The council of ministers has approved a decree to regulate the second edition of the Cine Senior program. This initiative will allow nearly 9.5 million people aged 65 and over to watch films on Tuesdays at a reduced price of 2 euros. The measure aims to sustain cinema attendance among seniors, a group that faced significant challenges during the pandemic and whose engagement has struggled to rebound fully in the years that followed.
To support the program, direct subsidies totaling 12 million euros will be allocated to cinema venues, a sum that is 2 million more than the previous year when the scheme operated between July and December. These subsidies are designed to lower operating costs for theaters and encourage more screenings tailored to senior audiences on a weekly basis.
During a press conference after the cabinet meeting, the culture minister emphasized the initial edition of Cine Senior as a genuine success. He cited a 49% rise in Tuesday cinema attendance compared with the prior year, climbing from 2.7 million to 4 million viewers. Officials noted that the growth on Tuesdays outpaced attendance on other days of the week, underscoring the program’s impact on audience diversity and box office dynamics.
Data from FECE, the national federation of cinema exhibitors, show that nearly one million senior filmgoers benefited from the 2023 edition. The detailed figures indicate 924,724 seniors took advantage of the program, representing about a quarter of the total 3,663,676 admissions covered by the initiative. This demonstrates the program’s reach and its potential to contribute meaningfully to the sector’s revenue stream while promoting cultural access for older adults.
The minister also recalled that cinema was among the cultural sectors most affected by the pandemic and one of the slowest to recover. The declines in senior audiences compounded financial pressures for theaters already navigating a challenging post-pandemic landscape. In light of these realities, adopting Cine Senior is framed as both cultural support and a broader economic measure meant to stabilize a sector deemed vital to the country’s cultural life and regional economies.
As part of the policy rationale, officials described Cine Senior as a strategic investment that supports a key cultural industry and the broader economy. The program is positioned as a bridge to maintain accessibility for older residents while sustaining jobs and cultural infrastructure across cinema circuits.
In a notable update for this edition, ticket purchases can be made through traditional box offices at participating venues as well as through electronic channels. This new convenience is intended to streamline access for seniors, many of whom may prefer online options or familiar, in-person service when buying discounted tickets.
From the overall budget, 11,750,000 euros will be dedicated to subsidies, while 250,000 euros will go toward compensation for the collaborating entity. The spending will be charged to the budget of the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales, the national body overseeing cinema and audiovisual arts. Within the subsidy envelope, a maximum of 10 million euros is slated for the actual grant of subsidies, with a reserve of up to 1,750,000 euros to address potential increases in demand beyond the initially projected level.
Once the call for proposals opens, cinemas will have a seven-day window to apply for the subsidy. Officials expect the program to be operational from late April or early May, ensuring that theaters can align their schedules with the new funding cycle and continue to offer accessible pricing to senior patrons on Tuesdays.