Marilyn, If like probably 98% of films made outside the US, this film never obtained a US distributor than your only choice is to track down the overseas rights holder directly. Any film under copyright has a rights holder who can in theory give you PPR rights, but obviously it is infinitely more complicated when you have to deal with a company outside the US. On a practical level I would try to see if the film has been distributed in DVD in the UK or another English speaking country. A French rights holder is almost certain to have an English titled copy, but unless they have released it commercially, they may be harder than unusual to get permission from. This film appears to be owned at least in part by Pathe, which is probably not the easiest company to deal with. I would find the original review from Variety to double check the producer/rights holder. Another thing to keep in mind, is that while large French companies are probably the least likely to make a deal, there is ZERO chance of making one unless you approach them with both an offer to pay AND virtually no paperwork. I would be willing to make a wire transfer IF you can agree on a fee. Under no circumstance are they going to fill out a W-9, take a PO or bill you afterwords. The key reason most won't deal with US request as they just don't want to be bothered for what amounts to chump change but if you can show them they won't encounter any paperwork beyond taking your money. emailing you a letter of permission and will make enough to buy lunch, the MIGHT agree.
Good luck On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 3:16 PM, Marilyn Huntley <[email protected]>wrote: > Hello all, > I've been asked to find a US distributor for the public performance > rights for the 2008 French movie, "Welcome to the Sticks" (or Bienvenue > chez les Ch'tis), directed by Dany Boon. My searching has led me to > believe that there is no US distributor. (I know we can buy a DVD from > Amazon.com, but of course that's only a home-use release.) > > I'd just like someone to confirm my conclusion about the lack of public > performance rights in the US, please... or else prove me wrong. > > Thank you. > Marilyn > -- > Marilyn B. Huntley, Staff Assistant/ Film Specialist: Scheduling, > purchases, rentals, previews, licensing & copyright; ITS/ A-V Services, > 363 Burke Library; Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Rd., Clinton, NY > 13323; Phone 315-859-4120, Fax 315-859-4185; e-mail [email protected] > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues > relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, > preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and > related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective > working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication > between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and > distributors. > -- Jessica Rosner Media Consultant 224-545-3897 (cell) 212-627-1785 (land line) [email protected]
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
