Under the influence of the pandemic, our cinema has picked up speed again in 2023 thanks to a performance that has been described as “extraordinary” at the box office. However, by focusing on new films that are as promising as 1995, Our sisters-in-law And Miss Bottine, The Quebec cinema community hopes to continue riding this beautiful wave in 2024.
“It is an important year because we will see if we can continue with the same momentum and benefit from the enthusiasm that we are currently feeling among the public,” analyzes Patrick Roy, President of Immina Films The company will distribute in particular in 1995, the highly anticipated fourth film in Ricardo Trogi's autobiographical series.
Founded in 2022 by the former director of Films Séville, Immina Films distributed several of the big Quebec hits of 2023 (Le temps d'un été, Les hommes de ma Mère, Simple comme Sylvain, Ru). In addition to 1995, which will hit our screens at the end of July, Immina Films will release in November the family film Mlle Bottine, a reinterpretation of the famous Tale for All Bach and Bottine.
“We have good expectations for these films,” says Patrick Roy, recalling that the previous installment in the Trogi series, 1991, had grossed almost $3 million at the box office in the summer of 2018.
“The release in 1995 will allow us to assess the state of the market, namely whether we are still able to make $2.5 million or $3 million on a Quebec film. I think it will be an interesting test for our cinematography.”
Archive photo, Ben Pelosse
A millionaire year
In its annual report released earlier this week, the Cinéac agency called 2023 an “exceptional” year for cinema in Quebec at the box office. According to figures compiled by the agency, Quebec films earned $16,625,828 at the box office in 2023, an increase of 87% compared to revenue in 2022 ($8,911,769).
In addition, for the first time since 2011, no fewer than six Quebec films managed to exceed the symbolic mark of one million dollars at the box office, namely “Le temps d'un été”, “Testament”, “Les hommes de ma Mère”, “Katak” and “le brave”. Beluga, Ru and Simple like Sylvain.
Thanks to these successes, Quebec cinema's market share increased from 7.3% in 2022 to 10.2% in 2023.
“There are various ways to increase market share,” remembers Patrick Roy. We could have had a movie that made $6 million alone. But it’s even more fun when several Quebec films achieve interesting box office results, as was the case in 2023.”
Uncertainty for 2025
Whether cinema in Quebec will perform well in 2024 remains uncertain for the coming years. About a hundred artisans sounded the alarm last December by publishing an open letter calling on the federal Liberal government to make good on its promise to permanently increase Telefilm Canada's budget by $50 million a year.
“If the minister [Pascale St-Onge] If Telefilm doesn't announce very quickly that it's staying within budget, there could be significant consequences [sur la production cinématographique québécoise] from 2025, Patrick Roy is worried.
“Fewer films could be produced this year and we risk losing all the momentum we gained in 2023. We are not asking for an increase in the budget. All we ask is that it be maintained as promised.”
Box office development in Quebec since 2014:
2023: $16,625,828
2022: $8,911,769
2021: $8,980,077
2020: $5,256,372
2019: $13,313,499
2018: $14,259,456
2017: $20,260,672
2016: $8,836,934
2015: $13,032,017
2014: $10,156,418
(Source: Cineac)