Gaul photos have some fun, will travel

'The Untouchables,' 'The Artist,' 'A Gang Story' and '17 Girls' are some of the new French films with broad appeal overseas and locally. "The Artist" is on the roll, sweeping trophies around the world -- but that is just one sign that Gallic cinema has its mojo back.This Year, Franch-language films made 85% of the gross outdoors France. Time dropped to 52% this year (once the greatest-grossing French photos within the U.S. were "Colombiana," "Unknown" and "The 3 Musketeers" -- British-lingo photos with British-speaking stars).But this season, Gallic cinema is placed to achieve new levels. "The Artist" has made more than $28 million Stateside and it is certain to rise to new levels, increased by its Oscar wins for pic, actor, director and 2 other trophies.To be certain, U.S. marketing secrets is partially accountable for the prosperity of "The Artist." "The film's upbeat box office results cheap its actor Jean Dujardin and director Michel Hazanavicius happen to be so positively active in the film's promotion campaign, orchestrated with brio through the Weinstein Co., are improving the benefit of French cinema worldwide," states Regine Hatchondo, controlling director of Paris-based pic promotion org Unifrance.Actually, Weinstein continues to be getting a lot of 2011's high-profile French films, particularly Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledanos' "The Intouchables" and Olivier Marchal's "A Gang Story." Both game titles, repped by Gaumont, will have in the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in NY, the annual week-lengthy French cinema lovefest."Lately, there has been more movies from France that talk to us that we are very looking forward to,Inch states David Glasser, COO at Weinstein Co.The prosperity of "The Intouchables" is rejuvinating the look of French movies and opening buyers' minds, states Cecile Gaget, worldwide sales topper at Gaumont. " 'The Artist' and 'The Intouchables' underscore the diversity of French cinema today."Bowing with "The Intouchables," the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in NY will sample Gallic work and introduce promising beginners, particularly Delphine and Muriel Coulin's edgy feature debut "17 Women," David and Stephane Foenkinos' "Delicacy," and 2 photos from thesps-switched-company directors: Daniel Auteuil's "The Well-Digger's Daughter" and Mathieu Demy's "Americano," starring Salma Hayek like a Mexican stripper.And all sorts of these directorial debuts have U.S. distribution.Per Richard Lorber, top professional at arthouse shingle Kino Lorber, that has acquired "The Well-Digger's Daughter," "French cinema finds again its authentic voice and it is coming back to the roots with a brand new dimension of originality. 'The Artist,' 'Declaration of War' and 'Daughter' are quintessentially French but with an entertaining value and quality which makes them special."Strand Delivering prexy Marcus Hu, who's acquired "17 Women" and Andre Techine's "Inforgivable," confirms. "We've labored with strong auteurs from Gaspar Noe to Francois Ozon and Andre Techine, and also have seen them create a crossover film while still maintaining their strong fashion sense.InchFollowing fearing the worst a couple of in the past once the galleries shuttered their niche divisions, many French retailers agree that closing a distribution offer the U.S. today is simpler compared to some European nations like Italia or even the U.K."The U.S. is really a market of niches that provides many distribution models," states Gaget. "There's an arthouse circuit in NY and L.A. where we are able to have a movie launched on 10 copies, and also the VOD type of IFC or Magnolia." She adds that such new gamers as Cohen Media Group, Film District and Open Road also have vitalized the marketplace.Even though VOD can always maintain its infancy, it's giving industryites a brand new feeling of chance. "VOD platforms within the U.S. are becoming bigger," states Marie-Laure Montironi, mind of internatioanl sales at Luc Besson's EuropaCorp. "Marketers like Magnolia and Music Box now consider the film's VOD potential simply because they know they are able to sometimes recoup their investment with a decent VOD deal."The launch of Weinstein Co.'s VOD label, Radius-TWC, can also be viewed as great news for independent films. "VOD enables us to make use of new audiences for foreign-language movies," states Glasser. "We are likely to open your eyes from everyone towards the great type of cinema that's available through our very own video-on-demand system.""There'll always a segment of yankee audiences engaged with foreign films and edgier and more personal product," states Hu. "The adventurous tastes of cinephiles will always be around, they simply develop diversely nowadays."Related Links: Gual's gamers: The brand new generation Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com