France has set aside $5.6b to support cultural sector in wake of pandemic.
Veteran centre-right politician Roselyne Bachelot has been announced as France’s new minister of culture, becoming the fifth person to take-up the portfolio in five years.
She arrives in the post as the country’s culture sector faces its most challenging period since World War Two due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a recent study by the French culture ministry, revenue for the entire sector has fallen by 25%, or $25bn (€22.3bn), in the wake of the pandemic and national lockdown.
Prior to the outbreak of the virus,...
Veteran centre-right politician Roselyne Bachelot has been announced as France’s new minister of culture, becoming the fifth person to take-up the portfolio in five years.
She arrives in the post as the country’s culture sector faces its most challenging period since World War Two due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a recent study by the French culture ministry, revenue for the entire sector has fallen by 25%, or $25bn (€22.3bn), in the wake of the pandemic and national lockdown.
Prior to the outbreak of the virus,...
- 7/7/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦69¦
- ScreenDaily
Upi France, Memento, Pyramide and Arizona reveals strategies after three-month hiatus.
France’s 2,000 cinemas will begin reopening their doors today (Monday June 22) after a 14-week closure which was enforced on March 14 as part of the country’s Covid-19 pandemic lockdown measures. The country’s theatres have never gone dark for such a prolonged period in the 120-year history of cinema, not even during World War Two,
“The large majority of cinemas will reopen, those remaining closed, are mainly those that tend to shut over the summer in any case, but it’s very marginal,” said Marc-Olivier Sebbag, managing director of...
France’s 2,000 cinemas will begin reopening their doors today (Monday June 22) after a 14-week closure which was enforced on March 14 as part of the country’s Covid-19 pandemic lockdown measures. The country’s theatres have never gone dark for such a prolonged period in the 120-year history of cinema, not even during World War Two,
“The large majority of cinemas will reopen, those remaining closed, are mainly those that tend to shut over the summer in any case, but it’s very marginal,” said Marc-Olivier Sebbag, managing director of...
- 6/22/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦69¦
- ScreenDaily
France’s movie theaters will be allowed to re-open from June 22, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced this evening. This is earlier than expected, as French Culture Minister Franck Riester said this week that cinemas were eyeing a July 1 re-start. The decision was made in concert with the industry, Philippe said in a televised address, in order to allow exhibitors and distributors to organize concerted national campaigns. Social distancing measures will be in place, though Philippe did not elaborate.
Riester had noted earlier this week, “Cinemas absolutely must open at the same time in all regions in order to amortize distribution costs and so that the French people know which films are playing.” There is expected to be reduced capacity at screenings, without necessarily a physical separation in the strict sense. Movie theaters have been closed since mid-March throughout the country.
There won’t be any new studio product until July in the avid European major,...
Riester had noted earlier this week, “Cinemas absolutely must open at the same time in all regions in order to amortize distribution costs and so that the French people know which films are playing.” There is expected to be reduced capacity at screenings, without necessarily a physical separation in the strict sense. Movie theaters have been closed since mid-March throughout the country.
There won’t be any new studio product until July in the avid European major,...
- 5/28/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Cinemas question whether there will be films to screen once they reopen.
France’s exhibitors could learn this week whether the French government will allow the reopening of cinemas as part of the second phase of its easing of lockdown measures implemented in mid-March to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Prime minister Edouard Philippe is due to announce details of this second phase, scheduled to begin on June 2, on Thursday (May 28) following a cabinet meeting, according to local media reports.
Exhibitors and distributors are hoping Philippe will give the greenlight for the country’s 2,045 cinemas to start up their activities.
France’s exhibitors could learn this week whether the French government will allow the reopening of cinemas as part of the second phase of its easing of lockdown measures implemented in mid-March to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Prime minister Edouard Philippe is due to announce details of this second phase, scheduled to begin on June 2, on Thursday (May 28) following a cabinet meeting, according to local media reports.
Exhibitors and distributors are hoping Philippe will give the greenlight for the country’s 2,045 cinemas to start up their activities.
- 5/27/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: It’s all very quiet on the international box office front, but this past weekend saw some decent increases in various markets. Cinemas are still just sputtering back to operations around the world, notably in parts of Europe and Asia.
Germany remains the key major driving admissions — and largely from drive-ins, though Vue International’s CinemaxX circuit re-opened three multiplexes this weekend.
May is a test-the-waters month while June will see further majors welcome moviegoers amid stringent safety measures. They include Italy and Spain. Also set to start the turnstiles again in June are Poland and the Netherlands.
The UK is still looking at July 4 to re-open, however the majority of independent cinemas recently polled are thinking September is more likely for them. The Independent Cinema Office said that 59% of respondents believe they can enforce social distancing, 41% did not think they could. While some think they may open in July or August,...
Germany remains the key major driving admissions — and largely from drive-ins, though Vue International’s CinemaxX circuit re-opened three multiplexes this weekend.
May is a test-the-waters month while June will see further majors welcome moviegoers amid stringent safety measures. They include Italy and Spain. Also set to start the turnstiles again in June are Poland and the Netherlands.
The UK is still looking at July 4 to re-open, however the majority of independent cinemas recently polled are thinking September is more likely for them. The Independent Cinema Office said that 59% of respondents believe they can enforce social distancing, 41% did not think they could. While some think they may open in July or August,...
- 5/26/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
As France awaits official updates that are expected to come later this week with regard to the re-opening of restaurants and perhaps fewer restrictions on travel, Culture Minister Franck Riester reiterated today that cinemas are eyeing a July 1 re-start.
