UK CINEMA STAFF REWARDED FOR KEEPING FILMS SAFE

London, 1 March 2013 --- Cash rewards of thousands of pounds have been presented to 13 staff members from cinemas across the UK who intervened successfully to prevent illegal recordings of films including SKYFALL, TED, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and THE HOBBIT.

The 13 vigilant staff members were active in 12 separate incidents in UK cinemas during the autumn/winter season, six of which involved attempts to record SKYFALL from the screen. All 12 incidents were reported to local police, resulting in two arrests.

The rewards scheme is part of a wide-ranging theatrical protection programme, funded by UK film distributors via Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) since 2006. It also provides vital extra resources for the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) to support cinema exhibitors’ staff training; an on-going supply of night vision devices to help cinema staff deter recording attempts in situ; and an education campaign including school resources on copyright.

The impact of this programme may be measured by the fact that no pirated recordings were sourced to a UK cinema release in 2012. Yet worldwide, illegal recordings from cinemas remain the single biggest source of both counterfeit DVDs and unauthorised copies online. All it takes is one digital copy which can be duplicated swiftly at minimal cost.

Callum McDougall, Executive Producer of SKYFALL, said, “The success of a film such as Skyfall is due to all those who worked on it and whose jobs depend on there being continued investment in new films. On behalf of all the cast and crew we are delighted with the outstanding efforts made by cinema staff in tackling the criminal activity of recording films illegally.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added, “Cinema staff are the frontline in protecting films from being pirated and I am always pleased to be able to recognise their work. FACT’s strategy funded by the film distributors seeks to prevent pirate copies being made, distributed and accessed and that is why we continue to work together with UK cinema operators to ensure recordings do not get made and to support the success of the cinema experience.”

Mark Batey, Chief Executive of the FDA, said, “Cinema is fantastically buoyant and maintains its position as the powerhouse of the film industry in the UK. The big screen experience continues to offer the public a really attractive night out with a wide diversity of films on offer as more than 600 titles were released last year. The success of FACT’s content protection programme working with distributors supports the success of great films from ARGO and LIFE OF PI to SKYFALL and THE HOBBIT to achieve their full potential to engage with cinema audiences across the UK.”

The film industry contributes to ‘UK plc’ in many ways including supporting 117,000 jobs, while films depicting the UK generate approximately 10% of the revenues from overseas tourism. Overall, the film industry contributes over £4.6 billion to UK GDP and more than £1.3 billion to the Exchequer according to independent research by Oxford Economics in 2012.

One of the world’s most important markets for film, the UK accounted for 7% of global cinema box-office receipts in 2012. This enduring success is underpinned by FDA/FACT’s content protection programme, which aims to make the UK as safe and secure an environment in which to release films as possible. Distributors brought 646 feature films to UK cinemas last year, more than ever before. Ultimately the sector can only be safeguarded through the co-operation and diligence of cinema staff on the front line and today the UK is one of the best protected countries.

Awards summary

• 13 cinema employees received awards for their actions.
• 6 of the 12 incidents involved attempts to record SKYFALL
• All incidents were reported to the Police
• 2 incidents led to arrests
• 2 incidents led to cautions in police custody
• 3 led to exclusion orders and 1 prohibited access order

Since 2006 the Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) and the Film Distributors’ Association (‘FDA’) have operated a training, prevention and reward scheme across all UK cinemas. FACT works closely with cinema operators to ensure that staff are trained to detect and prevent recordings, as well as assisting in raising awareness with police on this issue so they are able to assist when called to an incident.

The FACT/FDA programme has engaged the support of exhibitors UK-wide. It has achieved great success in reducing the number of recordings taken from UK cinemas, making the UK one of the best protected countries.

Each individual receiving a reward - in many cases matched by a similar amount from their employing company - did so as a result of the FDA-funded scheme available to any member of cinema staff involved in the successful apprehension of film thieves.

Further details on the scheme - and more information on the fight against film theft - can be found at www.fightfilmtheft.org.uk

The Federation Against Copyright Theft is the UK’s leading trade organisation established to protect and represent the interests of audio-visual and sports rights owners against copyright and trademark infringements.

Established in 1983, FACT works closely with statutory law enforcement agencies to combat the growth of online/internet based piracy of film and other forms of broadcast material as well as the continuing threat from pirate DVDs.
More information: www.fact-uk.org.uk

Film Distributors’ Association is the trade body promoting the generic interests of UK theatrical film distributors. FDA’s membership of 22 companies accounts for 97% of UK cinemagoing.
More information: www.launchingfilms.com

UK CINEMA STAFF REWARDED FOR PREVENTING PIRACY

17 employees from cinemas across the UK have been presented with awards totalling over £7,000 for their efforts in preventing illegal recordings taking place. Illegal recordings of films are the primary source for pirate copies worldwide - recordings are uploaded to the internet and made available within hours to millions of people. Film piracy in the UK alone costs legitimate businesses over half a billion pounds a year and directly threatens the jobs of tens of thousands of people who work across the film sector.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) operates a training, prevention and reward scheme for UK cinemas funded and supported by Film Distributors’ Association (‘FDA’).

