The closure of the theatrical distribution division of Seville Films raised its share of concerns in the Quebec cinema community on Wednesday.
• Read also: Seville Films ceases operations
One of the largest film distributors in Quebec, the company Les Films Sevilla confirmed Tuesday evening that it was ceasing its theatrical distribution activities. Several employees of this subsidiary of the giant Entertainment One learned the same day that they were losing their jobs.
The day following this announcement, which created a shock wave in the industry, several stakeholders in the industry wondered in particular what will happen to the company’s huge catalog of films, which includes several great successes of Quebec cinema in recent years. years of which Mommy, 1991, Mafia Inc. et Liar.
“Of course it worries me, producer André Rouleau told the Journal (Starbuck, Funkytown). I have several films with them and I do not want the catalog to be managed all wrong.
Predictable?
The distributor Louis Dussault, of the box K-Films America, believes for his part that the sinking of Seville Films was “predictable for 10 years”.
“We’ve been saying for 10 years that it was a big mistake to leave national distribution in the hands of a foreign company (Entertainment One], he laments. Institutions (SODEC, Telefilm Canada) have let that pass. What will happen to the films of Xavier Dolan, our national treasure, which have for the most part been distributed by Seville? And where will those of Denys Arcand, another national treasure end up?”
In an interview with TVA Nouvelles on Wednesday, producer Denise Robert (The Barbarian Invasions, From father to cop) expressed concern that the disappearance of a major player in Quebec distribution would affect future local productions.
“Seville was very important for the influence of our cinematography, underlined the renowned producer. I find that very disturbing because if we go back ten years, we had five or six big distribution boxes, but most of them have closed their doors. There remained Seville which had the means and the kidneys [assez solides] to make big movie releases. We have good companies that work very hard, but we lack the means. I think that what is important for the influence of our cinema is to have the capacity to launch films with significant means.
With VAT News
