Independent distributors are contesting the public funding granted to Patrick Roy to set up his new company, two months after Les Films Sevilla, which he directed, abruptly ended their activities in cinemas. They fear that the former number one in film distribution in Quebec has benefited from a pass from the government and financial backers.
The Association of Independent Film Distributors of Quebec is questioning, among other things, the financial participation of Investissement Quebec, which does not ordinarily come to the aid of film distributors. “I have no problem with him starting a new business, on the contrary, it shows that there is action in our industry. But it has to be done in a fair and equitable way for all players. And that all the rules apply to everyone. That’s what’s at stake on our side,” said in an interview with To have to Chantale Pagé, the president of the Regroupement.
In addition to Investissement Québec, Patrick Roy’s new company, which does not yet have a name, enjoys the financial support of the Société de développement des entreprises culturelle (SODEC). Private partners have also joined the project, such as the National Bank and regional solidarity funds FTQ.
The announcement was made Friday, at the very end of the afternoon, a few hours before the start of the electoral campaign. A strangely chosen moment for such an announcement, suggests Mme Page. “Was that really an announcement?” There is no name, no team, no film… All of this is very debatable and we will want to have answers [de la part du gouvernement] “, adds the one who also manages the distribution company Maison 4:3.
What about the catalog
This is not the first time that Patrick Roy finds independent distributors on his way. The takeover of Seville Films by the Toronto group eOne in 2007 had made many unhappy in the industry. Then, the merger in 2013 of Seville Films with its main competitor, Alliance Vivafilm, had raised fears about the advent of such a giant in the world of distribution.
For years, Les Films Seville has been by far the most important distributor of Quebec films in cinemas. The company announced overnight at the end of June that it would cease distributing theatrical films in the country, which had the effect of a bomb in the middle.
Because Les Films Sevilla still owned the distribution rights to several successful Quebec films, such as Mommy, Good cop, bad cop, The great seduction, Fires or Starbucks. This rich catalog could today be administered from the United States, since eOne is now part of the American giant Hasbro. “We have been asking the ministry for two months what will happen to the catalog, and we have no answer”, regrets Chantale Pagé, who is worried that the rights of many classics of Quebec cinema fall between the hands of strangers.
Meeting next week
The office of the Minister of Culture, Nathalie Roy, finally agreed, late Monday afternoon, to meet with independent distributors next week, in the midst of the election campaign. The Regroupement has thus given up for the moment on the idea of making a public outing in order against the agreement.
Were we afraid at the CAQ that this exit would come to seal the start of the campaign? One thing is certain, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, which piloted the file, assumes that it wanted to support the former director of Seville Films in the launch of his new company. “Patrick Roy has been in the film distribution business for more than 25 years, and he is well placed to continue to offer, through a new entity, high-calibre financing and distribution services to the benefit of Quebec film producers”, it is argued.
The Ministry of the Economy also informs us that Patrick Roy has undertaken, under this agreement, to ensure the distribution of the few Quebec feature films that were to be released in theaters with Les Films Sevilla in the coming months.
Investissement Québec granted a financial contribution in the form of preferred shares of $1.25 million for Patrick Roy’s new entity, in addition to a loan of a maximum amount of $1.5 million. SODEC was not able to quantify its participation, since the money comes from its “investment bank”, and not from a subsidy program.
As for Patrick Roy, he wanted to make it known that he did not benefit from preferential treatment. “I am delighted to have been able to convince solid groups to support me. I knocked on the door of different partners, which are accessible to everyone. These people have agreed to invest in a project in which they believe. It’s a business decision, nothing else,” reads an email to the To have to.