FACT works closely with cinema operators to ensure that staff are trained to detect and prevent recordings, as well as assisting in raising awareness with police on this issue so they are able to assist when called to an incident. Night vision devices supplied by FDA form part of the best practice deterrence, as digital recording equipment is not easy to spot.

The FACT/FDA programme has engaged the support and co-operation of exhibitors UK-wide. It has achieved great success in reducing the number of recordings taken from UK cinemas, making the UK one of the most secure environments for releasing movies.

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said that the actions of those present today had prevented the recording of films and that those recordings would then have been uploaded to the internet and made available to millions of people globally, harming the livelihoods of industry employees as well as the prospects of the films affected.

Mark Batey, FDA Chief Executive, said: “FDA congratulates the cinema staff receiving their due rewards today, and thanks them for their vigilance at the sharp end of the business. The better protected a release territory is, the more likely it is to attract innovation and further new content – so the work of our partners at FACT and colleagues across exhibition is important and appreciated.”

Awards summary

• 14 cinema employees received awards for their actions.
• All 12 incidents were reported to the police.
• Four incidents led to arrests
• Three led to formal cautions in police custody
• One led to an instant fine by the police

Three awards were presented to winners of a quiz on www.fightfilmtheft.org.uk At a specially-convened ceremony at Warner Bros, London, each received a cheque for their part in deterring attempted recordings at their cinema.

Awards were presented to:

• Empire Slough from Salimah Azim Adatia
• Empire Slough from Muhammad Imran Wattoo
• Cineworld Aberdeen Queen’s Link from Spencer Owen
• Vue North Finchley from Rachel Hewer
• Odeon Bournemouth from Destiny Okoh
• Empire Newcastle from Victoria Landale
• Cineworld Leigh from Stephanie Mortimore
• Cineworld Leigh from Kevin King
• Cineworld Wandsworth from Parthiban Subburaj
• Cineworld Wandsworth from Siddharthayappan Rajkumar
• Vue Wood Green from Grishma Bam
• Empire Newcastle from Danielle Carver
• Odeon Manchester from Richard Brammer
• Odeon Manchester from Paul Bannister
• Cineworld Weymouth from Gemma Humphreys
• Cineworld Boldon from Paul Whale
• Odeon Blackpool from Rebecca Cartwright

Each individual receiving a reward - in many cases matched by a similar amount from their employing company - did so as a result of the FDA-funded scheme available to any member of UK cinema staff involved in the successful apprehension of film thieves.

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said: "The FACT/FDA reward scheme is now in its fifth year and has paid out many thousands of pounds to cinema staff who have worked diligently to prevent illegal recordings. Those present today have come from across the UK, showing that the threat is widespread but that proactive engagement from those working in cinemas is having a major impact.I am delighted to be able to acknowledge and reward their achievements."

UK CINEMA STAFF REWARDED FOR PREVENTING PIRACY

Earlier this year I got sent over information about an award ceremony from FACT and FDA. Now I have been sent a second one with a new set of awards to cinema staff showing that it's becoming less easy to sneak a camera into a blockbuster and then get it on the internet.

11 employees from cinemas across the UK have been presented with awards totalling £7,000 for their efforts in preventing illegal recordings (so called ‘camcordings’) taking place.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) and the Film Distributors’ Association (‘FDA’) operate a training, prevention and reward scheme for all UK cinemas. Illegal recordings of films are the primary source for pirate copies worldwide - recordings are uploaded to the internet and made available within hours to millions of people. Film piracy in the UK alone costs legitimate businesses over half a billion pounds a year and directly threatens the jobs of tens of thousands of people who work across the film sector.

FACT works closely with cinema operators to ensure that staff are trained to detect and prevent such recordings, as well as assisting in raising awareness with police on this issue so they are able to assist when called to an incident.

FACT/FDA programme has engaged the support of exhibitors UK-wide. It has achieved great success in reducing the number of recordings taken from UK cinemas, making the UK one of the best protected countries.

Awards summary

• 11 cinema employees are due to receive awards for their actions
• All the incidents were reported to the police
• 5 incidents led to arrests (6 people arrested)
• 3 led to formal cautions in police custody
• 1 led to a landmark first ‘camcording’ conviction in Scotland in July 2011
• 1 is still on bail and pending further action by police

A first-ever reward is being made to an employee (chief projectionist) from an Independent Cinema – The Regent at Leven, Fife.

At a specially-convened ceremony at Paramount Pictures, London, each received a cheque for several hundred pounds for their part in thwarting attempts to record films at their cinema.

All present received a warm welcome and congratulations from FDA Chief Executive Mark Batey who thanked all the award recipients for their vigilance and use of night vision devices, especially when digital recording devices are not easy to spot.

