Patrick Vandenbosch, chief executive of leading Benelux distributor Belga, has outlined the company’s new strategy following its acquisition this week of Marc Punt’s Amsterdam-based distributor Independent Films.
Belga previously had a 50/50 partnership with Independent and released its films in the Netherlands through the company, while Independent’s films were released in Belgium through Belga. Now, Belga has taken over the Dutch outfit entirely.
“Independent is becoming for us a key profit centre instead of just an operational partnership,” Vandenbosch said, explaining that Belga will also look to develop and own Dutch films through Independent.
Lionsgate and Summit
The changing realities of theatrical distribution mean Belga has been weaning itself off its output deals with companies including Lionsgate and Summit through which it released such blockbuster fare as the Twilight and Hunger Games franchises.
“We don’t want to be obliged to release a certain amount of movies. We are trying to be the most selective possible in the acquisition of content,” said Vandenbosch. Belga is now looking to limit its number of releases. “It’s a bit like the law of Pareto. 20% of movies were generating 80% [of revenues] but now it is even more pronounced. We see a decline of the box office everywhere…there is no point in releasing 25 movies a year. We need to be selective to stick to something like 10-15.”
“People don’t have the same money to invest in leisure. They are selective. That is normal,” he continued. “We need to identify what the young audience wants.”
US relationships
However, Belga retains relationships with prominent US sellers. The company will be releasing John Wick: Chapter 4 in Benelux in March. Also on its slate is the After franchise sold by Voltage. Films such as After We Collided and After Ever Happy have generated huge box office returns in Benelux.
Meanwhile, in the coming months, Belga will release Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes, French animation Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie, Christian Clavier comedy Cocorico as well as Dutch films including De Tatta’s and Net Als In De Film.
Belga is also developing English-speaking films through its company Belga Studios. Titles coming through this outlet include The Yellow “M”, based on the Blake and Mortimer series and due to be directed by Jan Kounen, that is now out to cast. Also in development is The Einstein Enigma, a Da Vinci Code- like thriller adapted from the novel by José Rodrigues dos Santos, Meanwhile, Pierre Morel is attached to direct the action horror The Book With No Name.
Youth-oriented and family pictures are performing robustly, said Vandenbosch and Belga has a shareholding in Belgian animation powerhouse nWave. “We are very ambitious for that company. We want to produce one movie a year. We want to develop animated series as well.”
The next nWave feature project, due to be released next summer, is The Inseparables, based on an original story by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, writer of Toy Story.
Vandenbosch emphasised local content is working well. “What we want to do is to get [into] partnership with the best local producers,”
The ambition is to produce more Benelux projects through Independent.
Marc Punt launched Independent Films in 2000 and the company has been working with Belga Films for over 20 years. Punt will now concentrate on his own writing and producing. “We will still collaborate with [Punt] on the production level,” Vandenbosch said.
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