Blitz-Cinestar, a new joint venture between Croatian distributor, Blitz Film & Video Distribution and German exhibitor, Cinestar/Kieft & Kieft, is to open Croatia's first multiplex this autumn.

The multiplex, Cinestar Zagreb will have 13 state-of-the art screens over two floors with a total seating capacity of 2,954. All theatres will be equipped with wall-to-wall screens, Dolby Digital and DTS sound systems as well as stadium seating, and 'love seats', which allow for double occupancy.

As for the other countries of former Yugoslavia, there are currently only three multiplexes: two in Slovenia (12 screens in Ljubljana and seven in Celje) and one in Serbia (five screens in Belgrade).

The official opening of the multiplex will take place by the end of September. The founding partners believe it will bring new life to theatrical business in Croatia, which, due to outdated equipment in a vast majority of existing theatres, has been on extreme decline for the past ten years.

The number of cinemas in Croatia increased by just one in 2000 to 142 cinemas with 146 screens. Admissions for the year were 2.74 million for a population of 4.5 million.