Distribs, exhibs flock to Paris

'La Vie d'une autre''38 Witnesses''Ernest and Celestine''Cloclo'Sylvie Testud's "La Vie d'une autre," Lucas Belvaux's "38 Witnesses" and Philippe Lefebvre's "Paris by Evening" will screen within the 14th Unifrance Paris Rendez-Vous, which will run Jan. 11-16.A relationship-on-the-rocks dramedy, the Kinology-offered "Vie" stars Juliette Binoche and Mathieu Kassovitz.Films Distribution's crime drama "Witnesses" opens January's Rotterdam fest. With Roschdy Zem and Sara Forestier, "Evening," which tracks a evening-change vice-squad cop, is among multiple Rendez-Vous thrillers. TF1 Intl. also brings four.The Rendez-Vous also testifies to France's ongoing comedy boom, featuring Gaumont sales hit "The Chef," with Jean Reno, together with other Angle's potential B.O. juggernaut "Would I Lie, However? 3."Among debuts: EuropaCorp's romcom "Love Lasts three years,In . starring Louise Bourgoin ("Adele Blanc-Sec") from author-switched-helmer Frederic Beigbeder Films Distribution's thriller "Paris Under Watch," by Cedric Jimenez and Arnaud Duprey and Pathe's "Sunday Fathers" from helmer Louis Becker. Studiocanal will unveil "Cloclo," a biopic of famous French singer Claude Francois.It seems every year, two or three films use within the Rendez-Vous. Candidates for 2012 include Studiocanal's 2D toon pic, "Ernest and Celestine," cordially received just like a work-in-progress at Annecy, and Pyramide's "Here Below," from Jean-Pierre Denis ("Murderous Service personnel"), the actual story from the nun's passion for a French Resistance fighter.Under Regine Hatchondo's direction, the Rendez-Vous will invite a delegation of 30 participants from arthouse and multiplex theaters to sample approaching releases. "The diversity of multiplexes in France is exceptional," Hatchondo states. "Overseas entrepreneurs are faced having a completely different situation."Hatchondo notes that since 2010, the quantity of screens has elevated in places for instance India and china, but "it's not accomplished good success arthouse European cinema" and entrepreneurs are focusing rather on Americal films and native features.Unifrance may even invite seven European TV funnel cake cake toppers to register in the workshop through the Rendez-Vous. "The region of French cinema on European channels has changed," states Hatchondo. "The merchandise sales has ongoing to become roughly the identical, but European pictures are hardly ever created for primetime consequently acquisition prices come down.InchFor your second edition of the online experiment, My French Film Festival -- searching for Jan. 12 to Feb. 1 -- Unifrance teamed with Allocine and attracted new partners: China's Youku, U.S.'s SnagFilms, Germany's Filmstarts.p, and Brazil's Terra.TV, furthermore to Mubi, Filmin, KT in Korea and J.Com in Japan.Selection boasts game game titles that are still accessible in many areas, particularly Valerie Donzelli's crazy feature debut "The Entire Of Hearts" and laffer "To In Which You Began," directed by comics Thomas Ngijol and Fabrice Eboue."We feel the VOD market may ultimately prove highly complementary to theatrical activity. And often, a VOD release doesn't impact negatively the theatrical rollout," Hatchondo highlights. "The idea behind the web festival is not simply to assess the various VOD areas, but furthermore to enhance the world exposure of emerging French company company directors to assist them for next films."Hatchondo is tolerant of next year's B.O. prospects for French films. Stating "The Artist," "Intouchables," "Commitment of War" and "A Gang Story," she thinks there's a good venture many Gallic game game titles will translate to worldwide auds.RELATED LINKS: Gallic laffers get guffaws Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com