Speaking to France Info, Riester said the government is mulling dates to re-open cultural venues including theaters and moviehouses. “For cinemas, we are working on an opening from July 1, or the beginning of July. For theaters, we may be able to open progressively in June.” Nothing has been concretely decided, he said, offering that these are the current scenarios that are being considered.
A few weeks ago, Riester had indicated the re-opening of movie theaters might be progressive throughout the hexagon which has been divided into green and red zones. Paris and its environs — the largest box office center in the country — are still red, and the idea of movie theaters...
Speaking to France Info, Riester said the government is mulling dates to re-open cultural venues including theaters and moviehouses. “For cinemas, we are working on an opening from July 1, or the beginning of July. For theaters, we may be able to open progressively in June.” Nothing has been concretely decided, he said, offering that these are the current scenarios that are being considered.
A few weeks ago, Riester had indicated the re-opening of movie theaters might be progressive throughout the hexagon which has been divided into green and red zones. Paris and its environs — the largest box office center in the country — are still red, and the idea of movie theaters...
- 5/26/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon and Netflix are preparing to restart production on their respective series in France, with “Voltaire, Mixte” and “Arsene Lupin” with Omar Sy set to resume shooting after both were halted when the country went into lockdown mid-March.
Produced by En Voiture Simone, “Voltaire, Mixte” is expected to restart filming in mid-July in the south of France, while “Arsene Lupin,” which Gaumont is producing, won’t shoot again before September due to talent availability, according to several sources. The series was filming at the Louvre museum — which can reopen from June 2 — when production stopped.
“Voltaire, Mixte” is set in an all-boys high school in the 1960s, which is turned upside down when it starts welcoming girls. “Arsene Lupin,” meanwhile, is a modern-day retelling of the story about the eponymous burglar and master of disguise.
Elsewhere, the first two domestic productions set to resume in June are a pair of big-budget...
Produced by En Voiture Simone, “Voltaire, Mixte” is expected to restart filming in mid-July in the south of France, while “Arsene Lupin,” which Gaumont is producing, won’t shoot again before September due to talent availability, according to several sources. The series was filming at the Louvre museum — which can reopen from June 2 — when production stopped.
“Voltaire, Mixte” is set in an all-boys high school in the 1960s, which is turned upside down when it starts welcoming girls. “Arsene Lupin,” meanwhile, is a modern-day retelling of the story about the eponymous burglar and master of disguise.
Elsewhere, the first two domestic productions set to resume in June are a pair of big-budget...
- 5/18/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
France’s movie theaters may be able to re-open at the beginning of July, the country’s Culture Minister Franck Riester said today. A further update is expected at the end of this month, however, Riester told local radio this morning that the government believes a certain number of cinemas may be able to get back to work in early July.
“We are working on it,” Riester said, “and everything will be decided at the end of May for a progressive opening while respecting specific measures, be they for concerts, theaters or cinemas.”
France’s movie theaters went dark in mid-March as a nationwide lockdown began. This past Monday, May 11, the country came out of confinement but with some restrictions in place. Restaurants and bars are still shuttered until June 2 and people are advised not to travel beyond 100 kilometers from their homes. All events that assemble more than 5,000 people are...
“We are working on it,” Riester said, “and everything will be decided at the end of May for a progressive opening while respecting specific measures, be they for concerts, theaters or cinemas.”
France’s movie theaters went dark in mid-March as a nationwide lockdown began. This past Monday, May 11, the country came out of confinement but with some restrictions in place. Restaurants and bars are still shuttered until June 2 and people are advised not to travel beyond 100 kilometers from their homes. All events that assemble more than 5,000 people are...
- 5/15/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
France’s President Emmanuel Macron outlined in a televised address on Wednesday new relief measures for the culture sector, including a temporary indemnity fund for canceled or postponed TV and film shoots during the pandemic.
Macron said the temporary indemnity fund will be launched by the National Film Board (Cnc), in collaboration with the regions and private partners, including banks, loan institutions and insurers. “Everyone will have to take their responsibilities… We won’t be able to do it on our own,” said Macron, alluding to insurers’ systemic exclusion of pandemic-related risks from their coverage.
On a case-by-case basis, the fund will aim to help French producers if they are forced to pause or reschedule filming because of the coronavirus crisis but aren’t covered by insurance. The initiative will be accessible to shoots scheduled in the months to come.
Among the 23 shoots that were stopped when France went into...
Macron said the temporary indemnity fund will be launched by the National Film Board (Cnc), in collaboration with the regions and private partners, including banks, loan institutions and insurers. “Everyone will have to take their responsibilities… We won’t be able to do it on our own,” said Macron, alluding to insurers’ systemic exclusion of pandemic-related risks from their coverage.
On a case-by-case basis, the fund will aim to help French producers if they are forced to pause or reschedule filming because of the coronavirus crisis but aren’t covered by insurance. The initiative will be accessible to shoots scheduled in the months to come.
Among the 23 shoots that were stopped when France went into...
- 5/6/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
French producers have banded together to lobby the government to push insurance companies to start covering damages caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In any other country, asking insurance companies to change their policies in the midst of a pandemic for the sake of solidarity would be perceived as a practical joke, but not in France.
The ministries of finance and culture, along with the National Film Board, have started exploring different scenarios to get insurance companies on board, according to Valérie Lépine-Karnik, the head of the Upc, one of the French producers guilds that signed a letter to Culture Minister Franck Riester appealing for support in reaching a compromise with insurance firms.
