23/09/2002

The number of French films being released in Spain continues to grow. The San Sebastian International Film Festival, the traditional gateway to the Iberian market, has seen its international profile grow amongst Gallic industry operators, and this year’s landmark 50th edition (19-28 September) showcased 20 French films and co-productions. The films were accompanied by a large and powerful contingent of French artists including Olivier Dahan and Isabelle Huppert (La Vie promise), Danièle Thompson, Juliette Binoche and Jean Reno (Décalage horaire) (Time Zone) Jacques Perrin (Le Peuple migrateur), Bertrand Tavernier (Laissez-Passer) and Gaspar Noé (Irréversible).
Seven of the eleven French productions selected for the various sections of San Sebastian have already found a Spanish distributor and this trend is likely to continue given the growing popularity of French films with Spanish audiences. In 2001, 5.5 million Iberians chose to see a French film, and at the end of August 2002, that number stood at almost 4 million. Germany, Italy and Spain are Europe’s biggest consumers of French films and the future is rosy with over 50 films are awaiting release and more emphasis being placed on the importance of programming. (In 2002, 6 French films were released onto more than 100 screens concurrently).

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(Translated from French)