Park Circus expands into France

Glasgow-based Park Circus Limited is expanding into the French market by forming Park Circus Films SARL.

The Paris-based operation will be led by Van Papadopoulos, who formerly worked in theatrical distribution and also headed the Cannes Classics programme. The French outfit will be fully supported by the company’s headquarters in Glasgow.

Park Circus, which specialises in classic and repertory cinema, noted that the French market was particularly important to its core business and that opening the new office would better serve its partners.

Park Circus represents over 15,000 titles from high profile British and Hollywood studios, including MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, ITV Studios, Miramax, Film4 and Samuel Goldwyn; as well as other independents.

In addition to offering its catalog to French exhibitors, Park Circus has announced two classics as its first releases in the territory: Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M For Murder, to launch in October in a new digital 3D version, and Peter Bogdanovich’s The Last Picture Show, to launch in November.

Co-Founders and Joint Managing Directors, Nick Varley and John Letham, said: “Since 2003, Park Circus has focused on getting the wonderful films we represent back to audiences around the world and we are excited with this latest development in the company’s expansion, which means many more classic films will now be available to the French market. We are also pleased to welcome Van to the Park Circus team. He shares our ambitions and we very much look forward to working with him on this exciting venture”.

Scottish Enterprise and its international trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International, have worked closely with Park Circus to support the opening of its French office.

Ray Calder, Scottish Enterprise account manager for Park Circus, commented: “Park Circus is a great example of how we can help an ambitious, growing company expand into new overseas markets.  I’ve worked with the management team for almost a year now, helping them to achieve their business growth bigger, better and faster than they could have alone. In fact, we’re now looking at what the opportunities are in new growing markets.”

Park Circus’ international office in Glasgow will continue to deal with business in all other territories around the world and the Los Angeles office continues to cover sales operations in the US.