Constantin Film's theatrical distribution arm generated 92% more revenues year-on-year to June 30, according to the group's interim management report issued today for the first six months of 2008.

Constantin garnered a 9.9% market share and held on to its position as Germany's leading independent distributor with box office takings of $24.2m (Euros 16.5m), up from 2007's $ 12.5m (Euros 8.5m).

$17.3m (Euros 11.8m) of this total was thanks to the releases of such in-house productions as The Wave, Asterix At The Olympic Games and Urmel Voll In Fahrt, while Step Up 2 The Streets and Michael Clayton were the most successful of the releases of third-party productions.

In its report, the producer-distributor notes that 'in view of the general market developments and the goals we have set ourselves, 2008 remains a very challenging fiscal year for Constantin Film AG,' but remains optimistic about the second half of the year given the number of prestige in-house productions which are being prepared for release.

Bernd Eichinger's long-anticipated Der Baader Meinhof Komplex by Uli Edel will open in German cinemas on September 25, followed by Max Färberböck's A Woman In Berlin on October 23 and Caroline Link's A Year Ago In Winter on November 13. In addition, the European co-production Paris 36 by Christophe Barratier - with Constantin as production partner - will be released on November 27.

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