Mars Films Explained

Mars Films
Type:SAS[1]
Industry:Film
Founder:Stéphane Célérier
Valérie Garcia

Mars Films, also known as Mars Distribution, is a French motion picture company. It was established as an independent company by Stéphane Célérier and Valérie Garcia in 2007. It was acquired in 2021 by Vivendi, whose Canal+ subsidiary StudioCanal now operates its extensive library.

History

A former distribution subsidiary of BAC Films,[2] Mars Films was acquired at 80 percent by StudioCanal in 2000 and served as the French distribution outfit for films financed and produced by StudioCanal. In 2002, StudioCanal bought it out entirely, retaining Stéphane Célérier as head.[3] Célérier was ousted in November 2006 and replaced by Philippe Désandré, with Mars Films renamed to StudioCanal Distribution. At the time, it was classed as the fifth most popular distributor in 2006 with a 9.7% market share (or 15.3m admissions for 28 titles released).[4] [5] Célérier went on to reclaim the name and set up, in 2007, an independent company with Valérie Garcia.[6]

In September 2015, Vivendi, the parent company of Groupe Canal+ (which operates StudioCanal), announced it had acquired a 30 percent stake in Mars Films.[7] [8] Stéphane Célérier was appointed vice-chairman of StudioCanal as part of the deal.[9] At the time, Mars Films was again ranked as the fifth largest distributor in France.[10]

Mars Films' catalogue includes the comedy-drama La Famille Bélier, which became a hit in France and was remade into the Academy Award-winning CODA; Two Is a Family with Omar Sy; Fred Cavayé's Nothing to Hide, François Ozon's In the House, Régis Roinsard's Populaire, Guillaume Canet's Blood Ties, Costa-Gavras' Capital. It also picked up the French distribution for several successful indie titles from the U.S. such Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave, Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, Craig Gillespie's I, Tonya (2017), Matt Ross' Captain Fantastic (2016), Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, Jeff Nichols' Loving, and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, To Rome with Love, Magic in the Moonlight and Blue Jasmine.[11]

On 1 August 2019, the company went into receivership after it stopped paying creditors. It was ordered by the Tribunal de commerce de Paris to restructure. On 11 August 2021, minority shareholder Vivendi acquired the remaining 70% share of Mars Films from May Holding. It also acquired its library of more than 200 titles for all rights in France, which is now fully operated by StudioCanal. Vivendi's paid a total of €17.3 million in its acquisition of Mars Films and laid off its 11 employees. The court ruling stated that the company "will now be focused on the distribution of its library titles and will limit the number of new films released". Upon its restructuring, Variety wrote, "So far, no other French company has managed to fill the gap left by Mars Films as a key purveyor of U.S. independent films."[12] [13] [14] In 2022, Célérier went on to launch a new production company named Gemma Pictures with PGS Entertainment.[15] That same year, Garcia launched her own company Gabman.[16]

Selected filmography

Release date! scope=col style="width:20%;"
Titlescope=col style="width:20%;" Director(s)scope=col style="width:20%;" French box office (admissions)scope=col class="unsortable" style="width:3%;"
Of Gods and Men3,204,147[17]
Potiche2,318,221[18]
War of the Buttons1,542,231[19]
PolisseMaïwenn2,414,418[20]
The Players2,301,045[21]
In the House1,195,518[22]
Populaire1,167,403[23]
Renoir502,064[24]
Young & Beautiful712,767[25]
Blood Ties238,823[26]
Venus in Fur264,029[27]
In the Name of My Daughter300,373[28]
The New Girlfriend568,161[29]
La Famille Bélier7,450,944[30]
A Perfect Man667,261[31]
Diary of a Chambermaid333,118[32]
Dark Places239,160[33]
One Wild Moment854,153[34]
Frantz637,625[35]
Lolo906,840[36]
The Innocents702,040[37]
Two Is a Family3,237,948[38]
The Climb1,136,827[39]
L'Amant double387,829[40]
The Man with the Iron Heart242,999[41]
Based on a True Story110,940[42]
Just a Breath Away256,506[43]
Nothing to Hide1,639,781[44]
Through the Fire1,014,439[45]
Remi, Nobody's Boy857,515[46]
By the Grace of God915,327[47]
Real Love102,934[48]
Love at Second Sight559,126[49]
The Translators279,035[50]

