The Rendez-Vous With French Cinema à New York - 2014, which ran from March 6 through 16 and was organized by Unifrance and the Film at Lincoln Center was an unprecedented success.
The public, critics, and professionals all came out in droves for the 19th edition of the event, which attracted 15,000 spectators (being a 15% increase in attendances) and $150,000 in admissions for French films.
The North American or New York premieres, presented on the screens of the IFC Center, BAMcinématek, and the Lincoln Center, of the 24 features on the program were accompanied by the presence of 20 artists, 9 sales agents, 6 producers, and one artistic agent, who all came from France for the occasion, at the initiative of Unifrance. Via a partnership for the 3rd consecutive year with Emerging Pictures, a selection of 6 films was also distributed in theaters throughout forty American cities.
This year, the selection of films revolved around two axes: the "New French New Wave," through works by young French filmmakers, and the relationship to the contemporary history of French and American cinema. The discussions - open to the public - around these themes drew packed houses, as did the Q&As after each screening.
The business lunch organzed on March 7 allowed more than 80 French and American professionals (producers, exporters, distributors, programmers, theater operators) to exchange information about future line-ups and to focus on the sector's practises and perspectives.
4 features that had not been sold to the USA when selected for the RDV have since been picked up an American distributor. They are Eastern Boys by Robin Campillo, Playing Dead by Jean-Paul Salomé, Suzanne by Katell Quillévéré (all three sold by Playtime to First Run Features), and Tip Top by Serge Bozon (sold by Rezo Films to Kino Lorber)
It should also be noted that the event received huge and enthusiastic coverage by such publications as the New York Times, New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, Variety, Village Voice, and resulted in more than a hundred American articles and items (print, web, radio and TV).
On My Way by Emmanuelle Bercot, the opening night film, presented in the presence of Catherine Deneuve, was released theatrically in New York on March 14. Distribued on 1 print by Cohen Media Group, it garnered more than $17,000 at the box office during its opening week, being the week's 5th best average per print in the USA! Increased to 20 prints during its second week, and spurred by rave reviews, the film registered $70,000 in admissions in the American territory after 10 days, making it a highly successful launch.
