The UK Cinema Association, representing the interests of the vast majority of UK cinema operators, has today announced a partnership with digital identity provider Yoti, with participating sites now accepting the Yoti digital ID app as proof of age.

From today participating cinemas will accept the Yoti digital ID app, giving young people aged from 13 upwards a safer, more convenient way to prove their age using their smartphone – meaning that important ID documents such as passports can now be left at home. This modern solution will also reduce the challenges many cinemas face in checking ages, as required by the current film classification system.

Phil Clapp, CEO at the UK Cinema Association said:

“Of the 165 million to 170 million admissions per year UK cinemas were seeing pre-pandemic, around 30 per cent fall within the 15-24 year old bracket (and around 20 per cent within the 9-14 year old age group). Since cinemas re-opened last May those proportions are likely to be even higher.

For many wanting to get into a ‘15’ or even ‘18’ certificate film, proving their age – without a passport or driving licence to hand – can be incredibly difficult and an understandable source of frustration should they be turned away from the cinema. This new partnership offers a straightforward and modern way to reduce the likelihood of that happening.”

Kelly Drew, Operations Director at Cineworld said:

“With an increase in recent years in the number of films classified at ‘15’ but with a broader youth appeal, the issue of proving age is becoming increasingly challenging. The introduction of the Yoti app as a trusted and robust way of checking ID will support our staff, who are often on the receiving end of any resulting customer frustration.”

Robin Tombs, CEO and Co-founder at Yoti said:

“We’re thrilled to have many UK Cinema Association members join the 30,000 locations on the UK high street accepting our reusable digital ID apps. Young people expect to be able to do everything with their phone and using it to prove their age will come naturally to them. It’s a win-win for both cinemas and young cinema-goers.”

How Yoti works
The process to obtain and use the Yoti digital ID is simple, with the individual applicant being required to:

• Download the free Yoti (or partner’s Post Office EasyID app) app from Android Play or the Apple App Store
• Add a photo ID and a current photo to verify their identity.
• Open the Yoti app – tap to show the ID card and select age (no other personal details are shared)
• Present the ID card to cinema staff:
  • The Digital ID card will show the verified photo of the individual and their verified ‘Age Over…’
  • There is a hologram on the Digital ID card that moves when the phone is tilted – for anti-spoofing purposes
  • For further confidence, the cinema staff can scan the QR code on the card with a freely available web app scan.yoti.com

Yoti’s apps (including Post Office EasyID) have been downloaded over 11 million times globally and are already accepted by a wide range of organisations including the Jersey Government, Scottish Improvement Service, The NHS, Virgin Atlantic, NSPCC, convenience stores and many more.
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Media contacts

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Nikki Alvey, The PR Network on 07973 354 706 or James Connor, UK Cinema Association on 07725 501 422.

Notes to editors

UKCA canvassed the opinion of their 850 members which include all the major UK cinema operators (Vue, Cineworld, Odeon, Showcase Cinemas, PictureHouse and others) about the use of digital ID apps which was met with strong approval.

About the UK Cinema Association

The UK Cinema Association (UKCA) represents the interests of well over 90 per cent of UK cinema operators. Our members range from the largest cinema circuits to a wide range of single site owner-operated companies. The UKCA advocates on behalf of the UK cinema sector at international, national, regional and local level as well as working with other sectors of the industry, particularly colleagues in film distribution, to promote the value of cinema to the wider public and identify and share best practice.

About Yoti

• Yoti is a digital identity technology company that allows organisations to verify identities and trusted credentials online and in person.
• Yoti’s products span identity verification, age verification, document eSigning, access management, and authentication.
• Yoti’s digital ID app is accepted as proof of identity in over 30,000 UK High street locations including cinemas, Post Offices and convenience stores.
• In 2021 Yoti partnered with Post Office to deliver the UK’s most comprehensive identity service. Post Office EasyID app is interoperable with the Yoti digital ID app.
• Over 11 million people have downloaded the free Yoti app globally. Yoti is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian.
• Yoti is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 for ID Verification Services, ISAE 3000 (SOC 2) Type 2 certified for its technical and organisational security processes.
• For more information please visit www.yoti.com