16/04/2003

The Duran Duboi, one of the world’s leading digital special effects companies and a leader in the European feature film audio post-production field is in huge financial trouble. A month after work was suspended at DuboiColor, a subsidiary of the main company, Duran Duboi was declared bankrupt with the appointment of an official receiver for a six-month period.
The company has run up a debt of Euros21m against a turnover of Euros36.7m and the group’s two leading lights : Duran and Duboi had the blackest of years in 2002 when both TV film production and the request for special effects (after the glory days of Amélie and Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra) fell sharply.
Duran Duboi attempted to head off the storm by putting the auditoria it owns in Joinville and Boulogne up for sale - unfortunately, to date, no buyer has been forthcoming despite interest from potential English and American buyers. It is hoped that the group’s special effects department will improve its situation in 2003 thanks to two new films by Alain Chabat (RRRrrr) and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Un long dimanche de fiançailles) who have confirmed their intention to work with Duran Duboi regardless.

(Translated from French)