GillesPorte, Cesar winning director of Quand La Mer Monte, has spoken outagainst major cinema circuits which have declined to program his film even inlight of its recent national awards.

OnSunday, Quand La Mer Monte received the Cesar for best first film andbest actress for Yolande Moreau who is also the film's co-director.

Ina press statement, Porte said, "Wednesday March 3, the day when programming isannounced, I notice that not one of the 1,032 screens belonging to UGC, Gaumontand Pathe have taken the film - or taken it back in two of their cases," This,he added, was despite the "recognition of the public" which has led the film tosell 300,000 tickets on just 70 screens. The film's original release date wasOctober 27 2004.

Porte'scomplaints highlight the ongoing distribution crisis in France which sees themarket try to bear as many as 20 releases in a given week. This week alonethere were 16 new releases and next week 18 are to be launched.