EXPORTS France
French films stand their ground in Greece
by Fabien Lemercier
26/03/2012 - A study on French films in the Greek market, published by Unifrance during the 13th Francophone film festival in Greece, on until Wednesday, shows French cinema's great stability in Greece.
With 479,738 admissions, results for French productions in Greece last year were within the average of the last five years, but an overall drop in cinema outings in Greece (10.9 million visitors in 2011, compared to 11.6 million in 2010) meant that French cinema's share in the market increased to 4.4% compared to 4.1 % in 2010 and 3.4% in 2009. Greek productions made up 10.5% of the market, but still American films dominated last year's top 10 in the Greek box office, for the country's 470 screens, of which 170 are open air.
While French minority co-productions such as Unknown (87,958 admissions) did best overall last year, The Artist [trailer, film focus] by Michel Hazanavicius, released in December 2011, recorded an impressive 79,836 admissions in ten weeks only (distribution Feelgood Entertainment). Just behind, in the French majority production ranking for 2011, The Names of Love [trailer] by Michel Leclerc (photo) stood out with 14,843 admissions (Odeon), before La chance de ma vie [trailer] (lit. "The chance of my life") by Nicolas Cuche (Seven Films), Potiche (Trophy Wife) [trailer] by François Ozon (Nutopia Entertainment), Little White Lies [trailer] by Guillaume Canet (Odeon), and Carlos, the film [trailer] by Olivier Assayas (Village Films).
And 2012 could have some surprises in store too, especially with Untouchable [trailer] by the duo Olivier Nakache - Eric Toledano, out this week in Greek cinemas (distribution Filmtrade - Spentzos Film).
(Translated from French)
