30/08/2007

A survey published in June 2007 indicated that US films were the favourite of 66% of Spanish (see news). This preference is well patent in the data released by the ICAA concerning the admissions results in Spanish theatres until August 5, 2007.

Seventeen of the 20 most successful titles are North American, with Spider-Man 3 conquering the top position with €16,279,406 grossed. However, three European titles manage to emerge from the US hegemony.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (distribution: Warner Bros) reached a magical sixth position with €12,004,184, while UK comedy Mr. Bean's Holiday [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Universal Pictures International) conquered ninth position (€6,891,168).

Distributor Alta Classics saw its The Lives of Others [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Florian Henckel von Donners…
interview: Ulrich Muehe
film profile] reach an honourable 18th position, certainly helped by the Oscar "stolen" from Almodóvar's Volver [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agustín Almodóvar
interview: Carmen Maura
interview: Pedro Almodóvar
interview: Pénélope Cruz
film profile]. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s atypical spy drama grossed €4,403,478.

The ranking is less impressive when it comes to local productions, however. With the absent potential of local hits, such as last year's Alatriste [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], and with some of the most anticipated titles by Spanish directors coming out in late summer/early autumn, the 16 most seen Spanish titles grossed only marginally more than Spider-Man 3.

The Spanish/Argentinean animation title Pérez, el ratoncito de tus sueños heads the list with €2,148,698 grossed (413,502 admissions), followed by El ekipo ja (€1,602,170) and Pan's Labyrinth [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which continued to make a splash in the box office in 2007 with €1,567,689 grossed. Malaga winner Bajo las estrelas [+see also:
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film profile], released on June 7, comes in at 11th position, with €631,133.

In September however local productions are expected to fare better than so far this year. Following last week's release of Julio Medem's Chaotic Ana (see news) it is hoped that some titles, scheduled for upcoming weeks, will benefit from their promotion at local and international film festivals.

Jose Luis Guerin's Venice entry En la ciudad de Sylvia [+see also:
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film profile] (see news) opens on September 14, a few days before the opening of the San Sebastian Film Festival, which will screen in competition Icíar Bollaín's Mataharis (out September 28) and Gracia Querejeta's Siete mesas (de billar francés) (October 5).

The list of domestic titles set for release before the year end also includes Emilio Martínez Lázaro's Las 13 rosas [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (news), Antonio Mercero's ¿Y tú quién eres?, Álvaro Fernández Armero's Salir pitando and Juan Antonio Bayona'sThe Orphanage [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (see news).