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StudioCanal

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StudioCanal S.A.S.[1] (formerly known as Le Studio Canal+, Canal Plus, Canal+ Distribution, Canal+ D.A., and Canal+ Production), from 2001 until 2011 known as STUDIOCANAL, today from 2011 to present stylized as STUDIOCANAL and also known as StudioCanal International, is a French film production and distribution company. The company is a subsidiary of the Canal+ Group, owned by Vivendi. As of May 2024 the company has 14 production companies in Europe and the US, and holds around 9,000 titles in its extensive film library.

StudioCanal S.A.S.
FormerlyCanal+ Production (1984–1990)
Le Studio Canal+ (1990–2000)
Canal+ D.A. (1992–2000)
Company typeSubsidiary (Société par actions simplifiée)
IndustryFilmmaking
Film distribution
Predecessors
FoundedSeptember 7, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-09-07)
FounderPierre Lescure
Headquarters
Paris, France
Area served
Afro-Eurasia
Oceania
Key people
Maxime Saada (Chairman)
Anna Marsh (CEO)
ParentCanal+ Group
Divisions
  • StudioCanal Australia
  • StudioCanal GmbH
  • StudioCanal Kids & Family
  • StudioCanal Original
  • StudioCanal Stories
  • StudioCanal UK
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.studiocanal.com

History

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See also: Groupe Canal+ § History

On 1 January 1987, Canal+ Productions was founded as a cinema film co-production subsidiary of the cable channel which had been established in November 1984, Canal+. The subscription channel was co-founded by André Rousselet[2] and Pierre Lescure.[3][4] This was to reduce Canal+'s dependence on the American major studios by building its own library that the pay-TV channel could use on their own channels and internationally.[2]

By December 1990, Canal+ Productions rebranded to Le Studio Canal+, and released its first film, The Double Life of Veronique, by Krzysztof Kieslowski.[4] By the early 1990s, it became apparent that Canal+ was a major contributor to the French film industry, with its obligation to spend 10% of its income on French-made films, as well as being Europe's largest buyer of American film rights.[2] Canal+ also made investments in other companies. In 1991 it bought a five percent stake in the independent American studio Carolco Pictures.[2] However, in 1992, Le Studio Canal+ suffered financial difficulties after Carolco Pictures entered a corporate restructure.[citation needed]

StudioCanal's most notable productions from its early years include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, JFK, Basic Instinct, Cliffhanger, Under Siege, Free Willy, and the original Stargate movie. In those days, it was known as either Le Studio Canal+ or simply Canal+.[citation needed]

Other films the company financed include U-571, Bully, and Bridget Jones's Diary. StudioCanal also funded the last third of David Lynch's film Mulholland Drive.[5] StudioCanal also financed French-language films, such as Brotherhood of the Wolf (which became the sixth-highest-grossing French-language film of all time in the United States) and Intimate Strangers. Films such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day which grossed US$519 million, Basic Instinct which grossed US$352 million and The Tourist which grossed US$278 million worldwide, have been big box-office hits for StudioCanal.[6][7][8]

In January 1996, Le Studio Canal+ made a $56 million bid for Carolco Pictures' library. 20th Century Fox, which had originally agreed to buy the library for $50 million, had dropped their bid to $47.5 million and ultimately dropped out of contention, making this acquisition Canal+'s first foray into library acquisitions.[9][10]

Le Studio Canal+'s original plan was to build a pan-European distribution network. They made their first known acquisition into a foreign market in 1997 when they bought a 20% minority stake in Germany's Tobis Film; they would later increase the stake to 60% in February 2000, renaming the company Tobis StudioCanal.[11]

On 1 December 1998, all of Canal+ film, television, music, video production activities, etc., were grouped into a new entity, Canal+ Image, which was rebranded as StudioCanal in 2000.[4]

In July 2001, StudioCanal acquired a 45% stake in the Sogepaq division of Spain's Sogecable (Vivendi Universal owned 21% of Sogecable at the time) for $36.2 million, also giving the company a 73% controlling stake in its Spanish subsidiary StudioCanal España and a minority stake in the joint venture Warner Sogefilms.[12][13][14] In October 2002, StudioCanal and BAC Majestic parted ways, terms of the deal included the sale of Mars Distribution to StudioCanal thus giving the latter their own distribution division; the joint venture BAC Distribution, majority owned by StudioCanal, would shut down and revert to BAC Majestic.[15]

