31/05/2006

Screened as the closing film in the Directors’ Fortnight, Dans Paris [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Christophe Honoré (see news), starring Romain Duris and Louis Garrel, was popular among audiences and critics alike and also made a good impression on those buyers still present at the closing of the festival’s Film Market.

Sold internationally by Gémini Films, the feature is about to be acquired by the US, the UK, Italy, Canada and Germany. However, as several buyers, including the Japanese, had already left Cannes before the film’s screening, Dans Paris is now setting its sights on the next Toronto Film Festival, where it hopes to improve its selling potential in all territories.

According to Elisabeth Perlie, head of international sales at Gémini Films, "The Cannes Market was a little less interesting and dynamic than last year. As usual, buyers complained about a lack of interesting films, especially in official competition, and overall sales of French productions have been decreasing in the past year, including in the traditionally acquired territories.

Indeed, internationally there is a generational change in audiences , who are now more interested in entertainment and popcorn films. For example, in Japan, where French cinema benefits from spectators who are film aficionados, audiences now prefer Chinese, Korean or US films. Distributors also think twice before buying, given drops in attendance in 2005. France, on the other hand, has seen a net increase in admissions since early 2006, thanks in most part to very French comedies such as Camping; films that, unfortunately, prove very difficult to sell abroad. A good cast is not enough to be able to sell internationally today. The film, the cast and the director all have to be right, or else the film has to be very strong, specific, different. If this is not the case, then distributors think that marketing is impossible."

(Translated from French)