UniFrance Films is strengthening relations between French and Chinese movie industry professionals by sending a French delegation to Beijing from December 16 through 21.
The following personalities will take part in a delegation of French movie sector professionals traveling to Beijing from December 16 through 21, 2013, to meet with Chinese industry professionals and representatives from government organizations:
- Audrey Azoulay, executive director of the CNC
- Carole Scotta, producer and distributor at Haut et Court
- Jérôme Seydoux, president and executive director of Pathé Distribution and Pathé Films
- Sophie Seydoux, president of the Jérôme Seydoux Foundation
- Alain Sussfeld, executive director of UGC
- Franck Weber, acquisitions director at Canal+
- Jean-Paul Salomé, filmmaker, president of UniFrance Films
- Xavier Lardoux, deputy director of UniFrance Films
China stands out as an increasingly important partner in our cultural and commercial exchanges, with a vast number of movie theaters around the country (18,000 screens at the beginning of 2014 against 4,000 in 2008) but remains highly protective of its own movie industry in the face of competition notably from the American majors. China has recently expressed an interest in the French film financing and regulatory system, which allows France to regularly secure a high market share for homegrown films in the domestic market (40% in 2012) and ensures a strong film export capacity (with 145 million spectators registered for French films outside France in 2012).
French films and film talent are also highly appreciated in China (this year's release of Fly me to the moon attracted over 1 million Chinese moviegoers), with French films and actors proving to be among the most successful ambassadors of our culture. Despite the fact that the number of French films released remains restricted due to the local quota system, China now ranks, for the first time ever, as French films' number 2 international market after the USA, with over 5 million admissions registered for French productions in 2013.
In this context, and in the wake of recent successful visits to China by French government officials (including the French President in April, the Minister of Culture and Communication in June, and a recent visit by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and the Economy) and in the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of Franco-Chinese relations in 2014, UniFrance Films will host meetings with Chinese movie professionals in Beijing in upcoming days. These meetings will include a presentation of each country's film production, distribution, and exhibition systems, the development of Franco-Chinese co-production projects, discussions on programming regulations for movie theaters and television network policies, and on developments in the VOD market.
The mid-term goal of these meetings is to draw on the French model as a reference in order to enhance the diversity of film product screened in China and to ensure that French films participate fully in the supply of films on Chinese screens.
