Differences

The Digital Screen Network is a £12 million scheme, funded by the National Lottery, It has installed to 240 screens in 212 cinemas with state of the art digital projection facilities. As a result, viewers will be able to enjoy a wider range of films at their local cinema.

In return for the new technology, cinemas will show more specialised films including British films such as Control and Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten. films such as Black Gold; classics including Casablanca.

In 2005, around £300 million was spent on distributing and marketing all cinema releases in the UK but only £18 million, was spent on specialised films. The introduction of digital distribution will mean that films such as these will reach around 30 million people throughout the UK with an increase in specialised film screenings of up to 75,000 in the first year alone, rising to 165,000 in four years from now.

In contrast to this independent film companies have much less means of advertising and exhibitions compared to the mainstream films.