France boasts one of the world’s most prolific film and TV industries, and as such, the extent of the damages linked to Covid-19 is proportionally vast. More than 30 film and TV shoots were stopped in Paris alone...
The ministries of finance and culture, along with the National Film Board, have started exploring different scenarios to get insurance companies on board, according to Valérie Lépine-Karnik, the head of the Upc, one of the French producers guilds that signed a letter to Culture Minister Franck Riester appealing for support in reaching a compromise with insurance firms.
France boasts one of the world’s most prolific film and TV industries, and as such, the extent of the damages linked to Covid-19 is proportionally vast. More than 30 film and TV shoots were stopped in Paris alone...
- 3/31/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has become one of the country’s most high profile figures to contract the coronavirus.
The BBC is reporting that Johnson is experience mild symptoms and is isolating at 10 Downing Street. He will remain in charge of the country’s government as it navigates the crisis.
On Wednesday, UK royal Prince Charles, the next in line to the throne. tested positive for Covid-19. He is said to be displaying mild symptoms and in good health.
Johnson becomes one of the first heads of state to contract the virus. Prince Albert of Monaco tested positive last week, as did Canadian premier Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau,...
The BBC is reporting that Johnson is experience mild symptoms and is isolating at 10 Downing Street. He will remain in charge of the country’s government as it navigates the crisis.
On Wednesday, UK royal Prince Charles, the next in line to the throne. tested positive for Covid-19. He is said to be displaying mild symptoms and in good health.
Johnson becomes one of the first heads of state to contract the virus. Prince Albert of Monaco tested positive last week, as did Canadian premier Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau,...
- 3/27/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
With Italy, France and Spain in full lockdown in the face of the unrelenting coronavirus outbreak, their respective film industries are preparing to take exceptional measures that could limit the anticipated economic damage by opening themselves up to an uncharted gamble in streaming.
To date, dozens of film releases have been postponed to between July and October across all three countries, which are the hardest hit in Europe. This could trigger a bloodbath for theaters in markets where independent distributors are already struggling to compete with U.S. majors, such as France, where Hollywood titles accounted for 59% of the nation’s record-breaking 213 million admissions in 2019.
The crux of the battle is ensuring the box office debuts of independent European movies aren’t crushed by a tsunami of movie releases. One increasingly attractive option is to offer these films immediately on demand via streamers or broadcasters — a radical move already enacted...
To date, dozens of film releases have been postponed to between July and October across all three countries, which are the hardest hit in Europe. This could trigger a bloodbath for theaters in markets where independent distributors are already struggling to compete with U.S. majors, such as France, where Hollywood titles accounted for 59% of the nation’s record-breaking 213 million admissions in 2019.
The crux of the battle is ensuring the box office debuts of independent European movies aren’t crushed by a tsunami of movie releases. One increasingly attractive option is to offer these films immediately on demand via streamers or broadcasters — a radical move already enacted...
- 3/25/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy, Nick Vivarelli and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
France’s culture minister Franck Riester has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming one of the country’s most high-profile cases to date.
Reuters reported that Riester had most likely contracted the virus from five French parliamentarians who have also been diagnosed. The country’s health minister Olivier Veran said Riester is doing well and resting at home, adding that he last met French President Emmanuel Macron several days ago, though the government has been taking steps to avoid transmission including banning handshakes in meetings.
The Covid-19 death toll in France has now risen to 30, up from 25 yesterday. There have been more than 1,400 confirmed cases in the country. France is the second worst-hit European nation behind Italy, where there have been more than 9,000 cases and 463 deaths.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Czech Republic and Austria have both today enforced a ban on indoor gatherings of more than 100 people to stem the virus spread,...
Reuters reported that Riester had most likely contracted the virus from five French parliamentarians who have also been diagnosed. The country’s health minister Olivier Veran said Riester is doing well and resting at home, adding that he last met French President Emmanuel Macron several days ago, though the government has been taking steps to avoid transmission including banning handshakes in meetings.
The Covid-19 death toll in France has now risen to 30, up from 25 yesterday. There have been more than 1,400 confirmed cases in the country. France is the second worst-hit European nation behind Italy, where there have been more than 9,000 cases and 463 deaths.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Czech Republic and Austria have both today enforced a ban on indoor gatherings of more than 100 people to stem the virus spread,...
- 3/10/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
French government bans gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
The French government on Sunday (8) announced new restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus, banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
That is less than half the 2309 person capacity of the main Louis Lumière auditorium in Cannes’ Palais des Festivals.
But in his announcement of the move, health minister Olivier Veran also said the government would draw up a list of gatherings that are ”useful to the interest of the nation”.
A spokesperson for France’s ministry of solidarity and health told Screen on Monday morning that the minister had not announced an...
The French government on Sunday (8) announced new restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus, banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
That is less than half the 2309 person capacity of the main Louis Lumière auditorium in Cannes’ Palais des Festivals.
But in his announcement of the move, health minister Olivier Veran also said the government would draw up a list of gatherings that are ”useful to the interest of the nation”.
A spokesperson for France’s ministry of solidarity and health told Screen on Monday morning that the minister had not announced an...
- 3/9/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦¬36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦¬57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦¬1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Evp for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, will open Series Mania’s Lille Dialogues, a one-day summit which this year debates regulation and commercial practice in a streaming platform age.
Keynotes on the need – or not – for regulatory change will be delivered by Fremantle COO Andrea Scrosati and Giorgio Stock, president, WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks, distribution and advertising sales, Emea and Apac.
