09/06/2005

Since the “Club of Five” (Pyramide, Diaphana, Rezo, Haut et Court and Les Films du Losange) made their decision at the Cannes festival to quit the National Federation of Distributors (FNDF), four other independent distribution outfits have followed suit: ARP Sélection, Pan Européenne, ID Distribution and Bac Distribution. Fuelled by a month of bitter exchanges in the press over the allocation of public aid for distribution, the defection of the 9 has happened due to the fact that the interests of independents corresponds less and less to that of the integrated groups (production-distribution-exhibition).

Contacted by Cineuropa to shed some light on the argument, Régine Vial (Films du Losange) underlined that “the 9 are trying to defend the notion of independent distribution, an activity that is nowadays fraught with difficulty. It’s urgent that we regroup to talk with a single voice. We have no animosity towards the FNDF, but they did not want to address certain questions such as the concentration of networks, the definition of independent distribution, the number of prints and releases. The medium-sized independent outfits want to protect their rights in a hostile environment."

In 2004, Bac Films reached 11th place in the distributors league, followed by ARP Sélection (13th ), Pan européenne (14th), Diaphana (15th), Rezo films (17th), Pyramide (18th), les Films du Losange (21st), Haut et Court (24th) and ID (44th). Representing 7,1 % of the market, the 9 accumulated more than 16,1 million spectators.
Looked at from the point of view of public aid, it is important to know that the budget for 2005 of the National Film Centre (CNC) allows for 20 million euros of automatic aid to distribution (based on receipts from the theatres) around 5 M€ of selective aide to the sector (out of a total of 93,88 M€ for production - distribution - exploitation) and it operates a fund of 6 M€ allocated by Canal + in favour of distributors.

(Translated from French)