French Films Face Fewer Buyers, Scarcer U.S. Screens — SkimNews
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- American French Film Festival brought Robert Aronson, John Gerrans and Paul Hudson together for a CNC- and Variety-partnered panel where the three distributors described fewer film buyers, theaters shifting toward Hollywood and shrinking theatrical opportunities for acclaimed independent movies.
- Anatomy of a Fall earned about $5 million in the U.S., compared with roughly $33 million domestically for Amélie a quarter-century earlier, as the French-language theatrical market contracted.
- Samuel Goldwyn said De Gaulle could play on 1,000 screens if it were in English, while the first part of the WWII saga was rolled out this weekend across key U.S. markets alongside transactional VOD.
- Netflix was among deep-pocketed buyers continuing to chase high-profile auteur films, while John Gerrans said Netflix purchases routinely undercut smaller distributors' plans for acclaimed Cannes or Berlin titles.
- Paul Hudson said 45 distributors were competing to place eight films into New York's IFC Film Center, Quad and Angelika, with major arthouse venues often booked months in advance.
- Amazon Prime cut its viewing royalty from 10 cents to 1 cent and then half a cent per hour, Paul Hudson said; independent distributors have pulled titles from the service and are looking to Tubi, Roku, Pluto and YouTube.
- CNC, Unifrance and Villa Albertine are helping distributors promote French cinema through festivals, promotional events and talent travel, but Paul Hudson said independent distributors still fund campaigns from their own pockets without government support.
Why it matters: For smaller distributors, the squeeze is measurable: Amazon Prime's viewing rate fell from 10 cents to half a cent per hour, while 45 distributors chased eight films at three New York arthouse venues. Established buyers therefore gain leverage, and festival recognition no longer guarantees the screens or revenue needed to recoup independent-film costs.
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