U.S. titles

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Société MARS FILMS (MARS DISTRIBUTION - MARS EDITIONS -) à 92130 ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX - SIREN 498 632 769. annuaire-entreprises.data.gouv.fr. fr. 24 September 2024.
  2. Web site: Williams . Michael . 29 March 1998 . BAC's Labadie launching Mars satellite . 24 September 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  3. Web site: Meaux Saint Marc . Francoise . 1 October 2002 . StudioCanal grabs Mars Films, gives Bac new hope . 24 September 2024 . Screen International.
  4. Web site: 20 November 2006 . New director at Mars Distribution . 24 September 2024 . Cineuropa.
  5. Web site: James . Alison . 31 January 2007 . Vivendi posts below par results . 24 September 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  6. Web site: MARS FILMS (ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX) Chiffre d'affaires, résultat, bilans sur SOCIETE.COM - 498632769 . 24 September 2024 . www.societe.com.
  7. Web site: Keslassy . Elsa . 29 September 2015 . Vivendi Acquires 30% of France's Mars Films as Studiocanal's President Exits . 24 September 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  8. Web site: Jaafar . Ali . Tartaglione . Nancy . 29 September 2015 . StudioCanal Acquires 30% Of France's Mars Films; Appoints Didier Lupfer As President . 24 September 2024 . Deadline.
  9. Web site: 29 September 2015 . StudioCanal acquires 30% of Mars Films; names Didier Lupfer president . 25 September 2024 . Screen International.
  10. Web site: 30 September 2015 . Back to the future: Canal+ and Mars Films join forces through StudioCanal . 24 September 2024 . . en.
  11. Web site: Keslassy . Elsa . 26 August 2019 . France's Mars Films Put Under Court-Ordered Financial Restructuring, Plans to Focus on Production & Scales Down Distribution (EXCLUSIVE) . 24 September 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  12. Web site: Keslassy . Elsa . 20 August 2021 . Studiocanal to Operate Heavy-Hitting Mars Films Library as French Distributor Finalizes Restructuring (EXCLUSIVE) . 24 September 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  13. News: 17 August 2021 . Une filiale de Vivendi reprend les rênes de Mars Films . 24 September 2024 . fr.
  14. Web site: 18 August 2021 . Mars Films chez Vivendi . 24 September 2024 . www.boxofficepro.fr . fr-FR.
  15. Web site: Keslassy . Elsa . 15 February 2022 . 'CODA' Associate Producer Stephane Celerier Launches Gemma Pictures With PGS Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE) . 25 September 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  16. Web site: Keslassy . Elsa . 2 November 2022 . Mars Films Co-Founder Valerie Garcia Bows Production Banner Gabman With Strong First Slate (EXCLUSIVE) . 24 September 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  17. Web site: Des hommes et des Dieux (2010) - JP Box-Office . 28 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  18. Web site: Potiche (2010) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  19. Web site: La Nouvelle guerre des boutons (War of the Buttons (2012)) (2011) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  20. Web site: Polisse (2011) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  21. Web site: Les Infidèles (The Players) (2012) - JP Box-Office . 1 October 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  22. Web site: Dans la maison (In the House) (2012) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  23. Web site: Populaire (2012) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  24. Web site: Renoir (2013) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  25. Web site: Jeune & jolie (Young and Beautiful) (2013) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  26. Web site: Blood Ties (2013) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  27. Web site: La Vénus à la fourrure (Venus in Fur) (2013) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  28. Web site: L\'Homme qu\'on aimait trop (In the Name of my Daughter) (2014) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  29. Web site: Une nouvelle amie (The New Girlfriend) (2014) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  30. Web site: La Famille Bélier (2014) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  31. Web site: Un homme idéal (2015) - JP Box-Office . 28 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  32. Web site: Journal d'une femme de chambre (Diary of a Chambermaid) (2015) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  33. Web site: Dark Places (2015) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  34. Web site: Un moment d\'égarement (2015) (2015) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  35. Web site: Frantz (2016) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  36. Web site: Lolo (2015) - JP Box-Office . 28 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  37. Web site: Les Innocentes (2016) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  38. Web site: Demain tout commence (Two is a Family) (2016) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  39. Web site: L\'Ascension (2017) - JP Box-Office . 28 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  40. Web site: L\'Amant double (Double Lover) (2017) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  41. Web site: HHhH (The Man with the Iron Heart) (2017) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  42. Web site: D\'après une Histoire Vraie (Based on a True Story) (2017) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  43. Web site: Dans la brume (Just a Breath Away) (2018) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  44. Web site: Le Jeu (Nothing to Hide) (2018) - JP Box-Office . 28 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  45. Web site: Sauver ou périr (2018) - JP Box-Office . 28 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  46. Web site: Rémi sans famille (Remi, Nobody\'s Boy) (2018) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  47. Web site: Grâce à Dieu (By the Grace of God) (2019) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  48. Web site: C\'est ça l\'amour (2019) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  49. Web site: Mon inconnue (Love at Second Sight) (2019) - JP Box-Office . 25 September 2024 . jpbox-office.com.
  50. Web site: Les Traducteurs (The Translators) (2020) - JP Box-Office . 1 October 2024 . jpbox-office.com.

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