Thanks to the 1.2 million admissions scored by "Amelie from Montmartre", French cinema boasts a 50% cumulated market share since the beginning of 2001.
With 1,185,945 tickets sold after one week on the screens, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "Amelie from Montmartre" (ambitiously distributed by UFD in 432 prints) has enabled French cinema's market share to break the 50% barrier for the period since the beginning of the year (66% for the week of April 25 through May 1). Over 35 million French spectators have already chosen to see a homegrown film in 2001 – compared to a total of 47 million at the end of 2000. As a result, French cinema can boast 8 films with "millionaire" admissions figures so far this year, five of which have registered over 2 million spectators. Although few contenders traditionally reach such heights, next week will see "La Tour Montparnasse infernale", "Belphegor" and most probably "Amelie" joining ranks with these top performers. As regards "Amelie", having got off to an excellent start in Switzerland and Belgium, the film is now set to conquer audiences on the wider international circuit, with a summer release slated for Germany, Great Britain and Spain, among other countries. Sold by UGC International, the film's rights have already been secured by some thirty countries, including the United States, where its distribution is handled by Miramax..
