEEKS, BHARATHIRAJAA UPDATES ON NEW DEEPAVALI RELEASES

Very recently, Qube had announced that the VPF fee will be waived off for about two weeks. The press release read as such:

Qube Cinema, a leading provider of end-to-end digital cinema technology solutions, has announced a 100% waiver of Virtual Print Fee (VPF) for the month of November 2020 for all filmmakers to help release new movies post the lockdown. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought cinema production and distribution to a grinding halt. As different industries are slowly resuming business, Qube believes that it is imperative that all stakeholders in the industry support each other during the revival.

Qube is of the understanding that providing this full discount on VPF would enable producers and exhibitors release new movies during the festive Diwali season, help kickstart cinema operations and finally get the industry back on its feet again. Only charges for logistics of content delivery and key management, both for DCI and E-Cinema content, will be applicable.

Qube wishes everyone a happy and prosperous Diwali and hopes to see audiences celebrating in style back at the theatres.

Now, Bharathirajaa has reacted to the same and said that while it’s welcome that such a step has been taken, new Deepavali releases will be screened only for the time the VPF is waived off.

You can view the press release in its entirety below.

Earlier, while speaking of the VPF, the veteran director had said in a letter that they would only be able to remit a one-time payment to these digital companies for mastering, cloning and delivery. Theatre owners need to pay the lease vis-a-vis projection facilities. Producers can’t foot this bill.

We will have to wait and watch as to what answer the digital media companies have in store for the above mentioned announcement.