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said that no-one should be in any doubt about the increasing sophistication of those trying to record films, and the increasing difficulty that detecting them presented to cinema staff. The success of those present was therefore particularly worth celebrating, he said, adding:

"These rewards prove the ongoing commitment from everyone working in the film sector to combat piracy. A recording captured in a cinema is the primary source for illicit online files and pirate DVDs and cinema staff are on the front line of the fight; continuing to prevent such recordings in the UK. I am delighted to be able to acknowledge and reward their achievements."
Awards were presented to:

• Richard Rhodes from Odeon Preston
• Rebecca Ashton from Odeon Rochdale
• Daniel McGrath from Empire Bishops Stortford
• Solitaire Bascombe-Short from Cineworld Bexleyheath
• Charles Ellis from Regent Leven Fife
• Fayez Shuray from Odeon Rochdale
• Theo Griffiths from Odeon Birmingham
• Farooq Alamgir from Cineworld Ilford
• Richard Ricketts from Cineworld Wood Green
• Vickie Garner from Junction Goole
• Mike Wiles from Cineworld Renfrew St

Each individual receiving a reward - in many cases matched by a similar amount from their employing company - did so as a result of the FDA-funded scheme available to any member of cinema staff involved in the successful apprehension of film thieves.

CINEMA STAFF REWARDED FOR PREVENTING PIRACY

This is something that just hit my in-box.  I was always a bit cynical about the chances of being caught recording a new film at the cinema.  This is only a small snapshot with the FACT/FDA awards but it does show that cinema staff do take this seriously.  There are images of the event at the bottom of the page.

11 employees from cinemas across the UK have been presented with awards totalling £2,900 for their efforts in preventing illegal recordings (so called ‘camcordings’) taking place.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) and the Film Distributors’ Association (‘FDA’) operate a training, prevention and reward scheme for all UK cinemas. Illegal recordings of films are the primary source for pirate copies worldwide - recordings are uploaded to the internet and made available within hours to millions of people. Film piracy in the UK alone costs legitimate businesses over half a billion pounds a year and directly threatens the jobs of tens of thousands of people who work across the film sector.

FACT works closely with cinema operators to ensure that staff are trained to detect and prevent such recordings, as well as assisting in raising awareness with police on this issue so they are able to assist when called to an incident.

• 9 camcording incidents are represented
• Police attended all of them
• 2 incidents led to arrests
• 7 incidents led to police cautions at the scene
• 2 led to formal cautions in custody

11 members of cinema-staff are due to receive awards (there are 2 x joint rewards)

At a specially-convened ceremony at Paramount Pictures, London, each received a cheque for several hundred pounds for their part in thwarting attempts to record films at their cinema.

All present received a warm welcome and congratulations from FDA Chief Executive Mark Batey who thanked all the award recipients for their vigilance and use of night vision devices, especially when digital recording devices are not easy to spot.

FACT’s Director of Business, Jim Angell, said that no-one should be in any doubt about the increasing sophistication of those trying to record films, and the increasing difficulty that detecting them presented to cinema staff. The success of those present was therefore particularly worth celebrating, he said, adding:

"These rewards prove the ongoing commitment from everyone working in the film sector to combat piracy. A recording captured in a cinema is the primary source for illicit online files and pirate DVDs and cinema staff are on the front line of the fight; continuing to prevent such recordings in the UK. I am delighted to be able to acknowledge and reward their achievements."

Awards were presented to:

• CALUM BARTOLI - Empire Newcastle
• DOLLY BHATTI - Vue Birmingham
• KERRY BURKES, OLIVER COLLS, JENNY GEARY & CHELSEA GORDON - Cineworld Bexleyheath
• MD- MINHAZUR CHOWDHURY & AMINE MENADLI - Cineworld Wood Green
• LIAM SLATER - Cineworld Ashton
• GINA HAWKINS - Odeon Nuneaton
• CARL LEWIS - Cineworld Wood Green

Each individual receiving a reward - in many cases matched by a similar amount from their employing company - did so as a result of the FDA-funded scheme available to any member of cinema staff involved in the successful apprehension of film thieves.
Further details on the scheme - and more information on the fight against film theft - can be found at www.fightfilmtheft.org.uk

About FACT
The Federation Against Copyright Theft is the UK’s leading trade organisation established to protect and represent the interests of audio-visual and sports rights owners against copyright and trademark infringements. Established in 1983, FACT works closely with statutory law enforcement agencies to combat the growth of online/internet based piracy of film and other forms of broadcast material as well as the continuing threat from pirate DVDs.
More information: www.fact-uk.org.uk

About FDA
Film Distributors’ Association is the trade body promoting the generic interests of UK theatrical film distributors. FDA’s membership of 22 companies accounts for 97% of UK cinemagoing.
More information: www.launchingfilms.com