International Markets for U.S. Movies Boom

A foreign television boom boosted international sales of English-language movies produced by companies other than the major studios to a record $929 million for the year ended June 30, according to a new survey.

Total foreign sales of independent films were up about 20% from $775 million during the previous fiscal year, according to the survey, which was conducted by Peat Marwick Main & Co. for the American Film Marketing Assn.

The film marketing association has 103 member companies, including almost all English-language movie distributors other than the eight biggest studios. About 80% of the members are based in the United States.

The association’s annual survey compiles feature film sales to theaters, TV stations, cable services, videocassette distributors and other outlets outside the United States.

Video Sales Also Gain

The latest survey confirmed that international markets for U.S. movies are expanding rapidly, even as domestic movie sales have leveled off. According to the survey, movie sales to foreign broadcasters and cable companies totaled $224 million, more than double the previous 12-month high of $107 million in calendar 1986.

Foreign TV sales of American movies have grown largely because countries in Europe and elsewhere are easing restrictions on their broadcasters. The survey changed to a fiscal year ending June 30 and didn’t include direct fiscal year to fiscal year comparisons for individual market segments.

International video sales appear to have risen sharply from previous years, to $315.9 million from $205.4 million in calendar 1986, the last year for which segment results are available. Sales to foreign theaters were $388.4 million, up from $322.6 million in 1986.

More Increases Predicted

The current survey represented sales figures from 93 of the association’s members, compared to 83 companies in the earlier survey.

“The main lesson is . . . the world market for our entertainment product is going up,” William Shields, the association’s chairman and an executive with New World Entertainment, said of the survey. Shields said he expected foreign sales to increase again, though possibly at a slower rate, during the current fiscal year.

Most of the sales are recorded at the film markets, including the annual American Film Market in Los Angeles and the activities that accompany the Cannes Film Festival in France.