Grabbing another industry bull by the horns, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, CEO, France Télévisions, and Gilles Pélisson, CEO, France’s TF1 Group, will discuss TV channels’ entering the streaming era and how best to remain competitive and attract high-end projects.
They will be joined on a panel by Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board and CEO at France’s M6 Group; Ulrich Wilhelm, CEO of German public broadcaster Ard; and Christoph Mainusch, co-ceo of the Czech Republic’s Cme.
The risks and opportunities...
Keynotes on the need – or not – for regulatory change will be delivered by Fremantle COO Andrea Scrosati and Giorgio Stock, president, WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks, distribution and advertising sales, Emea and Apac.
Grabbing another industry bull by the horns, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, CEO, France Télévisions, and Gilles Pélisson, CEO, France’s TF1 Group, will discuss TV channels’ entering the streaming era and how best to remain competitive and attract high-end projects.
They will be joined on a panel by Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board and CEO at France’s M6 Group; Ulrich Wilhelm, CEO of German public broadcaster Ard; and Christoph Mainusch, co-ceo of the Czech Republic’s Cme.
The risks and opportunities...
- 3/2/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
As a contentious edition of France’s Cesar awards wrapped, Roman Polanski won best director prompting numerous walkouts such as nominee Adele Haenel, star of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.”
Ladj Ly’s “Les Miserables” won best picture as well as the people’s choice prize, best male newcomer (for Alexis Manenti) and best editing.
Neither Polanski nor the cast and crew of “An Officer And A Spy” (“J’accuse”) was on hand at the awards ceremony hosted at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on Friday. Polanski said on Thursday that he would skip the celebration to avoid being “lynched,” but that didn’t prevent a protest by more than 100 people that was staged in front the venue by the advocacy group Osez le Feminisme.
Since bowing at Cannes Film Festival where it won the jury prize, “Les Miserables” went on to win a Goya Award, and was nominated for...
Ladj Ly’s “Les Miserables” won best picture as well as the people’s choice prize, best male newcomer (for Alexis Manenti) and best editing.
Neither Polanski nor the cast and crew of “An Officer And A Spy” (“J’accuse”) was on hand at the awards ceremony hosted at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on Friday. Polanski said on Thursday that he would skip the celebration to avoid being “lynched,” but that didn’t prevent a protest by more than 100 people that was staged in front the venue by the advocacy group Osez le Feminisme.
Since bowing at Cannes Film Festival where it won the jury prize, “Les Miserables” went on to win a Goya Award, and was nominated for...
- 2/28/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The bombshell news about the resignation of the governing board of the Cesar Academy, which distributes France’s equivalent of the Oscars, was greeted with relief within the French film world on Friday.
On the heels of an industry-wide backlash, the 21-member board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema – the organization overseeing the Cesar Academy – revealed on Thursday evening that it will resign following the Cesar Awards ceremony on Feb. 28.
Among those resigning is Alain Terzian, a French producer who presides over both the Cesar Academy and the Association for the Promotion of Cinema, as well as former Cannes president Gilles Jacob.
“Their resignation is going to give us the opportunity to rewrite the status of the Cesar’s, which appear to be completely outdated,” “Polisse” actor Marina Fois told the French radio France Info on Friday. Fois is one of 400 film figures who signed a petition calling...
On the heels of an industry-wide backlash, the 21-member board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema – the organization overseeing the Cesar Academy – revealed on Thursday evening that it will resign following the Cesar Awards ceremony on Feb. 28.
Among those resigning is Alain Terzian, a French producer who presides over both the Cesar Academy and the Association for the Promotion of Cinema, as well as former Cannes president Gilles Jacob.
“Their resignation is going to give us the opportunity to rewrite the status of the Cesar’s, which appear to be completely outdated,” “Polisse” actor Marina Fois told the French radio France Info on Friday. Fois is one of 400 film figures who signed a petition calling...
- 2/14/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Streaming giant faces tough negotiations over investment obligations and content rights as France overhauls audiovisual laws.
The great and the good of France’s cultural institutions and film and TV production scene turned out for the official opening of Netflix’s new French offices in central Paris in the presence of the Us platform’s founder and CEO Reed Hastings on January 17.
“The only people missing were Frémaux, the Seydoux and Saada,” said one attendee, marvelling at the high-profile crowd.
He was referring to Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux, as well as Nicolas Seydoux and Jérome Seydoux, the influential chiefs of Gaumont and Pathé,...
The great and the good of France’s cultural institutions and film and TV production scene turned out for the official opening of Netflix’s new French offices in central Paris in the presence of the Us platform’s founder and CEO Reed Hastings on January 17.
“The only people missing were Frémaux, the Seydoux and Saada,” said one attendee, marvelling at the high-profile crowd.
He was referring to Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux, as well as Nicolas Seydoux and Jérome Seydoux, the influential chiefs of Gaumont and Pathé,...
- 1/24/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Streaming giant faces tough negotiations over investment obligations and content rights as France overhauls audiovisual laws.
The great and the good of France’s cultural institutions and film and TV production scene turned out for the official opening of Netflix’s new French offices in central Paris in the presence of the Us platform’s founder and CEO Reed Hastings on January 17.
“The only people missing were Frémaux, the Seydoux and Saada,” said one attendee, marvelling at the high-profile crowd.
He was referring to Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux, as well as Nicolas Seydoux and Jérome Seydoux, the influential chiefs of Gaumont and Pathé,...
