Motion Pictures
May 3, 2002
Warner Bros. Pictures France Enters Exclusive Distribution Deal With Noted Producer Christian Fechner’s Production Company, Les Films Christian Fechner
(May 3, 2002 – Burbank, CA and Paris, France) - Warner Bros. Pictures France has entered into an exclusive distribution deal with noted producer Christian Fechner’s Les Films Christian Fechner to distribute their next four films in France, it was announced today by Francis Boespflug, Managing Director, Warner Bros. Pictures France and Christian Fechner, President, Les Films Christian Fechner.
The first films covered by this deal are “Chouchou,” starring Gad Elmaleh and Alain Chabat, which begins production this summer, and “L’Homme Qui Murmurait a L’Orielle des Femmes” (“Woman Whisperer”), starring Franck Dubosc, Benoit Poelvoorde and Isabelle Nanty. The deal also includes the next film by preeminent French filmmaker Jean Becker, as well as a buddy comedy, “Moyen Men,” written by and starring the noted French comedy duo Eric and Ramzy. Production of the latter two of these films will start in mid-2002, for release in 2003.
“We’re excited to be in business with a filmmaker of Christian’s stature as we continue our in-country local-language production and distribution initiative,” said Boespflug. “The talent associated with the films covered under this agreement is phenomenal, and we expect these films to enjoy great success with French audiences.”
Fechner is one of the most prolific producers working in the French cinema, with a filmography covering almost three decades. Among his more noted films are the “Marche a L’ombre” (1984/ Admissions France: 6,168,425) “Les Specialistes” (1984/Admissions France: 5,319, 542) “I’aile Ou la Cuisse” (1976/Admissions France: 5,841,956) and “Papy Fait de la Resistance” (1983/Admissions France: 4,103,933). He’s also produced Becker’s last three films, “Un Crime au Paradis” (2001/Admissions France: 2,127,965) “Les Enfants du Marais” (1999/Admissions France: 2,121,000) and “Elisa” (1995/Admissions France: 2,482,000).
This distribution agreement follows a number of recent production and acquisition activities by Warner Bros. Pictures in Europe, including Warner Bros. Pictures France’s success as co-producer with La Petite Reine on the film “Le Boulet,” which held the number one position at the box office in France its first two weeks of release. Other recent projects undertaken as part of this venture include serving as a production partner with Virginia Films on Carlo Verdone’s “Ma Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi” (“It Can’t Be All Our Fault”), marking Warner Bros. Pictures’ first foray into Italian-language film production; the acquisition of Italian distribution rights to “Hable con Ella” (the latest film from Pedro Almodovar); a long-term, multifaceted production and distribution deal with X-Filme in Germany; a long-term, multi-film pact with Target Media in Germany; and the acquisition of rights to Nanni Moretti’s 2001 Cannes Palm d’Or-winning Italian film “La Stanza del Figlio” (“The Son’s Room”) for Spain, Latin America, and Japan. # # #