French majorGaumont has announced its first half figures for 2005 with a healthy 25%increase in revenues compared to the same period last year.

The film companyposted revenues of Euros 46.2mn and a profit of Euros 5.3m in the first sixmonths of 2005.

Gaumont, whichis coming back into its own following a string of bad years, ushered in a newmanagement team in late 2004 made up of Sidonie Dumas, Franck Chorot andChristophe Riandee. The trio's aim is to focus on a diverse slate of projectswith shared risk.

The companynoted that revenues were boosted by the video release of 36, Quai DesOrfevres and L'EnqueteCorse as well asinternational sales on Empire Of The Wolves.

And, despite an overall 15% drop in cinema-going at Frenchtheatres, takings at Gaumont's exhibition joint-venture, EuroPalaces, were down10% on last year with Euros 185.8m in sales compared to Euros 207.1m.

Gaumont notedthat it currently has credit lines worth Euros 103m of which Euros 53.9mn hasbeen used.

Upcoming filmsfrom the studio include Valerie Lermercier's comedy Palais Royal!, a new film from Francis Veber called LaDoublure and MichelGondry's The Science Of Sleep starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte Gainsbourg.