French International sellers rake in €264m in takings in 2010
A record has been broken by French film export companies which last year raked in €264.472m in takings (+16.8% compared to 2009) according to the annual study by the National Film and Moving Image Centre (CNC). This result amassed by 24 companies is the sum of two peaks since these statistics began in 2004: €172.6m (+26.1%) in sales of French features (including co-productions) and €91.8m (+2.5%) of foreign productions.
After a period of continual increase from 2004 to 2007, followed by a sharp drop in 2007-2008, sales have therefore picked up. How do professionals explain this? Prices remain very low, but foreign networks and distributors need films. However, buyers are apparently turning to titles that are increasingly archetypal (typically "French") and easily identifiable (thrillers, genre films, etc). Selling points have become essential again too: a well-known director and/or actor, and an award at a festival are an advantage. English-language films also sell more easily. And while French comedies, in particular romantic comedies, are still difficult to export, they are now sparking international interest since the European success of Welcome to the Sticks [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Finally,
remake rights are starting to attract interest from territories other than the United States, particularly Germany, Spain and Italy.
It should be noted that business is increasingly concentrated with three companies representing 64.2% of takings for the sale of French films abroad in 2010 (compared to 45.8% in 2007). There is one indisputable leader (the study by the CNC remains anonymous in order to avoid distortion of competition) with 46.6% of the 2010 takings from the export of recent domestic features. Overall, five companies made over €10m in takings and five others are in the €1-5m bracket.
For an accurate analysis of this data, we have to take into account the lengthy interval between the signing of contracts and their payment: the takings in the study by the CNC correspond, in the majority, to sales made in 2008, 2009 and early 2010. Moreover, these takings are mainly down to the collection of minimum guarantees (MG) paid by foreign distributors.
For a detailed look at the export territories, see the article "The world map of French exporters".
(Translated from French)
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