More than 100million filmgoers went to French cinemas in the first half of 2004, an increaseof 19% over the first six months of last year, and 8% over the stronger firsthalf of 2002, according to the National Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF).

102,540,000tickets were sold in the first six months of this year, compared to 86,210,000for the same period in 2003.

Twenty-five filmsattracted over one million viewers, a list led by Les Choristes byChristophe Barratier (6,567,037 tickets sold), Harry Potter and the Prisonerof Azkaban by Alfonso Cuaron (5,804,267 tickets sold), Brother Bearby Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker (3,556,457 tickets sold) and Jean-JacquesAnnaud's Two Brothers (3,185,757 tickets sold).