The great and the good of France’s cultural institutions and film and TV production scene turned out for the official opening of Netflix’s new French offices in central Paris in the presence of the Us platform’s founder and CEO Reed Hastings on January 17.
“The only people missing were Frémaux, the Seydoux and Saada,” said one attendee, marvelling at the high-profile crowd.
He was referring to Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux, as well as Nicolas Seydoux and Jérome Seydoux, the influential chiefs of Gaumont and Pathé,...
- 1/24/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Boasting 40.5 million admissions and earning €244.4m in foreign cinemas last year, French film is holding up, but it must adapt to a competitive landscape undergoing great change. Guaranteeing diversity in the face of standardisation and maintaining both the quality and quantity of French films (France is the second highest exporter of films after the Us) … During the presentation of the (provisional) results relating to the overseas performance of French works in 2019 - which took place on the occasion of the French Film Meetings in Paris organised by UniFrance (read our news) - the Minister for Culture Franck Riester insisted upon the vital importance of redoubling efforts in terms of film promotion and exportation, whilst also expanding the French presence across all broadcasting media, so as to adapt to a new generation of filmmakers (such as France’s Oscar nominees for 2020, Ladj Ly with Les Misérables and Jérémy...
On par with 2018, the overseas box office revenue of French movies reached an estimated €244.4 millions ($272 million) from 40 million admissions in 2019, according to a report unveiled by UniFrance.
The org said the worldwide B.O. of French movies was stable and highlighted the large representation of French films at major festivals and across leading streaming services. Italy was once again this year the biggest foreign market for French movies, followed by Germany and Spain.
The mainstream French comedy “Serial (Bad) Weddings,” which already ranks as the highest-grossing films in France in 2019, was also the most successful French movie abroad with nearly €23 million grossed worldwide. Directed by Philippe de Chauveron, the movie follows a narrow-minded Catholic couple and their three daughters, who have married men of different faiths.
Although it failed at the U.S. box office, Luc Besson’s action pic “Anna” still turned out to be the second highest-grossing French film abroad with €22.8 million.
The org said the worldwide B.O. of French movies was stable and highlighted the large representation of French films at major festivals and across leading streaming services. Italy was once again this year the biggest foreign market for French movies, followed by Germany and Spain.
The mainstream French comedy “Serial (Bad) Weddings,” which already ranks as the highest-grossing films in France in 2019, was also the most successful French movie abroad with nearly €23 million grossed worldwide. Directed by Philippe de Chauveron, the movie follows a narrow-minded Catholic couple and their three daughters, who have married men of different faiths.
Although it failed at the U.S. box office, Luc Besson’s action pic “Anna” still turned out to be the second highest-grossing French film abroad with €22.8 million.
- 1/16/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Following the recent accusations against the filmmakers Christophe Ruggia and Roman Polanski, France is having a third belated #metoo moment with the scandal surrounding Gabriel Matzneff, a French writer who’s been critically revered even though he’s bragged about having sex with teenagers for four decades.
Matzneff, now 83, is the author of “Under 16 Years Old,” among his many books promoting sex with minors. He just wrote a new book, “The Lover at the Arsenal,” published by the leading French publishing house Gallimard.
Gallimard has now pulled all of Matzneff’s books, including his latest, according to media reports.
The scandal erupted immediately after the publication on Jan. 2 of “The Consent,” a book written by Vanessa Springora, who recounts how she was manipulated by V., a powerful man in his 50s, when she met him at the age of 14 and got involved with him. She also recounts her disillusionment when...
Matzneff, now 83, is the author of “Under 16 Years Old,” among his many books promoting sex with minors. He just wrote a new book, “The Lover at the Arsenal,” published by the leading French publishing house Gallimard.
Gallimard has now pulled all of Matzneff’s books, including his latest, according to media reports.
The scandal erupted immediately after the publication on Jan. 2 of “The Consent,” a book written by Vanessa Springora, who recounts how she was manipulated by V., a powerful man in his 50s, when she met him at the age of 14 and got involved with him. She also recounts her disillusionment when...
- 1/7/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Anna Karina, the model-turned-actress who became a French New Wave icon thanks to her collaborations with the director Jean-Luc Godard, has died at the age of 79.
France’s cultural minister Franck Riester announced Karina’s death on Twitter, with the actress’ agent later confirming that Karina died Saturday in Paris following a battle with cancer.
“Her gaze was the gaze of the Nouvelle Vague (New Wave). It will remain so forever,” Riester wrote of Karina. “Today, French cinema has been orphaned. It has lost one of its legends.”
Born Hanne...
France’s cultural minister Franck Riester announced Karina’s death on Twitter, with the actress’ agent later confirming that Karina died Saturday in Paris following a battle with cancer.
“Her gaze was the gaze of the Nouvelle Vague (New Wave). It will remain so forever,” Riester wrote of Karina. “Today, French cinema has been orphaned. It has lost one of its legends.”
Born Hanne...
- 12/15/2019
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Anna Karina, the Danish-born star of classic French New Wave films of the 1960s such as “A Woman Is a Woman” and “Alphaville,” died on Saturday at age 79.
Her agent, Laurent Balandras, tweeted that she died of cancer.
“Today, French cinema has been orphaned,” Franck Riester, France’s culture minister, wrote in his own tweet. “It has lost one of its legends.”
Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019 (Photos)
Karina landed her first film role as a teenager in Jean-Luc Godard’s “The Little Soldier,” a drama about the French-Algerian War that was shot in 1960 but not released until three years later due to censorship issues.
