Circus Park tackles Warner classics in France and unveils Lumière Slate
Park Circus, based in the UK, has secured French distribution for Warner Bros. Classic Film Library, CEO Doug Davis confirmed to diverse Before the International Market for Classic Films (MIFC) in Lyon.
“We will be distributing the classic Warner Brothers film library in theaters in France – this is completely new territory for us in our partnership with Warner Bros. and we are very honored to be custodians of these heritage libraries,” Davis said.
This arrangement brings the French market into line with Warner’s existing partnerships for Park Circus in the UK and other territories and underscores the growing confidence that major studios are placing in the company.
While Park Circus has long worked with the Lumière Film Festival – an eight-day celebration of old and new cinema – and MIFF, the world’s largest market dedicated to heritage films, this edition marks the first time that Park Circus has officially collaborated with the market.
For Davis, the timing seemed right. “I think it’s a combination of the festival and the parade getting stronger – more delegates, more guests of honour. Our mission in life is to bring classic films back to the big screen, where they belong in the first place,” he said.
For Lumière, Park Circus has unveiled a collection of 24 titles, including Michael Mann’s “Heat” and “Thief,” tied into the director’s Lumière Award honors this year, along with Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild,” which was screened in connection with his guest appearance at the festival.
More than a dozen titles are Martin Ritt films, from “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” and “Paris Blues” to “Murphy’s Romance” and “Nuts,” as part of Lumiere’s celebration of the iconic Hollywood director.
“Heat,” which marks its 30th anniversary, will conclude the festival with a new 4K restoration. “Thief,” which is also presented in a restored 4K version, is the director’s cut of the film, which Mann supervised and approved. “Into the Wild,” although not a restoration, will be shown in a new version with French subtitles financed by Park Circus, allowing it to spread across French-speaking regions after the festival.
The mix of prestigious restorations from major studios and rediscovered titles demonstrates the scale of opportunity in the heritage market, which extends far beyond festivals and screening venues: During the pandemic, and later amid the Hollywood strikes, multiplexes turned to classic titles to fill their screens, creating a surge in demand that, according to Davis, has not faded.
“I can happily report that it has not gone away. Movie theaters are quite pleased with the way they are doing the classics,” he said, noting that the revival is attracting not only older audiences but also younger viewers, thanks in part to clever trailer-based promotion across social media platforms like Letterboxd.
Davis also cited the recent 4K re-release of Stanley Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon” as an example of how fan-generated content has spread on platforms like TikTok: “It’s kind of like vinyl records: There’s now a social and cultural cachet to watching old movies and being the first to know about them.”
As legacy titles continue to find new audiences in multiple theaters, Park Circus sees its mission as both cultural and commercial. “As a business, it’s our mission [to grow the audience for the theatrical experience of classic films] It is wise and responsible growth. As a gallery partner, it helps them attract, retain and delight new audiences. “We will continue to grow with existing partners, convince new partners to try the classics, and expand globally,” Davis said.
The MIFC Festival takes place alongside the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon from October 14 to 17.