France'sNational Cinema Federation (FNCF) has announced a drop in first quarter figuresfor 2005 against last year.

In thefirst three months of the year, the box-office racked up 44.6 millionadmissions versus 50.1 million over the same period in 2004.

The FNCF put the drop down to a less "rich" selectionof films compared to last year.

In the first few months of 2004, not only did Podium,Brother Bear and Les 11 Commandements score big, but France's numberone film of 2004, The Chorus, opened in March.

In 2005 so far the big winner is comedy Iznogoudwhich sold 2.5 million tickets during its run. By comparison, 2004's firstsemester winner, Podium, took in 3.5 million admissions.