In 1961, she won the best actress award at the Berlin Film Festival for her work playing a French striptease artist in Godard’s 1961 film “A Woman Is a Woman.”
By that time, she had also married Godard — with whom she continued to work on...
Her agent, Laurent Balandras, tweeted that she died of cancer.
“Today, French cinema has been orphaned,” Franck Riester, France’s culture minister, wrote in his own tweet. “It has lost one of its legends.”
Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019 (Photos)
Karina landed her first film role as a teenager in Jean-Luc Godard’s “The Little Soldier,” a drama about the French-Algerian War that was shot in 1960 but not released until three years later due to censorship issues.
In 1961, she won the best actress award at the Berlin Film Festival for her work playing a French striptease artist in Godard’s 1961 film “A Woman Is a Woman.”
By that time, she had also married Godard — with whom she continued to work on...
- 12/15/2019
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
With a long-gestating broadcasting reform bill looming in France, local TV groups such as Canal Plus and TF1 are gearing up to lobby hard and fight independent producers in order to increase IP ownership and retain rights for the series they finance.
Under current agreements between producers guilds and TV groups, French TV networks like Canal Plus are allowed to dedicate less than 15% of their investment obligations to series produced in-house, which forces them to rely almost entirely on third-party productions. For France Televisions, M6 and TF1, the limits are set at 17%, 25% and 30%, respectively. This has allowed French independent producers to thrive: They deliver 80% of the fiction productions in France, which generates €800 million ($880 million) yearly, according to the Uspa producers guild.
The French system also limits broadcasters’ rights ownership to three years, even for series that they almost fully finance. This has forced TV networks to repurchase rights to these...
Under current agreements between producers guilds and TV groups, French TV networks like Canal Plus are allowed to dedicate less than 15% of their investment obligations to series produced in-house, which forces them to rely almost entirely on third-party productions. For France Televisions, M6 and TF1, the limits are set at 17%, 25% and 30%, respectively. This has allowed French independent producers to thrive: They deliver 80% of the fiction productions in France, which generates €800 million ($880 million) yearly, according to the Uspa producers guild.
The French system also limits broadcasters’ rights ownership to three years, even for series that they almost fully finance. This has forced TV networks to repurchase rights to these...
- 11/28/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Franck Riester has outlined measures to combat sexual violence.
French minister of culture Franck Riester has declared his support for actress Adèle Haenel, following her recent decision to go public with accusations of sexual assault, and outlined a series of measures aimed at tackling sexual violence at an equality and diversity conference in Paris on Thursday.
The minister referred in his speech to both the actress as well as a scandal that has hit the Ministry of Culture over the past week involving an unnamed civil servant who has been suspended following accusations that he drugged some 200 women with a...
French minister of culture Franck Riester has declared his support for actress Adèle Haenel, following her recent decision to go public with accusations of sexual assault, and outlined a series of measures aimed at tackling sexual violence at an equality and diversity conference in Paris on Thursday.
The minister referred in his speech to both the actress as well as a scandal that has hit the Ministry of Culture over the past week involving an unnamed civil servant who has been suspended following accusations that he drugged some 200 women with a...
- 11/15/2019
- by 1100380¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Franck Riester has outlined measures to combat sexual violence.
French minister of culture Franck Riester has declared his support for actress Adèle Haenel, following her recent decision to go public with accusations of sexual assault, and outlined a series of measures aimed at tackling sexual violence at an equality and diversity conference in Paris on Thursday.
The minister referred in his speech to both the actress as well as a scandal that has hit the Ministry of Culture over the past week involving an unnamed civil servant who has been suspended following accusations that he drugged some 200 women with a...
French minister of culture Franck Riester has declared his support for actress Adèle Haenel, following her recent decision to go public with accusations of sexual assault, and outlined a series of measures aimed at tackling sexual violence at an equality and diversity conference in Paris on Thursday.
The minister referred in his speech to both the actress as well as a scandal that has hit the Ministry of Culture over the past week involving an unnamed civil servant who has been suspended following accusations that he drugged some 200 women with a...
- 11/15/2019
- by 1100380¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The French movie industry has been shaken up by the declarations of Adele Haenel, one of the country’s most powerful actresses, who accused the director Christophe Ruggia of having sexually harassed her for years from the time she was 12.
On top of sparking a public debate, Haenel’s testimony has driven the French culture ministry and the national film board, the Cnc, to come up with new guidelines to curb sexual harassment and violence, as well as increase gender parity in the film and TV industry.
Franck Riester, France’s culture minister, unveiled several measures to combat sexual harassment and abuse, such as making the inclusion of programs aimed at preventing and detecting harassment mandatory for companies seeking subsidies.
During a speech he gave Thursday at a conference on gender parity and diversity, Riester also said he was in favor of having on-site counselors during shoots, along with other...
On top of sparking a public debate, Haenel’s testimony has driven the French culture ministry and the national film board, the Cnc, to come up with new guidelines to curb sexual harassment and violence, as well as increase gender parity in the film and TV industry.
Franck Riester, France’s culture minister, unveiled several measures to combat sexual harassment and abuse, such as making the inclusion of programs aimed at preventing and detecting harassment mandatory for companies seeking subsidies.
During a speech he gave Thursday at a conference on gender parity and diversity, Riester also said he was in favor of having on-site counselors during shoots, along with other...
- 11/15/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Frédérique Bredin resigns overnight as row grows over proposals to cap institution’s funds.
