British theaters to go digital

Britain took aim at the ubiquitous Hollywood blockbuster Monday by enlisting the latest digital technology to broaden the reach of independent films that often struggle to win wide distribution.

The UK Film Council, a government-funded body, said it planned to equip 150 theaters across the country with digital projectors in exchange for a guarantee that the equipment will be used to show smaller-budget, foreign and classic films. Only nine have that capacity now.

“What we want to do is give audiences more choice,” said a UK Film Council spokeswoman.

“The evidence is clear that audiences want a greater range of films at their local cinema. They don’t always want to go and see the Hollywood blockbuster,” she added.

Because of the high cost and limited production of traditional 35-millimeter prints, theaters are often unwilling or unable to screen small-budget and lesser-known films that may not pull in big enough crowds to make a profit. But at a fraction of the cost, digital copies reduce the financial risk and can be produced more easily and in much greater numbers.