The demonstration, which takes place from June 30 to July 3, coincides with the week between the two rounds of elections.
“We go out to vote and we can definitely make a detour to see a film!” At the Lumière de Vierzon, as in the 2000 other cinemas in France, theater managers are praying that the legislative elections will not overshadow the Cinema Festival on Sunday. In the Cher sub-prefecture, Aurélie Delage, who has just taken over the operation of the seven-screen cinema in the city center, is busy for this highlight of the year. From June 30 to July 3, here as elsewhere in France, all sessions cost 5 euros. “We have people who come to see just one film, and others who follow a series of screenings and have a little marathon”explains the manager.
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But this year, the political climate could weigh on the demonstration. The first round of the legislative elections takes place on Sunday June 30 and the Cinema Festival coincides with the campaign week between the two rounds. Aurélie Delage hopes that “people will want escape, and lighter subjects. We remain an accessible cultural leisure activity”.
His hopes are shared by the National Federation of French Cinemas. “The electoral campaign does not prevent people from going to the cinema, we offer a moment to breathe”, estimates Marc-Olivier Sebbag, general delegate of the FNCF. Especially since if citizens fulfill their duty, they “will tend to go away less on weekends” and will be free for a film, he hopes.
Vice versa 2 et Monte Cristo
Specialist in box office analysis for the company Comscore, Eric Marti shows himself “very optimistic for the Cinema Festival” and does not anticipate any impact on attendance, except in the event of public unrest in the streets the day after the first round.
Struggling since the start of the year, with a decline of up to -35% in April, attendance at French cinemas suddenly woke up in May with the unexpected success of the comedy A little something extra , signed Artus.
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The film has already recorded more than 7.3 million admissions and remains on display in hundreds of theaters for the Cinema Festival. Families will also be able to see Vice Versa 2 , the Pixar animated film which got off to a very good start, while teenagers will shudder at the horror film Without a sound: day 1.
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Laurence Arné and his companion, Dany Boon, hope to win their piece of the cake with The Hennedricks Familywhile Kinds of Kindness, by Yorgos Lanthimos, is the first big title from the Cannes Film Festival to be released in theaters. But the film that plays the biggest is Le Comte de Monte Cristo , with Pierre Niney in the title role. The most important French production of the year comes out on Friday and hopes to continue its career all summer.
Because after a lean period in the first half, marked by a lack of major American productions, many films delayed by the screenwriters’ strike in Hollywood last year are expected in the second half. However, it is difficult to find titles as promising as Barbie et Oppenheimerboxes from last year.
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Professionals rely on Despicable Me 4 (July 10), a new Twister (July 17) on tornado chasers or an ambitious Marvel, Deadpool & Wolverine (July 24), with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. On the French side, besides Monte Cristothe new adventures of Largo Winch (July 31) or the musical comedy by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perezdoubly awarded at Cannes (August 21), are cited.
Will the Olympic Games give spectators time to go to the cinema? The impact should be minor and focused on the end of the competition, just like that of Euro football, notable only if France goes far in the final stages, analyzes Eric Marti. Which is already looking ahead to the fall, and the big expected releases, of the new Gladiator following Joker.
