Montreal: Activity in video distribution by mpaa member companies, the u.s. majors, rose sharply last year with a 50% hike in titles released over the previous year, according to the 1996/97 annual report from Quebec’s Regie du Cinema. The report by the administrative tribunal says theatrical releases by the majors were up 6% in the period while combined gross theatrical and video distribution revenues for mpaa members was $37.4 million.

In the same period, the report says Quebec distributors had total revenues of $221.4 million, $20.1 million from theatrical distribution, $185.2 million from retail and sell-through video distribution and $16 million from sales to broadcasters.

In the period from April 1, 1996 to March 31, 1997, the Regie issued visas for 648 theatrical feature films, including 247 French-language films (80 original French-language films, 153 films dubbed into French and 14 that were subtitled) and 350 English-language films, 309 of which were original English-language titles. More than 10,000 video titles received visas during the period, 366 in French and 3,491 in English. The balance, 6,620, were foreign-language videos.

As of this spring, Quebec had 142 movie theaters with 543 screens: 25 Cineplex Odeon venues, 15 Famous Players venues and 102 independents. There are 24 drive-in (or cine-parc) venues with 48 screens, including six venues owned by Cineplex.

The Regie issued 1,577 permits to new retail video outlets during the period, bringing the province-wide total of retail outlets of all kinds to just under 6,000.

Claude Benjamin, president of the Regie, reports to Culture and Communications Minister Louise Beaudoin.

The Regie employs 55 people and is responsible for the classification of films and videos, issuing film visas and distribution permits for public screenings as well as the verification of distribution contracts. The Regie had revenues of over $7.1 million in ’96/97 and government-assumed expenses of $4 million.

Regie secretary Denis Belleville says the agency hasn’t always been profitable and changes in delivery technology could adversely affect future revenues.