Loach attacks "closed off" cinema screens

Ken Loach has argued that British cinemas should show a wider range of films.

Speaking at the Cannes press conference for his new film Route Irish, the director claimed that the ease of making work available online should not stop people trying to improve the big screen.

Loach said: "We shouldn't accept the situation permanently that our cinema screens are closed off, not only to British independent films, but to world cinema. There's a such a narrow range of films that are shown on the popular screens in the multiplexes. We shouldn't accept it.

"Suppose the ownership of cinemas was like the ownership of theatres - owned by the municipalities - and maybe programmed by people who cared about films rather than people who cared about fast food."

He added: "That would be a really, really good change, and it would mean that we would have a diversity of films available for the ordinary filmgoer.

"If you live outside London in our country, you never see any of the films at the festival. Hardly any. Largely Robin Hood - many times. But the others you won't see.

"Don't just accept that we can use the new technology to get round an unacceptable fact - which is that the screens don't belong to us anymore."

> Click here for our review of 'Route Irish'