U.K.-based repertory powerhouse Park Circus has secured French distribution of Warner Bros.’ classic film library, CEO Doug Davis confirmed to Variety ahead of the International Classic Film Market (MIFC) in Lyon.
“We will be distributing the Warner Brothers classic film library theatrically in France – this is a brand new territory for us in our Warner Bros partnership. We’re very honored to be the custodian of these heritage libraries,” Davis said.
The arrangement brings the French market into alignment with Park Circus’ existing Warner partnerships in the U.K. and other territories and underlines the growing confidence major studios are placing in the company.
While Park Circus has long worked with the Lumière Film Festival – an eight-day celebration of cinema old and new – and its MIFF, the world’s biggest market dedicated to heritage film, this edition marks the first time Park Circus is officially partnering with the market.
For Davis, the timing felt right. “I think it’s a combination of the festival and the Marché going from strength to strength – more delegates, more guests of honor. Our mission in life is to bring classic films back to the big screen, primarily where they belong,” he said.
For Lumière, Park Circus has unveiled a 24-title lineup, including Michael Mann titles “Heat” and “Thief,” tied to the director’s Lumière Prize tribute this year, along with Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild,” screening in connection with his appearance as guest of honor at the festival.
More than a dozen titles are films by Martin Ritt, ranging from “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” and “Paris Blues” to “Murphy’s Romance” and “Nuts,” as part of Lumière’s celebration of the iconic Hollywood director.
“Heat,” which marks its 30th anniversary, will close the festival with a new 4K restoration. “Thief,” also presented in a 4K restored version, is the director’s cut of the film, supervised and approved by Mann. “Into the Wild,” though not a restoration, will be screened in a new copy with French subtitles financed by Park Circus, allowing it to circulate through French-speaking territories after the festival.
The mix of prestige restorations from major studios and rediscovered titles illustrates the scale of opportunity in the heritage market, which extends well beyond festivals and repertory venues: during the pandemic, and later amid the Hollywood strikes, multiplexes turned to classic titles to fill screens, sparking a surge in demand that, according to Davis, has not faded.
“I can happily report that it has not gone away. The multiplexes are quite delighted with the way the classics are performing,” he said, noting that the revival attracts not just older audiences but also younger viewers, thanks in part to savvy trailer-based promotion across social media platforms like Letterboxd.
Davis also cited a recent 4K re-release of Stanley Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon” as an example of how fan-generated content can go viral on platforms like TikTok: “It’s kind of like vinyl records: There’s a social and cultural cachet now to watching old movies and being first to know.”
As heritage titles continue to find fresh audiences in multiplexes, Park Circus sees its mission as both cultural and commercial. “As a business, our mission [to grow the audience for the theatrical experience of classic films] is prudent, responsible growth. As a partner to exhibition, it’s helping them attract, retain and delight new audiences. Our growth will continue with existing partners, convincing new partners to try classics, and expanding globally,” said Davis.
The MIFC runs alongside the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon over Oct. 14-17.
