Vigilant members of staff from cinemas across the UK were formally recognised last week for their work in disrupting and preventing film piracy.
The ten staff members were handed their rewards at a presentation in Central London, hosted by the Film Content Protection Agency (FCPA). The FCPA was formed last year by the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) as a specialist unit dedicated to safeguarding theatrical releases in the UK.
The recipients included employees from Cineworld, Vue, Showcase and Light Cinemas, with each receiving a financial reward. Collectively they represented eight incidents, four of which led to arrests and four to formal police cautions.
Their efforts helped to protect UK releases including La La Land, T2: Trainspotting, Fifty Shades Darker and Trolls.
With an estimated 90 per cent of pirated films being sourced directly from cinemas around the world, the FCPA programme supports and safeguards the UK film industry and ultimately the choices available to film-goers themselves.
Welcoming the rewards ceremony, Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE, President of Film Distributors’ Association, said:
“The UK is one of the largest film markets in the world, with many films opening here first or simultaneously with other territories. Vigilance in screenings is extremely important – in no small measure, the industry’s current and future wellbeing relies upon it. So on behalf of UK film distributors, I’m delighted to congratulate and thank the recipients for their continued commitment, which has helped to safeguard so many films on their theatrical release.”
Simon Brown, Director of FCPA, added:
“I’m very pleased to welcome the award recipients from all corners of the UK. As well as acknowledging the successful interventions of recent months, we’ll highlight the very attractive line-up of forthcoming releases and ask for continued high levels of vigilance to help deter copyright theft and infringement.”