Germany and Switzerland at centre of Unifrance analyses
Following the 6th Franco-German Film Meetings (see news), the Unifrance team have published a summary review of the event.
The promotional agency for French film abroad underlines in particular the positive developments in French/German co-productions. These have risen from four in 2001 – when a new co-production agreement and mini-treaty (Franco-German support fund with a budget of €3m) were signed – to 17 in 2007. This trend has been confirmed by the partial figures for 2008.
This increase, which appears to be structural, makes Germany one of France’s preferred co-production partners despite fundamental differences between the two systems (one being federal, the other centralised; one based on economic factors, the other more on cultural and linguistic criteria).
Moreover, a readjustment is taking place. Long outnumbered by majority French productions, majority German films have almost caught up.
Besides the announcement of the creation of a co-development fund (see news), Unifrance are also delighted about the new German film funding law. This will come into force on January 1, 2009 and, on the German side, make it possible for producers to invest 10% in co-productions. The previous minimum threshold of 20% was sometimes difficult to achieve in the minority country.
Unifrance have also recently published a study on French film in Switzerland between 1998 and 2008. Representing 2-3% of international admissions for French film, Switzerland remains a favourable territory for Gallic titles, where they enjoy a 2008 market share estimated at 13.8% (thanks in particular to the 659,000 admissions amassed by Welcome to the Sticks [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which tops the annual Swiss box office rankings).
These excellent results show a clear upturn in both French-speaking Switzerland (around two thirds of French film admissions) and German-speaking Switzerland (a third), even though the two territories opt for different genres of French feature. A detailed analysis of these differences can be found in the report on the Unifrance website.
(Translated from French)
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