UPDATED After 12 years operating in the Algarve, SBC Cinemas at the Forum Algarve shopping centre in Faro closed down on Sunday, July 6. But the cinemas will not remain closed for long and “will be reopening soon under new management and with improved infrastructures”, the shopping centre’s press officer told the Resident this week.
Nuno Mendão confirmed that SBC “was not able to finance the renovation work Forum Algarve wanted to carry out in the cinema theatres,” and thus it closed doors.
In a short official statement, SBC International Cinemas simply said “the cinema is no longer part of our long-term plans” and thanked all its “clients and employees” who supported the company for the 12 years the cinema was open in Faro, saying “we share their sorrow”.
With the closure of the Forum Algarve cinema hall, which included nine theatres and employed 30 staff members – who are now unemployed – Faro loses its only cinemas. The nearest cinema screens can be found in Olhão at the Ria Shopping Centre.
The crisis now affecting SBC Cinemas follows a series of cinema closures in Portugal in 2012 and 2013 when the Socorama-Castello Lopes film distributor closed down dozens of theatres.
The majority, however, were later reopened by Brazilian group Orient, under the name of Cineplace, including in Portimão and Guia.
According to recent data, the number of moviegoers in Portugal has dropped nearly 25% since 2011.
By Michael Bruxo
