French Cinema

The History 1895 is considered by many historians as the official

birth of cinematography.

The early days of the industry, from 1896 to 1902, saw the dominance of four firms: Pathé Frères the Gaumont Film Company, the Georges Méliès company, and the Lumières.

In 1902 the Lumières abandoned everything but the production of film stock, leaving Méliès as the weakest player of the remaining three.

From 1904 to 1911 the Pathé Frères company led the world in film production and distribution.

The Nineteenth Century

The French film industry suffered because of a lack of capital.

US Film Industry entered into European Cinema Market.

American films could be sold more cheaply than European productions, since the studios already had recouped their costs in the home market

France installed an import quota of 1:7.

During the period 1940s to 1970s French Commercial Films flourished with immensely popular French Comedies topping the French Box Office.

The Contemporary French Cinema

In 2001, Amélie starring Audrey Tautou and Mathieu Kassovitz became the highest-grossing French-language film ever released in the United States.

The following year, Brotherhood of the Wolf became the second-highest-grossing French-language film in the United States with a gross of more than $70 million.

At the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, Entre les murs (The Class) won the Palme d'Or, the first French victory at the festival in 21 years.

The 2000s also saw an increase in the number of individual competitive awards won by French artists at the Cannes Festival

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Started in 1939.

Location-Cannes.

Important awards-

Palme d’or. Grand prix

FACES of French CinemaGérard Depardieu Well known french actor. Juliette BinochePlayed leading role in 1985 drama Rendez-vou and chocolat.

Luc BessonDirected the famous movie “The fifth element”

Top French films

La bela et la bete

Directed by jean Cocteau.

La Belle Noiseuse

Directed by Jacques Rivette

Orpheus

Directed by Jean Cocteau.

FRENCH FILM PRODUCTION COMPANIES

EUROPACORP

headquarters Paris Key people Luc Besson and

Pierre-Ange Le Pogam

GAUMONT Founded 1895 Headquarters Neuilly-sur-Seine

STUDIO CANAL Founded 1988 (as CANAL+

Production) Headquarters Paris, France Most notable productions Terminator 2:

Judgment Day, JFK, Basic Instinct

CENSOR BOARDAll films intended for theatrical release have to be granted a visa by the Ministry of Culture , upon the recommendation of Commission for film classification.

The Commission is the de facto censor responsible for film classification in France.

Give a film one of five ratings:Tous publics (universal): suitable for all audiences.Déconseillé aux moins de 10 ans (-10): Not recommended for under 10 years.Interdit aux moins de 12 ans (-12): Forbidden for under 12years.Interdit aux moins de 16 ans (-16): Forbidden for under 16years.Interdit aux moins de 18 ans (-18): Forbidden for under 18years.

In practice, most films in France are categorized rather than censored