German producer-distributor Constantin Film generated sales of $159m (Euros 124m) inthe first six months of 2006, an increase of 25% over the same period in 2005,and remains on track for its planned sales target of $321m (Euros 250m) for thefull year.

The increased sales volumewas largely achieved with the Constantin Group's TVservice productions, although home entertainment operations and the licensingof TV rights also accounted for 'further significant proportions' ofthe sales.

Theatrical distributionsales of $14m (Euros 11m) represented 9% of total sales in the first sixmonths, slightly higher than the $12.7m (Euros 9.9m) posted in the first halfof 2005, largely due to the releases of Elementarteilchen, DieWilden Huehner and Der Raeuber Hotzenplotz. Constantinpointed out in an adhoc communiquethat, in the second quarter of 2006, it had responded to the strong competitionfrom US blockbusters and from the World Cup by reducing the number oftheatrical releases to only four films - KeepingMum, Manuale D'Amore, Gib Mich Die Kirsche! - Die Deutsche Fussballrolle, and Franzoesisch Fuer Anfaenger - which wereshown on a small scale.

Thus, the highlights of Constantin's theatrical lineup -such as the family film Hui Buh - Das Schlossgespenst, Tom Tykwer's eagerly awaited Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer, Corey Yuen's action film Dead Or Alive, and the children's film TKKG - Das Geheimnis Um Die RaetselhafteMind-Maschine - were deliberately scheduled forthe third and fourth quarters to avoid clashes with the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Constantin reported that it has up to eight German and fourinternational feature projects at different stages of production this year,ranging from new films by Marc Rothemund, Vivian Naefe and Ben Verbong throughsequels of Fantastic Four, Wrong Turn and Resident Evil to co-producing Frederic Forestier's$90m (Euros 70m) Asterix At The Olympic Games.