Cinema Report Ranks NZ among top 20 Globally

19 May 2006

Film New Zealand Media Release

Cannes 2006 European Cinema Report Ranks New Zealand among top 20 Globally

Film New Zealand

New Zealand ranks in top 20 globally, says Cannes 2006 European Cinema Report

In its annual report Focus 2006: World Film Market Trends released this week at the Cannes Film Market, the European Audiovisual Observatory ranks two major features from New Zealand among the top 20 in the 2005 global box office. The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and King Kong, released only in December 2005, are ranked #7 and #8 respectively with a combined total of USD $816m. The two movies were filmed on location and in studios in New Zealand by two of the country’s acclaimed directors, Andrew Adamson for ‘Narnia’ and Peter Jackson for King Kong, in 2004/05.

“This achievement for New Zealand’s screen production industry illustrates the range of advantages New Zealand offers as a filmmaking centre – from diverse locations, highly skilled crews and effects capability and the Large Budget Screen Production grant as an additional critical incentive,” said Film New Zealand’s CEO Judith McCann. “All top 20 movies involve US studios, and the only partnering countries involved in the other 18 titles are the UK in 4 plus Germany and Canada with 1 each”.

“Even more significant are the number of admissions or tickets sold in the European market these two movies achieved during their initial month in release: the report positions the two in the top 10 with a combined audience of just over 32 million moviegoers throughout Europe,” Ms McCann noted. Film New Zealand’s CEO is attending the Cannes Market meeting with producers interested in bringing productions to New Zealand.

European admissions tracked by the European Audiovisual Observatory also rank New Zealand’s filmmaking achievements highly with The Lord of the Rings trilogy featuring among the top 5 in European admissions since 1996 with a total of over 160 million seeing New Zealand on screen.

Speaking from Auckland Film New Zealand’s Chairman David Madigan commented: “I think all of New Zealand from the creators to the communities involved should take enormous pride in the global audiences New Zealand has attracted through filmmaking. As the national film office facilitating filming in New Zealand, Film New Zealand’s role in attracting screen production from overseas to build employment within the industry is enhanced by this demonstrable proof of the quality of our screen productions … and the brilliance of our cinema storytellers.”

In February this year, the Minister of Economic Development Trevor Mallard announced the Government’s decision to continue the Large Budget Screen Production grant incentive. “This incentive has proven critical to the making of the two feature films identified in the European report and to the strong slate of feature and television productions that have been keeping the industry busy in 2006,” said Mr. Madigan.

As the national film office, Film New Zealand is an industry-led organisation supported by the Ministry of Economic Development and working in strategic partnerships with Investment NZ and the New Zealand Film Commission through a range of initiatives including international markets like Cannes.

Focus 2006 – World Film Market Trends – Cannes Film Market

Backgrounder

Global phenomenon in 2005 saw admissions decline compared to 2004: 8.7% in the USA, 11.4% in the European Union, 21.7% in Brazil, 10.2% in Australia and 5.7% in Japan. Bucking this trend, cinema audiences increased in South Korea (5.8%), Russia and also estimated in China.

Focus 2006 provides cinema statistics for most major territories, including lists of top 20 titles for 2005 by either box office or by admissions. New Zealand figures prominently on virtually all lists through The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Narnia) and King Kong – both identified as “US/NZ inc”.

Other film producing nations with films among the top 20 include: Great Britain (Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire, Charlie & Chocolate Factory, Batman Begins and Kingdom of Heaven), Germany (Fantastic Four and also Kingdom of Heaven), and Canada (The Pacifier). These also are listed in partnership with the US.

The following summary identifies where New Zealand and its two titles are positioned for global cinema performances during 2005 (noting both were still in release in 2006). Position Box Office Admissions (millions - rounded)

World Box Office: 7 – Narnia USD 428m 8 – King Kong UDS 388m

European Union Top 25 by admissions in Europe since 1996: 2 – LOTR: Fellowship 60.465 4 – LOTR: Two Towers 55.550 5 – LOTR: Return 54.787 Top 25 by admissions in Europe in 2005: 7 – Narnia 18.689 10 – King Kong 14.114

Top 20 by admissions or box office and by individual territory in Europe: France 12 – King Kong 2.290 19 – Narnia 1.814 Germany 7 – Narnia 2.723 12 – King Kong 1.790 Italy 16 – Narnia 1.361 Spain 9 – Narnia 2.540 15 – King Kong 1.604 UK & Ireland 4 – Narnia GBP 36.148 8 – King Kong GBP 23.920

Cannes 2006 European Cinema Report Ranks New Zealand among top 20 Globally Film New Zealand 19 May 2006

Position Box Office Admissions (millions - rounded) Benelux 12 – King Kong 0.652 16 – Narnia 0.565 Austria/Switzerland 7 – Narnia 0.529 Nordic* 5 – Narnia 0.999 11 – King Kong 0.662 (* Includes Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden) Russian Federation/C.I.S. 6 – King Kong USD 8.766m North America 4 – Narnia USD 225.7m 11 – King Kong USD 174.6m (Includes USA & Canada) Quebec (Canada) 15 – King Kong 0.362 Latin America: Argentina neither identified on list for 2005 Australia 11 – King Kong AUD 14.35m 13 – Narnia AUD 13.82m Asia By territory reporting on top 10 films: Hong Kong 4 – King Kong HKD 30.6m Singapore 2 – King Kong USD 4.8m 4 – Narnia USD 4.1m South Korea 14 – King Kong 2.920 India – neither listed as top 20 are all domestic films. Japan – neither listed (though Ocean’s Twelve is at 14 as US/Australian)

‘Focus 2006: World Film Market Trends” is an annual publication released at the Cannes Film Market by the European Audiovisual Observatory. Data is complied from a variety of national and international agencies including MPAA.)

ENDS

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