What is your role within the Vivendi group?
I have been Chief Executive Officer of CanalOlympia since last September, after being appointed President of Vivendi Sports.
This dual appointment brings together all of Vivendi Village's activities in Africa: CanalOlympia, the leading network of movie theaters and entertainment venues in sub-Saharan Africa; Vivendi Sports, which designs and organizes sporting competitions; and "Vivendi Village Africa," which brings together cultural and sports facilities as well as training and innovation spaces.
I have also been Vivendi's Director of External Relations since 2008. This role gives me a privileged position to facilitate and multiply initiatives between the Group's various entities in Africa. Canal+, Universal Music, Havas, Vivendi Sports, and CanalOlympia in particular know each other well in the field and work hand in hand.
How would you assess the CanalOlympia network's activity today?
In just two years, our network of movie theaters and performance venues has managed to find its audience. By allowing them to (re)discover the fabulous experience of going to the movies, to fully immerse themselves in the cinematic experience thanks to state-of-the-art equipment, and to enjoy the best films at the same time as the rest of the world, CanalOlympia theaters are perfectly fulfilling their role.
In 2018, more than half a million moviegoers attended one of our screenings. Our average occupancy rate also reflects this, as it is double the average rate for France.
With modularity and versatility at the heart of our theaters' concept, they have also successfully risen to the challenge of diversification by hosting more than 250 events throughout the year, in addition to their cinema activities. From concerts to press conferences, sporting competitions and private screenings, more and more brands and sponsors are placing their trust in CanalOlympia.
The CanalOlympia network's venues also host a variety of cultural events. Which events attract the most people?
The venues host a wide range of events throughout the year. You can't compare a screening that brings together around 300 people in the theater for each session with outdoor events which, depending on their nature and the size of the outdoor esplanade, can attract between 1,500 (as was the case for the big boxing evening organized by Vivendi Sports in Senegal in October) and 20,000 people for certain concerts.
Not to mention the second edition of the Tour de l'Espoir, an international cycling race that has just ended in Cameroon. Created on the initiative of Vivendi Sports, it is a superb example of the joint work accomplished by the various companies of the Vivendi group. The Tour de l'Espoir brought together thousands of people along the five-stage route, not to mention the thousands more who attended the 237 United concert, produced by Universal Music Africa, featuring both French- and English-speaking artists on the CanalOlympia stages in Yaoundé and Douala.
What are your sources of film supply today?
We have signed framework agreements with several major European, American, and African distributors. Access to their line-ups allows us to offer a rich and diverse program. The goal is to always be as close as possible to the latest cinema news around the world through simultaneous releases, on the one hand, and to the expectations of our audiences, on the other.
Our two years of operation have allowed us to refine our knowledge of our customers' tastes. We are constantly listening to them, thanks to our local teams—which are essential to our operations—and our digital communication tools. Our operating model allows us to react and adjust our programming when necessary.
What role does the distribution of African content play in your programming policy?
Films from the continent naturally have a place in our programming. Supporting local creativity is part of the CanalOlympia network's mission. By giving them the opportunity to be shown on the big screen, in real cinema conditions and in several territories, this offers new prospects for all filmmakers on the continent.
However, it must be said that today's film offerings do not necessarily correspond to what our audiences want to see at the cinema. So far, we have found that they come to the cinema mainly to see big shows, to be entertained, to laugh, to experience incredible emotions, to be "blown away". It is therefore comedies, action or superhero films, and horror films that attract the crowds. The African content available to us today is overwhelmingly drama (apart from Nollywood films). These are often very beautiful productions, but they are aimed more at a "festival" audience than at our current audiences.
Nevertheless, we are continuing our efforts to contribute to the revitalization and professionalization of the industry in the countries where we operate. Blockbusters are a safe bet that attract audiences to theaters and revive the "theater experience." This allows us, at the same time, to work constantly to enrich our sources of film supply. We are once again present at Fespaco this year, and the two CanalOlympia theaters in Ouagadougou will host several screenings and events as part of the festival.
Can you tell us about your partnership with the operator Orange (Cinédays – Orange Money)?
In April 2018, the Vivendi and Orange groups entered into a major partnership to make cinema more accessible to everyone in Africa, thanks to the CanalOlympia network.
We have therefore rolled out the Orange Cinédays offer: one ticket purchased = one free ticket for Orange customers, valid on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in CanalOlympia theaters. This offer is already in place in Cameroon and Senegal and will be gradually rolled out across all territories covered by the partnership. Similarly, we will be integrating Orange Money, which is a very common local payment method, into our ticket offices.
Another aspect of this agreement, the high-speed broadband connection in our theaters, will strengthen our capacity to send films digitally and securely.
Where are you today with the project to establish CanalOlympia theaters on the continent? What are your future plans for opening theaters?
The CanalOlympia network currently has 11 theaters in operation in eight countries. Our ambitious rollout is proving very effective, given that the first theater opened just two years ago.
We plan to open around ten additional theaters this year, particularly in new territories on the continent, such as Madagascar and Congo, but also in English-speaking Africa.
Do you think the African cinema market can regain the position it held a few years ago?
We are convinced it can! That's why we are investing so much financial and human resources in this network. All the talent, both emerging and established, is there. The continent is bursting with extraordinary energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. We are happy to be there and to contribute to the (re)structuring of an entire industry.