For some years now, summer has been a key period for the release of French films in the United Kingdom.
2010 is no exception to the rule: no less than 17 French films will have made their way across the Channel between June 1 and August 31. This figure is even more impressive when we take into account that only 30 to 40 French films are released each year in the United Kingdom. For the release of some of these films, Unifrance organized, June 7 through 11, Rendez-vous with French Cinema in the UK - 2010 in London. During these few days, 5 French films, accompanied by their artistic delegations, were presented at preview screenings to British audiences at the Curzon Soho and the Ciné Lumière. Joann Sfar came to present his feature Gainsbourg: Je t'aime...Moi non plus. Released in Britain on July 30, the film has racked up 90,000 admissions in three weeks. François Ozon and Louis-Ronan Choisy traveled to present The Refuge, released by Artificial Eye on August 13 and tallying 3000 admissions its first weekend. Radu Mihaileanu also attended the event to present The Concert (STUDIOCANAL (UK)), which hit the screens July 16 and has attracted 36,000 admissions in a month. Kristin Scott Thomas and Catherine Corsini were present to support Leaving, distributed by Metrodome Distribution and which has garnered 60,000 admissions in six weeks. Alain Resnais' Wild Grass (New Wave Films) was presented by Sabine Azéma. The film has registered 10,000 admissions.
Since June 1, more than 300,000 British spectators have gone to theaters to see a French film. Among these summer releases, several titles stand out as true success stories. Take Heartbreaker, for instance, given a 52-print release on July 2 by Revolver Entertainment, the film has already passed the 125,000 admissions mark. This puts it in second position among French-language French films released in 2010, behind A Prophet (STUDIOCANAL (UK)) and its 256,000 admissions.
With an accumulation of 2 million admissions registered in the first seven months, 2010 has already superseded 40% of the annual results achieved in 2009 and therefore promises to be an excellent year for French cinema.