However, staff departures and its parent Vivendi Universal's debt forced StudioCanal to gradually sell off their interests in these companies:

  • Tobis StudioCanal was subject to a management buyout by CEO Kilian Rebentrost and shareholder Pathé in December 2002 and renamed back to Tobis Film, although the two companies maintained their business relations.[16][11]
  • Sogepaq was sold back to Sogecable in July 2003 for £48 million ($54.2 million).[17]
  • Mars Films split from StudioCanal in 2007 to become independent; StudioCanal would later buy a 30% stake in the company in September 2015 and begin controlling its library in August 2021.[18][19][20]

Three years later, StudioCanal announced that they're re-entered the international market by acquiring film distributor Optimum Releasing in May 2006 as their first expansion into the United Kingdom, releasing their British film and television catalogue, including the EMI Films library, through the newly acquired company.[21] A year later, Optimum Home Entertainment and Lionsgate UK acquired Elevation Sales, a home entertainment sales and distribution company.[22][23]

In January 2008, StudioCanal announced that they've entered their second expansion into the international market with the acquisition of German-based film independent distributor Kinowelt, which had distributed StudioCanal's films there until then, marking a re-entry for StudioCanal into the German market.[24][4] Kinowelt also owned the DVD label Arthaus. Both Optimum Releasing and Kinowelt have since been merged into StudioCanal and both were rebranded as StudioCanal UK and StudioCanal GmbH respectively.[25]

In January 2012, StudioCanal expanded its European operations by acquiring a majority stake in Munich-based producer and distributor Tandem Productions, marking the company's first major move into television production. StudioCanal would later buy out the company's remaining shares in May 2020.[26][27]

In July 2012, StudioCanal announced that they've made a deal with Australian & New Zealans cinema chain Hoyts to acquire the latter's independent film distribution division Hoyts Distribution as their third expansion, marking StudioCanal's first acquisition outside of Europe with StudioCanal giving opportunities to make their productions in Australia and Hoyts Distribution CEO Robert Slaviero will continue to workthe acquired Australian company StudioCanal.[28] A year later in April 2013, StudioCanal announced that they've rebranded their Australian division Hoyts Distribution under the StudioCanal banner.[29]

In December 2013, StudioCanal announced its acquisition of a majority stake in the British independent TV production company Red Production Company, marking StudioCanal's entry into the UK television drama production industry.[30]

In September 2014, StudioCanal announced a first-look deal with the newly established American entertainment company The Picture Company, founded by former Silver Pictures employees Andrew Rona and Alex Heinemann. The deal was extended in May 2023, with StudioCanal acquiring a minority stake in the company alongside a new five-year deal.[31]

In June 2016, StudioCanal acquired the intellectual rights to the Paddington Bear brand, along with the Copyrights Group, the franchise's merchandise licensing agent. StudioCanal then announced that it would be producing three more Paddington films, including a show on the Nick Jr. Channel in 2020.[32]

In July 2021, StudioCanal announced its acquisition of German production company Lailaps Films.[33]

In June 2022, StudioCanal announced that it had acquired a majority stake Utrecht-based independent film production and distribution firm Dutch FilmWorks, marking an expansion into the Benelux for StudioCanal.[34]

In April 2024, it was announced that StudioCanal had launched a new label dedicated to publishing book-to-screen adaptations called StudioCanal Stories.[35]

As of May 2024 the company has 14 production companies in Europe and the US.[36]

In September 2024, StudioCanal had announced that they're rebranding their merchandising and licensing company The Copyrights Group as their own children's division named StudioCanal Kids & Family to expand their kids and family brand portfolio and they will also lead on worldwide brand development, licensing and retail services including their own IP Paddington Bear, with their CEO Francoise Guyonnet continuing to be the CEO of the renamed division.[37][38]

People

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Anna Marsh was CEO of Studiocanal in 2019 until October 2022, when she was Deputy CEO of Canal+ Group. She had joined Studiocanal in 2008, and been formerly held positions such as head of international sales and managing director of StudioCanal UK.[39]

