‘Cinema is Political:’ French Sales Agents Confront Global Tensions, Carbon Cutting Amid Rise in International Admissions

variety.com:

Ben Croll Capping a growth year that saw Gallic productions draw 37. 4 million global theatrical admissions for a total of $254 million in international receipts, producers and sales agents indicated that geopolitical tensions and eco-responsible transformation would be two of the major stressors on France’s film export business in the months to come.

Speaking at an export panel organized as part of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris, Les Films du Losange sales chief Alice Lesort outlined her firm’s “case-by-case” approach when selling titles to Russia – which remains an eager and lucrative market, as proven by last year’s admissions figures for Maïwenn’s “Jeanne du Barry” (sold by Goodfellas) and the animated smash “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie” (from ZAG and Mediawan Kids & Family), among others. “What happens in the cinema is one thing,” said Lesort. “But once the film has been sold to a TV channel, for example, what’s to say that it won’t be shown before or after a propaganda ad?

I mean, at some point, once you’ve sold a film, the buyer can do whatever you want, [and our] the level of control is capped.” And so, following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Lesort would put the onus on her filmmakers, letting them decide whether or not they wanted to sell to Russia.

Most declined, thus creating a precedent that might be reapplied in an increasingly unsettled world. “The problem, in fact, has just arisen in Israel as recently as one week ago,” said Lesort. “We had sold a film before the October 7 attacks, and the producer – which is not a French company, by the way — wanted us to break the deal.