The EuroPalaces kingdom
The French exhibitors’ conference was the perfect opportunity for a discussion about this sector of the film industry.
The advent earlier this year of film programming colossus, EuroPalaces, has resulted in a number of changes to the way established French film distribution companies work. Headed by Germinal Anton, this division of the company is in charge of the programming schedules of Gaumont and Pathé. It is France’s number one group; in charge of the programming schedules of 702 screens and fully 25 percent of all tickets sold in France are for seats in a EuroPalaces-managed cinema. The UGC group is second with 452 screens. EuroPalaces’s pre-eminent market position is consolidated and could only change should new multiplexes be built or traditional cinemas closed.
At present France has a total of 910 cinemas, or 2364 screens, whose programming schedules are managed by 8 groups licensed to do so by the CNC, a further twenty smaller groups handle regional releases.
The film programming sector vaunts efficient and well-established legislation that obliges agencies to programme a certain number of European films. The sector is complicated however by the presence of so-called “film negotiators” who exercise the same profession as the programming companies, but with none of their obligations. The situation has been reported to the CNC whose job it is to find a solution.
(Translated from French)
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