The Kamloops Film Society says it has to pull the plug – once again – on private screenings at Paramount Theatre less than a month after it resumed.

Executive Director Dusan Magdolen says they were told by Interior Health that movie screenings are currently restricted under the provincial health orders.

“Interior Health gave us the permission but they probably shouldn’t have,” he told NL News. “It sort of opened up a bit of a can of worms in that movie theatres were looking to do the same thing. I’m not sure, but basically they let us know that they were revoking that permission, effective immediately.”

Private screenings at the Paramount Theatre had been cancelled since November 24 when B.C. brought in restrictions on movie theatres. It briefly resumed in early February before today’s announcement.

Magdolen says he’s disappointed by gaps in the provincial orders that allow restaurants to operate with limited capacity but not places like movie theatres. But he notes it does not mean he wants restaurants to have to close as well as he says all businesses are struggling because of the pandemic.

“The venue that’s making it really clear is the Rio Theatre [in Vancouver] where 50 people coming in spaced out to watch the Canucks game is okay, but 50 people to come watch a movie in the same movie is not okay,” Magdolen added. “There’s clearly inconsistencies in the rules currently.”

“The gap seems really weird. We got a little bit of ground back by being able to have at least six people, which in a 500 person theatre is still a little bit crazy, but at least we were able to do something. So for that to get pulled away is definitely disappointing.”

People who had private screenings booked in the days and weeks ahead will be contacted by the Kamloops Film Society.