07/12/2005

With a record total 333 copies for its distributor Gebeka Films, the animation film Kirikou and the Wild Beast directed by the duo Michel Ocelot - Bénédicte Galup is released with fanfare in the French theatres, carried on a huge media wave. A fine challenge for European animation against Chicken Little, the Disney production which had a massive 900 prints. In 1998, Kirikou et la sorcière had a fine career with 1,5 million theatre admissions and 800 000 units sold on video. The new film, divided into four tales some of which were screened at Cannes during an enthusiastic "Children’s Screening", was produced by Les Armateurs with a budget of 4,8 million euros, including an investment of 610 000 euros from France 3 Cinéma, 800 000 euros from the region and department of Poitou-Chatente, a pre-sale from Canal+, and a co-production with Gébéka. International sales are handled by Celluloïd Dreams who have already sold thirty territories, the film comes out today in Belgium and on the 16th December in Italy and In Spain.

Standing out among the new films this Wednesday is the comedy Olé by Florence Quentin (read article) with 551 prints from its producer-distributor ARP Sélection. A large release matching the weight of its cast of Gérard Depardieu, Gad Elmaleh, Sabine Azéma and Valeria Golino, and whose box-office will be measured up against another French comedy, Palais Royal! by Valérie Lemercier which has already accumulated 1,4 million admissions in 10 days.
Confronted with these heavy-weights and a total of 14 films arriving (six of them American), certain distributors hope nonetheless to succeed, such as MK2 Distribution who have bet 78 prints on the Irish film On a clear day by Gaby Dellal with Peter Mullan, Ciné Classic with 8 prints for the French-Belgian co-production Blush by Win Vandekeybus and Bac Films with 195 prints for La vie est à nous! by Frenchman Gérard Krawczyk.

(Translated from French)