Frances McDormand in "Nomadland" by Chloé Zhao -
Searchlight Pictures
“Nomadland” and “The Father” have already won numerous awards in Anglo-Saxon countries before the Oscars on April 25th.
The reopening of American theaters allowed them to be distributed and seen by the public.
It is too early to launch the promotion in France where we have no visibility on the reopening of cinemas.
Who in France has heard of
The Father
, the first film by French novelist Florian Zeller, or of
Nomadland
by Chinese-American Chloé Zhao?
These two films, which again triumphed at the British Baftas and are given favorites at the Oscars, collect the awards in the Anglo-Saxon world where everyone can talk about them, for having seen them.
So why not in France?
Quite simply because the films have not been released and their distributors are waiting for theaters to reopen to do so.
While, in the United States, cinemas have been welcoming audiences again since March 5, it is still impossible to know what happens to Anthony Hopkins as an old father who is losing his temper or to Frances McDormand as a nomad of modern times.
So much so that hundreds of feature films are currently lost in the limbo of the many postponed releases.
No release, no promo
"The promotion of a film is expensive and none of us want to invest as long as we have no certainty on the reopening dates, explains to
20 Minutes
a distributor who prefers not to give his name. .
If we put in the money too early, the public will have time to forget about the film and the publicity will have been useless.
"
Distributors therefore keep their marbles for the moment when they can reveal these very promising films to the general public.
With a sure and certain release date.
The awards are free and prestigious publicity that there will always be time to build on when it reopens.
Unless the distributors of these films do not end up giving in to the other choice, the one that everyone wants to avoid: the sale directly on a streaming platform or on VOD with the release of the DVD in stride, which was the case. notably for
Wonder Woman 1984
by Patty Jenkins.
“The problem is piracy,” says our anonymous distributor.
Viewers who illegally download films sometimes make it no longer profitable to release them.
The longer you wait to go to the theater, the more destructive this phenomenon is.
"
While waiting for the French releases of
Nomadland
, officially on May 12,
and of The Father,
which has no date yet, we will already be watching on April 25 to know the Oscar winners where these two films feature prominently.
A few additional rewards will not be useless when it comes to promo time.
Cinema
Before the Oscars, "Nomadland" triumphs at the Bafta, Anthony Hopkins crowned best actor
Cinema
"The songs my brothers taught me": In the heart of an Indian reserve
Oscars
Movie theater
Price
Cinema