After just over 3 months on the screens in Belgium, French films (shot in the French language) have registered 1,417,181 admissions, equivalent to more than 70% of total admissions in the country in 2003.
French films thus look poised for success in 2004 in neighboring Belgium.

It is the standout performance of "Podium," released by Belga Films on February 11 (with almost 700,000 admissions to its credit) that is largely responsible for French films' resurgence in Belgium, after a tough year in 2003 (down 23% against 2002). But the film by Yann Moix starring Benoît Poelvoorde is not the only winning ticket at the beginning of 2004. Two other films, "RRRrrr!!!" and "Les 11 Commandements" have passed 100,000 admissions and 8 other French films boast between 25,000 and 100,000 admissions, and are still showing in theaters.

Films benefiting from support from Unifrance's action plan implemented at the beginning of this year deserve a special mention: "Une vie à t'attendre," released by Victory Productions on March 12 throughout the Belgian territory (including Flanders), which has attracted 46,200 spectators, and "Secret Agents," distributed by Les Films de l’Elysée which, only just released, has already tallied 39,000 admissions.

Jean-Christophe Baubiat
Market Department: French-speaking countries, the Netherlands, Greece, Africa, the Near East and the Middle East.