The future direction of France’s National Cinema Centre (Cnc) and the generous film financing system it oversees is in doubt following the abrupt departure of long-running Cnc president Fréderique Bredin, hot on the heels of a government report proposing sweeping changes to the way the organisation is run.
Bredin resigned on Wednesday night (July 10) after the government failed to clarify whether she would be re-appointed for a third three-year term, ahead of the end of her current mandate this week.
The move comes in the...
The future direction of France’s National Cinema Centre (Cnc) and the generous film financing system it oversees is in doubt following the abrupt departure of long-running Cnc president Fréderique Bredin, hot on the heels of a government report proposing sweeping changes to the way the organisation is run.
Bredin resigned on Wednesday night (July 10) after the government failed to clarify whether she would be re-appointed for a third three-year term, ahead of the end of her current mandate this week.
The move comes in the...
- 7/11/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Actress worked with Georges Franju, Luis Buñuel, Andrzej Zulawski, Jacques Rivette, Leo Carax, Olivier Assayas and Mia Hansen-Løve.
Tributes have been paid to French actress Edith Scob, who has died in Paris at the age of 81.
Scob made her big screen breakthrough in Georges Franju’s 1960 cult horror classic Eyes Without A Face and then worked in later years with the likes of Leo Carax and Olivier Assayas.
France’s Minister of Culture Franck Riester said Scob had a “magnetic presence that flooded every one of her films.”
French cinema promotional and export body Unifrance added on Twitter: “81 years...
Tributes have been paid to French actress Edith Scob, who has died in Paris at the age of 81.
Scob made her big screen breakthrough in Georges Franju’s 1960 cult horror classic Eyes Without A Face and then worked in later years with the likes of Leo Carax and Olivier Assayas.
France’s Minister of Culture Franck Riester said Scob had a “magnetic presence that flooded every one of her films.”
French cinema promotional and export body Unifrance added on Twitter: “81 years...
- 6/27/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos, MPAA chairman-ceo Charles Rivkin, Lorenzo De Maio, head of TV advisory and partner, Endeavor Content, and Georgia Brown, Amazon Studios head of European Originals will all deliver keynote speeches at the 2nd Lille Transatlantic Dialogs.
They will be joined by an effective French TV high command featuring Gilles Pélisson, CEO, TF1 Group, France’s biggest broadcast network group, Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board & CEO, of France’s M6 Group, its second biggest commercial broadcaster, and Delphine Ernotte, CEO, France Télévisions, France’s public broadcaster, who will all also deliver keynote speeches in Lille.
Running March 27, the unique event works as both a U.S.-E.U. political summit, a platform for ambitious news announcements and a forum for reflection and debate of key industry issues.
Two at least look certain to be tabled this year: Relations between writers and platforms, fore-fronted by the E.
They will be joined by an effective French TV high command featuring Gilles Pélisson, CEO, TF1 Group, France’s biggest broadcast network group, Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board & CEO, of France’s M6 Group, its second biggest commercial broadcaster, and Delphine Ernotte, CEO, France Télévisions, France’s public broadcaster, who will all also deliver keynote speeches in Lille.
Running March 27, the unique event works as both a U.S.-E.U. political summit, a platform for ambitious news announcements and a forum for reflection and debate of key industry issues.
Two at least look certain to be tabled this year: Relations between writers and platforms, fore-fronted by the E.
- 3/4/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Other speakers include former WGA president Howard Rodman, Amazon Studios head of European Originals Georgia Brown and Endeavour Content head of TV advisory and partner Lorenzo De Maio.
Netflix COO Ted Sarandos and MPAA chief Charles Rivkin will be among the speakers at the second edition of the Lille Transatlantic Dialogues taking place on March 27 within the framework of the Series Mania television festival and industry meeting in the northern French city of Lille (March 22-30).
Describing itself as “a privileged witness of the convergence between cinema and series”, the festival said the main aim of the day’s discussions...
Netflix COO Ted Sarandos and MPAA chief Charles Rivkin will be among the speakers at the second edition of the Lille Transatlantic Dialogues taking place on March 27 within the framework of the Series Mania television festival and industry meeting in the northern French city of Lille (March 22-30).
Describing itself as “a privileged witness of the convergence between cinema and series”, the festival said the main aim of the day’s discussions...
- 3/4/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos and Amazon 's head of European originals Georgia Brown are set for this year's Series Mania. The two execs will be part of the Lille Transatlantic Dialogues program of the TV festival on March 27.
They'll be joined by Endeavor Content partner Lorenzo De Maio, and MPAA chair Charles Rivkin from the U.S. side, while TF1 Group CEO Gilles Pelisson, M6 Group chair Nicolas de Tavernost, France Televisions CEO Delphine Ernotte-Cunci and France's Minsister of Culture Franck Riester are set to join from the host country.
Series Mania founder ...
They'll be joined by Endeavor Content partner Lorenzo De Maio, and MPAA chair Charles Rivkin from the U.S. side, while TF1 Group CEO Gilles Pelisson, M6 Group chair Nicolas de Tavernost, France Televisions CEO Delphine Ernotte-Cunci and France's Minsister of Culture Franck Riester are set to join from the host country.
Series Mania founder ...
It is not a secret that Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas is a result of love for Asian countries, Asian culture, Asian films, and of romantic love. “This festival that was created by a couple – my wife and I celebrates its silver wedding anniversary, its 25 years of marriage. So the theme of couples is imperative.” explained Jean-Marc Thérouanne, founder and managing director of the festival to the Afp (Agence France Press).
