From ‘The Substance’ to ‘Titane’ Genre Films Grab Solid Ground at Top Festivals and at the Box Office

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Directors Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani didn’t expect to wind up in competition at Berlin.

The creative pair responsible for the Golden Bear contender “Reflections in a Dead Diamond” are unquestionably cult filmmakers, who over the last decade have perfected a style inspired by giallo films that has won them a dedicated, specialized fanbase. However, it so happens that Cattet and Forzani’s artistic aspirations have mirrored broader industry developments – opening up unprecedented avenues for daring directors like themselves.

Forzani commented, ‘Previously, genres were perceived as restrictive.’ Earlier, our work was often relegated to late-night sections. Now, we can fully embrace the genre label. Currently, being part of a genre seems to offer more opportunities than limitations.”

Or more colloquially:

“Forzani said, ‘Before, genres felt like they were putting us in a corner.’ We used to be stuck in late-night slots, but now we can own the genre label. It feels like being part of a genre is opening doors rather than shutting them.

Over the past few years, it’s been quite a journey witnessing the ascent of talented directors like Jordan Peele, whose name has become synonymous with great cinema, Julia Ducournau who won the Palme d’Or for “Titane,” and Coralie Fargeat who made waves at Cannes with “The Substance.” These films are even contending for Oscars! This upward trend in genre filmmaking is no coincidence; it’s been fueled by the growing streaming market. This boom has created a magnetic attraction for sales companies and distributors, who are eager to secure surefire theatrical successes, thanks to the dedicated fanbases these filmmakers draw. I can’t wait to see what they create next!

Forzani stated that film festivals are not merely content markets; rather, they provide a genuine opportunity for movies to be shown in cinemas. This differentiation is significant because it makes our films more likely to be screened in theaters. Our strategy now feels more recognized and deliberate, and this kind of exposure is essential as it increases our visibility and boosts our chances for theatrical distribution.

With “Reflections in a Dead Diamond” making its way into Berlin, where it’s already booked significant theaters across Europe and Asia, this trajectory seems poised to continue climbing. This is quite different from the filmmakers’ past ventures.

Yohann Comte, co-founder of Charades, a French sales company, stated that there was a minimum level for sales potential, “a floor,” as he put it. Genre films could always be sold, even if they didn’t become massive hits, but they would find an audience through platforms like VOD, pay TV, and sometimes free TV. However, there was also a limit, or “ceiling,” beyond which genre films couldn’t go. Today, that ceiling is gone. Genre films can now break box office records, win major awards, and be selected for prestigious film festivals. This represents a significant change in the industry.

Comte has been instrumental in that transformation. For instance, Charades introduced their initial sales collection at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 with the premiere of Fargeat’s debut film “Revenge.” This marked a significant shift in the market compared to the one we have today.

[‘Revenge’] wasn’t straightforward to secure financing,” Comte reminisced. “It didn’t fit the category of auteur cinema, so it lacked backing – no French government subsidies, no funding – because back then, horror was deemed inappropriate for the concept of art cinema.

What a difference a few years make.

Previously, sales businesses primarily dealt with art films, but they’re now shifting towards genres because they understand that genre and auteur-driven narratives aren’t mutually exclusive,” Comte explained. “Women are spearheading this change, conveying a strong emotion in their work. These types of films are no longer confined to a specific category.

Essentially, Fargeat and Demi Moore, who are gaining momentum towards the Oscars, have paved the way for Ducournau’s new movie, “Alpha,” to be presented at this year’s European Film Market by Charades. The film has already secured 20 international pre-sales before the Berlin market, with Neon managing its release in the United States, having won at Cannes last year.

Looking further afield, Comte predicted wider artistic shifts.

He questioned whether we’ve already exhausted all possibilities when it comes to pure body horror, as demonstrated by the recent sensation at Sundance, “Together.

He wondered what fresh form this genre might assume. Movie makers are venturing into blending comedy and romance as the industry tends to cycle, and the most innovative directors are always thinking beyond conventional boundaries.

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2025-02-15 09:18