More fans for French movies

French movies won more viewers abroad in the first 11 months of this year -- 40.2 million -- than in all of 2001, according to Unifrance, the promoter of French films overseas.

The new numbers mean 2002 will be a record year, eclipsing the record of 37.4 million set last year, the group said.

The last two years “have been the best that French films have had for at least 10 years” in foreign theaters, the group said.

The average number of viewers over the last decade has been around 17 million a year.

Europe is still France’s main market. Unifrance said Western Europe made up 53% of tickets sold for French films in the first 11 months of 2002. Eastern and central Europe made up 13%, while 18% of tickets were sold in America.