Cinema Exhibitors' Association

Cinema Exhibitors' Association
Abbreviation	CEA
Type	Trade association
Legal status	Non-profit company
Purpose/focus	Cinemas in the UK
Headquarters	22 Golden Square, Soho, W1F 9JW
Region served	UK
Membership	British cinema operators
Chief Executive	Phil Clapp
Website	CEA

The Cinema Exhibitors' Association (CEA, also known as the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association) is the national trade association for cinema operators in the United Kingdom. The CEA represents the interests of well over 90 per cent of UK cinema operators by number and market share.

Main activities

The CEA advocates on behalf of the UK cinema sector at international, national, regional and local level. It lobbies and works with Government at all levels, with other sectors of the film industry, particularly distribution, as well as working with others to promote the value of cinema to the wider public. In addition it provides advice and support to individual members on interpreting and adhering to legislation and regulation, and in dealing with day to day operational issues as appropriate.

Industry statistics

Like many trade associations, it gathers economic data on the industry it represents. The top three films ever in the UK are (in order): Avatar, Toy Story 3 and Mamma Mia!. In 2009, UK cinema turnover was around £1.2billion from around 900,000 cinema seats, at around 3,700 cinema screens at around 770 cinema sites. Total attendances are around 170 million. The top three chains have 62% of the number of screens.

Disability and the CEA Card

British cinemas have led the world in providing facilities and services for disabled people, both by making their buildings physically accessible and by installing equipment that enables audio described and sub-titled performances. The CEA also created The CEA Card for those disabled people who need the services of a carer if they want to visit the cinema. The card, which is recognised nationally, allows the carer to be admitted free of charge.

Vue cinema in Littlemore, south Oxford

Structure

It is situated in Golden Square, near Absolute Radio, just off Regent Street (A4201), and a short walk north of Piccadilly Circus tube station. It has seven regional branches. The previous Chief Executive was John Wilkinson. The CEA became a limited company on 3 June 2004.

Membership

CEA membership covers single screen/owner managed sites, small independent circuits and the largest circuit and multiplex operators including Odeon Cinemas, Cineworld, Vue Cinemas, Showcase Cinemas and Empire Cinemas. Members are able to benefit from discounts with key collecting societies such as Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and Video Performance Limited (VPL), and participate in marketing initiatives such as the Orange 'national advertising spot' deal.

See also

• Cinema of the United Kingdom
• British Society of Cinematographers
• Film Distributors' Association
• Cinema Advertising Association

Cineworld cinema in Hull

References

External links

• CEA web site
• List of CEA members
• CEA 2007 Annual Report
• Trade magazine for UK cinemas and film distribution

News items

• 3D films in September 2010
• DVDs in March 2010
• Bumper summer in April 2009
• Popcorn in August 2008
• Cinema boom in June 2003