28/03/2013 - The number of copies, purchasing of advertising space, promotional expenses… a report from the CNC sheds light on distribution costs for French films

Published this week by the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC), a survey of distribution costs for French films in 2011 shows that 38.9 % of films of French initiative were distributed in over 200 copies (versus 28.7 % in 2010). The average cost for a release in cinemas is 673,300 euros(+24.9 % versus the previous year). It should be noted that distribution costs exceed 1 M€ on average for films distributed on 200 to 400 copies, a budget that doubles from 400 copies upwards.

Purchasing of advertising space rose to 45.9% of distributon costs, as did diverse promotional expenditure (16.3% - event communication, press attaché, tours, previews etc…) and expenses for publicity materials (10.1% - posters, trailers, photos, website creation). Only the share of laboratory costs shows a decrease at 27.7 %.

Posters account for 52.6 % of expenditure on advertising space. In 2011, cinemas picked up 20.1 % of advertising expenses, the press 10.2 %, Internet 8.9 % and radio 2.5 %. It's also worth noting that the Internet has become a privileged publicity support for films released in theatres in small combinations of copies.

Finally, contributions paid by distributors to operators in the form of a VPF (Virtual Print Fee) in the context of digital transition represented on average 55,876 euros per film in 2011.

(Translated from French)