INTERVIEW WITH - Anna Marsh

To close its 12th edition, the International Classic Film Market welcomed Anna Marsh, Managing Director of Studiocanal and Deputy Managing Director of Canal+, for an exclusive interview about the Studiocanal catalog. The discussion was moderated by journalist Perrine Quennesson.

A Flourishing Career

A great lover of France, which she moved to twenty years ago to complete her studies, driven also by a passion for French cultural history, particularly its cinema, which she has admired ever since discovering Delicatessen by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Anna Marsh began her career in 2002 at Tele Images Productions before joining Studiocanal in 2008 as part of the international sales team. She has since climbed the ranks, becoming Managing Director of Studiocanal in 2019, while also taking on the role of Deputy Managing Director of Canal+.

In front of the MIFC audience, she expressed her pride in the work of the 600 Studiocanal employees, who cohesively manage the production and distribution of 80 new films each year, as well as 20 series annually. In total, 200 million euros are invested in production each year.

A Robust Studiocanal Catalog

In terms of heritage, Studiocanal's classic catalog consists of 9,000 titles, nearly doubling in size over the past 20 years. When Anna Marsh first joined, it had 4,000 fewer titles. Heritage is part of the company’s DNA, serving as a guide for contemporary cinematography, with more than 20 million euros being invested in the classics.

The catalog spans 100 years of cinema from 60 countries. French cinema is, of course, well-represented, although it is outnumbered by British and American works. The catalog also includes Polish and Dutch films acquired over the years.

Acquisitions began in 1994 with the DEG catalog, followed by UGC’s catalog in 1996. It took a significant turn in 1999 with Zoetrope Films and Working Title for production and distribution. Kinowelt joined in 2008, opening a window to the German market. Since then, acquisitions have continued, and Anna Marsh hinted that a new deal would be announced soon. "I'm trying to make cinema," she joked, revealing that the mystery would be unveiled at MIPCOM.

Studiocanal’s Various Strategies

With such a rich catalog, it's essential to make it thrive. This is achieved through teams positioned worldwide, fostering proximity and improving both B2B and B2C decisions.

Re-releases also play a key role, with some films returning to theaters as “fresh films” to honor and promote them. About 15 titles are re-released each year, often films that did not receive the success they deserved upon their original release. For example, La Piscine was a major box office hit in the U.S., and The Third Man continues to have successful screenings, especially in the U.S.

Anniversaries, along with UHD and TV releases, accompany the re-releases of classic titles, while trends like the public’s fascination with true crime and mysteries have led Studiocanal to present an Agatha Christie collection with modernized marketing.

Regarding marketing, Anna Marsh emphasized the importance of collaboration among the various rights teams, ensuring no works are left “on the shelves.” All departments are involved. For Terminator II and Rambo, video game characters were created, and for Evil Dead II, a full video game was developed alongside the film’s re-release. Music rights and merchandising are also vital parts of Studiocanal’s marketing efforts, as well as musical experiences, which have been highly requested by audiences. The company is currently working on a musical adaptation of the Paddington universe, with the third franchise film set to release soon in the UK, followed by a February debut in France.

In terms of television channels and online platforms, careful curation ensures that heritage films remain visible. This has been supported by the launch of a platform in Germany and the UK, Studiocanal Presents!, which offers users a unique selection each month.

During the interview, Anna Marsh highlighted the work of the legal teams, who perform “archaeological” tasks to perfect contracts and recover film rights.

The Future of Studiocanal

As for the future of the company, Anna Marsh is optimistic, teasing a forthcoming agreement and several new remake productions, including a Chinese remake of La Famille Bélier.

The CEO also emphasized her desire to promote documentaries, which she believes make heritage cinema more accessible.

Finally, the catalog continues to grow, with the recent acquisition of Les Enfants Terribles, which complements Studiocanal's extensive collection of Jean-Pierre Melville films.

On a personal note, Marsh will be awarded the Vonier Prize at the Lumière Festival this Friday, an honor given each year to a woman in the film industry. This recognition came as a “surprise” to her, but she sees it as the culmination of a “collective” effort, crediting the entire Studiocanal team for the achievement.

She concluded by stressing the importance of keeping cinema slots open and reigniting the public's desire to experience films in theaters.