EXCLUSIVE: French commercial agent and producer Other Angle hosts a showcase of French comedies at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills.
The idea behind The French Comedy Club initiative is to generate business for French comedies, particularly through remakes and acquisitions, and to promote French genre titles to the industry and the general public.
Each film was recently released in France but will debut in the United States. TF1, Gaumont and Pathé have also submitted films for the initiative, which has the support of the French film promotion agency UniFrance.
The initial program of francophone comedies includes Retirement home, Les Tuches 4, Super Who? and The Aspirants.
Photo by Gerard Depardieu and Kev Adams Retirement home, about a convict sentenced to perform community service in a retirement home, grossed $12 million in France last month. The comedy Super Who?which cost $13 million last month, follows a struggling actor who is ultimately cast as a superhero. Les Tuches 4, the fourth installment in the hit franchise, grossed $19 million last December despite the pandemic. Meanwhile, The Aspirantsfrom Through rose-colored glasses producer Alan Goldman, follows two warring salesmen who decide to team up to compete on game shows in an effort to pay off their debts.
The films will be screened the weekend of April 1st. Tickets will cost $10.
Other Angle is well-placed to lead the initiative given its strong track record in commercially successful genre titles. Last year, the comedy of the company spoiled children and the film by Jean Claude Van Damme The Last Mercenary were among the most successful non-English language films on Netflix worldwide with over 50 million views each.
The Comedy Club initiative is part of the Paris-based seller’s drive to increase its presence in the United States, which will involve working on more projects in English.
The company’s slate over the years has varied from Omar Sy’s comedy On the other side of the trackswhich was picked up by TWC, at the box office Baby sittingand more recent Cannes title The best years of a life.
Co-head of the company, Olivier Albou, told us: “For two years, the comedy market has been depressed but it is now coming back after the pandemic. The studios can focus on superhero films, but it There is a need for diversity of content among streamers and distributors. This showcase is a great opportunity for distributors, agents, producers and the American public to experience some of the best recent French comedies. If all goes well, we we’ll be back!
