French Cinema Is Thriving at Festivals but Facing an Uphill Battle in U.S. Theaters as Distributors Navigate a Shrinking Market

By Elsa Keslassy

Elsa Keslassy

International Correspondent

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French cinema may be enjoying a golden run on the festival circuit and in the awards race, but getting those films into U.S. theaters, and persuading American audiences to buy tickets, has become an increasingly uphill battle.

That paradox was at the heart of a lively discussion at the American French Film Festival on Thursday, held in partnership with the CNC and Variety, where three veteran U.S. distributors painted a sobering picture of a market squeezed by shrinking theatrical opportunities.

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