EUROPA DISTRIBUTION WORKSHOP IN ANNECY (JUNE ) Conference Theme: The distribution of animation movies in Europe Anna Mikropoulou Vice President, Acquisitions & Marketing P.C.V. S.A. GREECE

Why Independent Animated Films? We distribute animated films from independent European studios because each one has its own artistic identity and different social – didactic issues. Therefore, they offer a multiplicity of artistic, social, pedagogic, historical and environmental values to their audience.

Disadvantages 1.The costs of dubbing are very high. 2.They get even higher by the necessity to hire local stars. 3.The advertising campaign budget of an animation film, versus a feature film is between 50% and 100% higher, as TV advertising is must for its BO potential. 4.Needs many prints and many weeks in exhibition in order to gain its audiences and its income. 5.Hard for the distributor to make its independent film product well known to the public prior to the release and create the necessary expectation contrary to the major animation films (Disney-Pixar-Dreamworks-etc.) The total cost of the European Cinematic release of such films, is far higher compared to the Pan American releases.

AZUR ET ASMAR Theatrical release: March 29, prints, of which 19 were dubbed in the Greek language and 2 two were in the original French version with Greek subtitles. 22 weeks on the screens Total admissions first run: 21,000 approx, of which the 15,500 effected in the first 5 weeks. PERSEPOLIS Theatrical release: November 08, prints 20 weeks on the screens Total admissions first run: 32,000 approx, of which the 22,500 approx effected in the first 5 weeks. (The first 5,100 admissions were effected in the first week by 1 print in 1 prestigious theatre) An Example Independent European Animation Release Major studio’s animation release RATATOUILLE Theatrical release: September 27, prints 22 weeks on the screens Total admissions first run: 308,000 approx, of which the 246,000 effected in the first 5 weeks.

Some optimistic thoughts and conclusions… The Media support is a crucial factor concerning the decision to release an animation film theatrically. Pan-European campaigns could certainly be planned. Having the major European territories in a large European Group of Independent Distributors, we can certainly work miracles with the marketing and the characters licensing of the Independent European Animated Pictures. With the introduction of the new technologies, if the digital releases costs become far lower than the 35mm print costs, it would be far more affordable to widely release animation films, as the P & A budgets would be dramatically decreased. The new video media, VOD, PPV, Internet, etc, will hopefully become an important source of income, leading to wider video exploitation. The issue of the “comeback” of the Media Video Support is a crucial factor of the wider distribution of European Animation.