Since its first edition in 1995, Viff of Asian Cinemas has welcomed more than half a million audience members, with 32.000 coming to the festival screenings in 2018 and “Women Speak” as its thematic setting.
“We have started in a phone booth, with 12 films and 1500 visitors. Now, we have become a festival with international recognition. In October 2018, we have had the honour to receive the Korean Cinema Awards, an accolade previously presented to the figures of the cinema industry such...
Since its first edition in 1995, Viff of Asian Cinemas has welcomed more than half a million audience members, with 32.000 coming to the festival screenings in 2018 and “Women Speak” as its thematic setting.
“We have started in a phone booth, with 12 films and 1500 visitors. Now, we have become a festival with international recognition. In October 2018, we have had the honour to receive the Korean Cinema Awards, an accolade previously presented to the figures of the cinema industry such...
- 2/7/2019
- by Anomalilly
- AsianMoviePulse
The 25th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas (Viffac) opens on Tuesday, February 5. French Minister of Culture Franck Riester has been confirmed to widen the list of the distinguished guests to attend the opening ceremony.
Before the Festival’s opening ceremony, the minister will meet the mayor of Vesoul, Alain Chrétien, and inaugurate the House of Culture and Communication that opened last year. After the official visit to the current seat of not only Viffac but also of the offices of France 3 Franche-Compté and France Bleu Besançon, Riester will join the representatives of the NGOs and cultural associations in the Paul Garret Museum.
Viffac opening ceremony will take place in Théâtre Edwige Feuillère on February 5, at 8:30pm.
Before the Festival’s opening ceremony, the minister will meet the mayor of Vesoul, Alain Chrétien, and inaugurate the House of Culture and Communication that opened last year. After the official visit to the current seat of not only Viffac but also of the offices of France 3 Franche-Compté and France Bleu Besançon, Riester will join the representatives of the NGOs and cultural associations in the Paul Garret Museum.
Viffac opening ceremony will take place in Théâtre Edwige Feuillère on February 5, at 8:30pm.
- 2/4/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Pay-tv company will invest 12.5% of annual turnover into French and European features.
Pay-tv giant Canal Plus has confirmed its long-time investment in French cinema in an 11th-hour accord running up until the end of 2022.
The pay-tv group has been the French cinema sector’s leading private investor for more than 30 years. This is due to legal obligations, dating back to its launch, which requires it to invest 12.5% of its annual turnover in pre-buying French and European feature films.
In 2017, Canal Plus pre-bought 136 features, 117 of them majority French productions, for a total of €153.7m, according to Cnc figures.
Under the new deal,...
Pay-tv giant Canal Plus has confirmed its long-time investment in French cinema in an 11th-hour accord running up until the end of 2022.
The pay-tv group has been the French cinema sector’s leading private investor for more than 30 years. This is due to legal obligations, dating back to its launch, which requires it to invest 12.5% of its annual turnover in pre-buying French and European feature films.
In 2017, Canal Plus pre-bought 136 features, 117 of them majority French productions, for a total of €153.7m, according to Cnc figures.
Under the new deal,...
- 11/9/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Leading French pay-tv group Canal Plus has renewed its contract with French film guilds to invest up to €180 million ($205 million) per year in local and European movies from 2019 to 2023.
The Vivendi-owned French paybox agreed to invest whichever is the greater of two amounts: 12.5% of annual revenue, or between €2.38 ($2.70) and €3.61 ($4.10) per subscriber (depending on the subscriber package). The maximum investment will be capped at $205 million per year – the first time a cap has been put in place.
Although the amount of Canal Plus’ investment has fallen over the past few years – from €211 million in 2013 to an all-time low of €142 million ($240.4 million) last year – because of declining revenues, it’s still one of the biggest commitments of any European broadcaster to funding local movies.
In addition, Studiocanal, the film and TV division of Canal Plus, will now be allowed to produce, in house, four feature films per year. Nicolas Dumont and...
The Vivendi-owned French paybox agreed to invest whichever is the greater of two amounts: 12.5% of annual revenue, or between €2.38 ($2.70) and €3.61 ($4.10) per subscriber (depending on the subscriber package). The maximum investment will be capped at $205 million per year – the first time a cap has been put in place.
Although the amount of Canal Plus’ investment has fallen over the past few years – from €211 million in 2013 to an all-time low of €142 million ($240.4 million) last year – because of declining revenues, it’s still one of the biggest commitments of any European broadcaster to funding local movies.
In addition, Studiocanal, the film and TV division of Canal Plus, will now be allowed to produce, in house, four feature films per year. Nicolas Dumont and...
- 11/8/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Franck Riester takes up poison chalice role in country where art and culture remain sacrosanct.
France has changed its culture minister for the fifth time in six years with Franck Riester being appointed to the role on Tuesday to replace outgoing Françoise Nyssen, who held the post for 17 months.
The new appointment was announced as part of a long-expected government cabinet reshuffle by embattled French President Emanuel Macron, following the resignation of one his key supporters Gerard Collomb to re-run for his former job as mayor of Lyon.
The appointment of Riester, who leans to the centre-right, is seen as...
France has changed its culture minister for the fifth time in six years with Franck Riester being appointed to the role on Tuesday to replace outgoing Françoise Nyssen, who held the post for 17 months.
The new appointment was announced as part of a long-expected government cabinet reshuffle by embattled French President Emanuel Macron, following the resignation of one his key supporters Gerard Collomb to re-run for his former job as mayor of Lyon.
The appointment of Riester, who leans to the centre-right, is seen as...
- 10/16/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
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