Unifrance has instigated this second meeting between French sales companies and Russian distributors to be held from October 10 to 12, which also featured a preview screening of C'est la vie! in Moscow held in the presence of the film's co-directors.
In light of the profound structural changes that continue to affect the Russian movie sector at this time, and the logistical problems of visiting the country, UniFrance decided in 2016 to accompany seven French sales companies on a visit to Moscow to meet with Russian distributors. The first group of companies to participate in this initiative included Gaumont, Pathé, Kinology, Indie Sales, Memento, Other Angle, and Wild Bunch. Now, in 2017, SND, STUDIOCANAL, EuropaCorp, TF1 Studio, Les Films du Losange, Le Pacte, and Pyramide International will make the trip to the Russian capital to take part in three days of intensive meetings.
During this visit, a round table meeting has been held with all of the Russian distributors at the Pioner Cinema, followed by a meeting with the complete delegation of French companies, at which the sales agents have presented their latest film projects to Russian distributors. In addition, participants have been taken on a tour of the various theaters in Moscow, ranging from multiplexes to independent art house cinemas. The final day and a half was given over to the sales agents to organize individual meetings with distributors.
Taking full advantage of this delegation's visit to Moscow, UniFrance and the distributor Capella Film have hosted a preview screening of C'est la vie! directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, on the evening of October 11, with the filmmakers in attendance. This film, whose commercial release is eagerly awaited in Russia, has benefitted from a double preview screening in Moscow as well as a special screening held in 21 theaters belonging to the new theater circuit that has been created by the merging of Cinema Park and Formula Kino. C'est la vie! will be released on Russian screens on January 1, 2018.
