Some 330 French films werereleased in at least one territory around the world in the first eleven monthsof 2004, according to French film export body Unifrance. The films achieved 33 million admissionsaround the world, down 11% on the same period in 2003.

Several factors explain thedownturn, including the fact that local box office hits The Choir and AVery Long Engagement have yet to be released in dozens of territories. Anestimated 40 million tickets will be sold by year's end.

At a press breakfast inParis on Wednesday morning, Unifrance president Margaret Menegoz stressed that"sometimes it takes two years for a film to live out its careerinternationally."

2005 should prove to be astrong year with A Very Long Engagement - which Unifrance is counting asFrench even if the CNC has been told not to by the courts - Oliver Stone'sAlexander, The Choir, EuropaCorp.'s Danny The Dog and CedricKlapisch's Russian Dolls all set to continue or begin theirinternational tours.

In China, French films soldtwo million tickets in 2004 with 9 releases. Germany has taken the lead as thebest European country for French films with a 93% increase on 2003.

The five top majority Frenchfilms abroad for the year were Jean-Jacques Annaud's Deux Freres, sequelCrimson Rivers 2: The Apocalypse, The Choir, Monsieur Ibrahimand 2003 Oscar nominee Belleville Rendez-Vous.

A special study was alsoconcluded by the exporters association ADEF to investigate the impact Frenchfilms have on tourism and the sales of French products.

Nearly 600 foreign touristsin France were queried for the poll with 70% saying they see French films intheir home country.

Eighty percent, meanwhile,said that watching French films had inspired them to travel to France and 60%said that they bought French products based on their filmgoing experiences.