Film library

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StudioCanal acquired film libraries from studios that either became defunct or had merged with it over the years; as a result, the company's library is one of the largest in the world.[citation needed] As of 2024 the company holds more than 9,000 titles.[36]

StudioCanal owns the libraries of the following companies:

Former agreements

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Television series

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StudioCanal currently[when?] owns the rights to over 30 television series, mostly produced by TANDEM Productions and Red Production Company, including The Avengers, Rambo: The Force of Freedom, Paranoid, Public Eye, Crazyhead, Take Two, Wanted Dead or Alive, The Adventures of Paddington (2019), and international rights to The Big Valley[citation needed]

Distribution

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Outside France, the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand and Germany, StudioCanal does not have a formal distribution unit per se, instead relying on other distribution studios and home video distributors to handle their titles. In North America for example, The Criterion Collection, Rialto Pictures, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (for the Embassy catalog), Universal Pictures (for co-productions), Shout! Studios and Kino Lorber distribute StudioCanal's back catalogue on DVD and Blu-ray Disc (in addition, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Image Entertainment previously owned several of their titles). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has handled distribution of StudioCanal/Hoyts Distribution films in Australia and New Zealand on DVD and Blu-ray since early 2013.

From the 1990s to early 2000s, Warner Home Video formerly handled distribution of select StudioCanal titles through the Canal+ Image label in the United Kingdom on VHS and DVD until 2006 when StudioCanal opened its own distribution unit in the UK, with titles distributed through Optimum Releasing (via Universal Pictures Home Entertainment from 2006 to 2007 and Elevation Sales since 2007).[54]

StudioCanal had the European home video distribution rights to 550 titles from the Miramax library from 2011 to 2020,[55][56] when ViacomCBS bought a minority stake in Miramax.

On 13 October 2021, StudioCanal announced that its global distribution deal with Universal would expire in January 2022. Later that year, they started distributing their home media releases through Plaion Pictures in Germany. In early 2024, they started distributing their home media releases in France through ESC Distribution.[57]

Selected films produced by StudioCanal or associated companies

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Main article: List of StudioCanal films

