French films hold market share of 47.3% in 2008

by Fabien Lemercier

08/10/2008 - Audience figures in French theatres picked up again in September after four consecutive months of decline, according to estimates published yesterday by the National Film Centre (CNC). With 9.98m viewers (+6.6% compared to the same month in 2007), September brings the 2008 total so far to 139.27m admissions (+2.6% compared to January-September 2007).

For the moment, French film dominates the 2008 market share with 47.3% (36.2% for the same period in 2007) compared to 45.4% for US productions. The domestic titles currently showing in theatres increase this advantage for Laurent Cantet’s Palme d’Or-winner The Class [trailer, film focus] had garnered almost 750,000 admissions after 11 days on release (distributed by Haut et Court on an increased print run of 507).

Within the same period, Christophe Barratier’s Paris 36 [trailer] has attracted 701,000 viewers (Pathé - 594 screens), while Agnès Jaoui’s Let It Rain [trailer] has amassed 768,000 admissions in 20 days (StudioCanal Distribution - 466 screens).

Impressive French production Go Fast [trailer] (see news) by Belgian director Olivier Van Hoofstadt has also got off to a good start with 295,000 viewers in five days. The film – starring an outstanding Roschdy Zem as a police officer specialised in infiltration – was launched by EuropaCorp Distribution on 286 screens.

Launched by Gaumont on 367 screens, Josiane Balasko’s Client [trailer] (see news) has amassed 230,000 admissions.

Released by Diaphana on a print run of 161, Martin Provost’s Séraphine [trailer] (see news) has drawn 75,000 viewers in five days. There are six French titles in the weekly top 10, with four claiming the top spots.

(Translated from French)