23/05/2008

Encouraging news about the international export of French films was announced by Unifrance at the Cannes Film Festival.

The promotional agency have greatly increased their estimations for 2007 published in early January (53.7m admissions for French films abroad). With 58.9 million admissions and €290m in box office takings recorded for the 37 markets analysed so far, the 2007 statistics are set to approach 2006 figures (62m admissions).

Among those European territories that are most keen on French films, Germany is still in the lead with 6m viewers for 36 releases, ahead of Spain (4m admissions – 51 films distributed), Italy (3m – 31 releases), the UK (2.9m – 44 releases), Belgium (2.3m – 81 releases) and Poland (1.9m).

Next in line are Switzerland (1m admissions), Austria (794,000), Hungary (758,000), Sweden (576,000), the Czech Republic (569,000), the Netherlands (396,000), Norway (366,000), Denmark (344,000), Portugal (330,000) and Finland (320,000).

They are followed by Greece (166,000), Croatia (162,000), Slovenia (119,000), Serbia (104,000), Romania (92,000) and Bulgaria (80,000). In total – if Europe is extended to include Russia and Turkey – European territories represent 60.3% of admissions for French films across the world and €189m in box office earnings.

(Translated from French)