References

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  1. ^ "T-800 Endoskeleton".
  2. ^ a b c d "Canal Plus". Encyclopedia.com. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  3. ^ Milmo, Dan (16 April 2002). "Lescure ousted at Canal Plus". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "L'histoire du Groupe CANAL+ de 1983 à nos jours". Canal+. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012.
  5. ^ Mulholland Drive at IMDb
  6. ^ "Terminator 2: Judgment Day". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Basic Instinct". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  8. ^ "The Tourist". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  9. ^ Bates, James (17 January 1996). "New Carolco Library Bid Sends Fox Running". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Carolco Pictures files for bankruptcy protection". New York Times. 11 November 1995.
  11. ^ a b Nartowicz, Alexandra (3 January 2003). "StudioCanal sells its share of Tobis". Cineuropa. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  12. ^ Hopewell, John (2 July 2001). "Vivendi U buys into Sogepaq". Variety. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  13. ^ Frater, Patrick (2 July 2002). "StudioCanal acquires 45% of Sogepaq for $36m". Screen International. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  14. ^ "StudioCanal acquires 45% of Sogepaq". Unifrance. 5 July 2001. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  15. ^ Meaux Saint Marc, Francoise (2 October 2002). "StudioCanal grabs Mars Films, gives Bac new hope". Screen International. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  16. ^ Meza, Ed (1 December 2002). "Viv U scootin' Teuton distrib". Variety. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Viv U sells its Sogepaq stake". Variety. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Celerier says Mars can do it all". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 February 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  19. ^ "StudioCanal Acquires 30% Of Mars Films; Appoints Didier Lupfer As President". Deadline Hollywood. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  20. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (20 August 2021). "Studiocanal to Operate Heavy-Hitting Mars Films Library as French Distributor Finalizes Restructuring". Variety. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Studio Canal moves into Blighty". Variety. 7 May 2006.
  22. ^ "About Us". Elevation Sales. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  23. ^ Andrews, Sam (20 May 2007). "Optimum, Lionsgate to buy Elevation Sales". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  24. ^ "StudioCanal buys Kinowelt". Variety. 17 January 2008.
  25. ^ "Optimum, Kinowelt to be rebranded as StudioCanal". Screen Daily. 30 June 2011.
  26. ^ Maza, Ed; Hopewell, John (12 January 2012). "StudioCanal acquires Tandem". Variety. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  27. ^ "StudioCanal Takes Full Control of 'Pillars of the Earth' Producer Tandem". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Studiocanal buys Hoyts Distribution". Variety. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Hoyts Distribution renamed STUDIOCANAL in Australia and New Zealand". IF Magazine. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013.
  30. ^ Chapman, Stephen (5 December 2013). "StudioCanal acquires stake in Red Production Company". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  31. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (22 May 2023). "StudioCanal Acquires Mintory Stake in The Picture Company". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  32. ^ Hopewell, John; Keslassy, Elsa (20 June 2016). "Studiocanal Acquires Paddington Bear Brand, Plans Third Paddington Movie". Variety.
  33. ^ "StudioCanal buys German prodco Lailaps". C21Media. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  34. ^ "StudioCanal Takes Majority Stake in Dutch Filmworks". The Hollywood Reporter. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  35. ^ Whittock, Jesse; Goldbart, Max (29 April 2024). "StudioCanal Launches Literary Adaptations Label". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Our activities: From a French television channel to a global audiovisual group". CANAL+ Group. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  37. ^ Batey, Neil (18 September 2024). "StudioCanal rebrands The Copyrights Group as StudioCanal Kids & Family". C21Media. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  38. ^ Watson, Cole (18 September 2024). "The Copyrights Group rebrands as StudioCanal Kids & Family". Kidsreen. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  39. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (3 October 2022). "Anna Marsh Named Deputy CEO Canal+ Group". Deadline. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  40. ^ a b c Lambie, Ryan (11 March 2014). "The rise and fall of Carolco". Den of Geek. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  41. ^ a b c Lambie, Ryan (26 January 2015). "Exclusive: CEO Alex Bafer Tells Us About The Return of Carolco". Den of Geek. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  42. ^ a b Hammer, Joshua (8 March 1992). "Total Free Fall". Newsweek. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  43. ^ Friendly, David T. (16 November 1985). "De Laurentiis Rejoins The Ranks--at Embassy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  44. ^ Hopewell, John (20 October 2012). "Lumiere rocks to French classics". Variety. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  45. ^ a b c d e f Mitchell, Wendy (17 December 2012). "Network Distributing acquires rights to 450 films from StudioCanal library". Screen Daily. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  46. ^ "A.B. Pictures Acquire 50% Of Anglo Amalgamated." The Times [London, England]; April 5, 1962: 21. The Times Digital Archive.
  47. ^ "Associated British Picture Corporation." Sunday Times [London, England] September 3, 1967: 44. The Sunday Times Digital Archive.
  48. ^ a b "STUDIOCANAL". British Universities Film & Video Council.
  49. ^ Haflidason, Almar. "Ealing Comedy Boxset 2 DVD (1947-1953)". BBC Online. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  50. ^ French, Philip (9 August 2014). "The Ealing Studios Collection Vol 1 review – Philip French on three immaculately restored Ealing classics". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  51. ^ "STUDIOCANAL acquires the Romulus Films catalogue". StudioCanal. 6 April 2021.
  52. ^ "Studiocanal Inks Library Deal with Classic Horror Brand Hammer Films". 30 September 2019.
  53. ^ "Studiocanal Acquires Library of 'The Intouchables' Producer". Variety. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  54. ^ James, Alison; Dawtrey, Adam (7 May 2006). "Studio Canal moves into Blighty". Variety. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  55. ^ "Lionsgate, StudioCanal to distribute Miramax films". BusinessWeek. 11 February 2011.
  56. ^ "Lionsgate, Studiocanal and Miramax Enter Into Home Entertainment Distribution Agreements". Yahoo! Finance. 11 February 2011.[permanent dead link]
  57. ^ "'Terminator 2,' 'Basic Instinct' to Return to Studiocanal Distribution Portfolio as NBCUniversal Deal Ends – Global Bulletin". 13 October 2021.
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