FILM distributor Park Circus has added a second international office with the opening of a French subsidiary.
The Paris arm – Park Circus Films SARL – is being run by ex-Cannes Film Festival executive Van Papadopoulos and adds to the company's Los Angeles operation.
As well as film festival experience, Mr Papadopoulos has worked in theatrical distribution.
Glasgow-based Park Circus, which specialises in re-releasing classic and cult films in cinemas, said there was a need to have a permanent French base to satisfy the demand in the country.
Each year France hosts more than 160 film festivals – more than the rest of the European Union put together.
France has a rich cinematic tradition stretching back to the Lumiere brothers in the 19th century, the New Wave directors of Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard in the 1950s and 1960s and up to present day stars including actresses Audrey Tatou and Marion Cotillard.
Its most recent high-profile triumph was silent film The Artist which won five Oscars in 2012.
Park Circus represents more than 15,000 titles ranging from classic James Bond to the Godfather and Pulp Fiction.
The company, founded in 2003, said its international agreements with studios such as MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, ITV Studios, Miramax, Film Four and Samuel Goldwyn will continue to operate with no changes.
However, it intends to increase the number of prints with French language subtitles that it has access to.
John Letham, joint-managing director with Nick Varley, said: "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."
Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International have been working with Park Circus for several months and provided funding to help it expand into France.
Ray Calder, Scottish Enterprise account manager for Park Circus, said: "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 also confirmed its first major re-release into the French market will be a digital 3D restoration of Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M For Murder with screenings to take place in October.
The following month Peter Bogdanovich's small-town study of Texan life The Last Picture Show is being re-released.
The Los Angeles site will continue to handle domestic distribution in the United States with Glasgow responsible for all other international territories outside of France.
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