Movie ticket price climbs in Iran

TEHRAN,March 7(MNA) – Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance approved of a 50% increase in cinema ticket price in spring 2012 during the session held at Iran’s Screening Council. The Tehran theaters Azadi, Mellat, Javan, Zendegi and Farhang will sell movie tickets at 60,000 rials (4.8$) in the coming year (beginning on March 21), spokesman of the council Habib Kavosh told . He added that the price of a ticket in excellent theaters would be 40,000 rials (about $3.20) and for number one halls, tickets would be sold at 30,000 rials (about $2.40). The theaters across the country will also implement the increase, he said. Kavosh called high expenses in running a theater the major factor for the increase and added that like previous years, the halls will continue offering tickets with a 50% discount on Tuesdays. Culture Ministry’s Supervision and Evaluation Office (SEO) Director Alireza Sajjadpur regarded the increase as quite normal, saying that ticket prices had remained constant over the past two years. “We agree with the concept, and this increase is only for modern theaters. I don’t think the price of anything has remained unaffected over the past years, so this is normal,” he added. However, the manager of Farhang Theater Ali Hirbod believes the high ticket prices will lead to a drop in the number of the moviegoers, “we can not expect a good number of moviegoers in Noruz this year.” Director of the Society of Iranian Theater Owners Mohammad Ashrafi also said that the society has plans to increase the number of the days of offering half-price tickets during the week.