Foreign films disappearing from cinema screens
According to the general manager of Accent Films, George Papadopoulos, it is increasingly harder for independent distributors to release their titles theatrically.
“From its inception in 2003, Accent’s aim was to only release films theatrically if they warrant such a release and that we feel can find an audience,” told Encore.
Accent will release The Stoning of Soraya M on May 27, at one art house screen in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.
“We felt the film was such a powerful, engrossing and timely film, especially given the recent street protests in Iran, that it deserved a theatrical release. Obviously, we needed the support of exhibitors and we received tremendous feedback from exhibitors who loved the film and wanted to screen it,” he explained.
“It was really important to us that we secure a national theatrical release on the same date rather than a platform release in Melbourne/Sydney followed by other states at a later date.”
The film is based on a 1994 book by French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam, and was runner-up to the Audience Awards at the Toronto Festival in 2008. But The Stoning of Soraya M is an exception. Most of Accent’s 50-60 annual acquisitions are released on DVD – with four or five titles per month – and sold to television. There is not much room for ‘challenging films’, particularly foreign ones
“We have seen the closure of one and two screen independent cinemas and the increase in film festivals which has had an adverse affect on theatrical releases of more challenging but smaller films. The range of films on offer for a commercial theatrical release has diminished. However, many of these films get festival screenings followed by a DVD release soon after,” said Papadopoulos
The executive said all distributors are continually assessing the changing market to adapt to it.
“For example, we have seen fewer foreign films released commercially in recent years and many of these find their way into the many film festivals we have during the course of the year.”
Independents are also having difficulty accessing the growing Blu-ray market because the cost is still prohibitive and because some of thei titles are not ‘suitable’ for that market.
“But we are continually assessing the DVD market with an eye to enter the Blu-ray market at the right time for us with the most suitable titles,” said Papadopoulos.
