30/08/2013 - The report published by the FFA for the first semester is positive, with record revenues and more than one quarter of the market share for German cinema

The report recently published by the FFA (the regulation authority of German cinema) reveals that last year’s good results have been confirmed in the first semester of 2013. The number of admissions and the revenues have even increased compared to the 2012 results, going respectively from 62.3 to 62.8 millions (the best semester result since 2009) and from 462.7 to 497.3 million euros (a 7,5 % increase which is a new record and can be explained as well by the average increase of the ticket price for a 3D screening from 7.42 last year to 7.92€, while the number of spectators increased from 10.4 to 14.2 million).

National cinema played a big part in this, attracting 16.8 million Germans to theatres, that is 4.1 million more than in the last 2012 semester and 26.8% of the total. Four local production participated to this great market share by welcoming over a million spectators: Kokowääh [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (photo) by and with Til Schweiger (2.7 million admissions), Schlussmacher [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile] by Torsten Künstler and actor Matthias Schweighöfer (2.5M) who, since he works on both sides of the camera, follows the triumphant example of popular director Schweiger, Hänsel und Gretel: Hexenjäger by Tommy Wirkola (1.3M) and Fünf Freunde 2, the new adaptation by Mike Marzuk of the adventures of The Famous Five (1.1M).

In the general ranking, the first place goes to Django Unchained by Quentin Tarantino (4.4M), followed by Very Bad Trip 3 (2.9) and Kokowääh. In total, 264 films (including 108 German productions) were released during the first semester, versus 270 last year over the same period (105 German films).

Peter Dinges, the director of the FFA, believes this report is very satisfactory, especially when taking into consideration the absence of huge blockbusters such as Intouchables (which welcomed over 9 million spectators last year). The trend should continue: amongst the big releases of the second semester, White House Down by Roland Emmerich stands out, as well as R.E.D. 2 with Bruce Willis, the Franco-German coproduction Michael Kohlhaas [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arnaud des Pallières
film profile] with Mads Mikkelsen and the scandalous adaptation Wetlands [+see also:
trailer
interview: David Wnendt
film profile] by David Wnendt. Dinges explains that three important titles will only be released in December and should be successful at the beginning of next year: The Hobbit: the desolation of Smaug as well as two films funded by the FFA, Der Medicus by Philip Stölzl and Buddy, written, directed and played by popular comedian Michael "Bully" Herbig.

(Translated from French)