Russians to enjoy Argentine cinema in Antarctica

Argentina confirmed on Tuesday that it will open the first movie theatre in Antarctica. It will be established next to the Russian base Bellingshausen.

The Argentine Cinema Institute and the Foreign Ministry of this South American nation signed on Tuesday a cooperation agreement aimed to build a cinema theatre in Antarctica, local authorities informed. The new cinema complex will be located next to the Russian base Bellingshausen, which is located in the 25 de Mayo Island, next to other settlements from Chile, Korea, Poland, Argentina, China, Uruguay and Brazil.

According to Argentine officials, the theatre will be opened in February 2005 and will count with 50 seats. The same sources explained they had chosen this area because it is close to several permanent scientific and technical settlements belonging to the countries mentioned above.

The program will be composed of Argentine films, only, which will be subtitled into English. The theatre will have a reception hall, and all the usual facilities of a movie complex.

The Argentine film industry has seen a big jump in the last three years, thanks to the low costs of productions according to international standards. Recently, the National Congress passed a law establishing screen quotas to protect the local industry from foreign productions.