You can’t think of the modern film industry without thinking of Hollywood – a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California in the United States that has become synonymous with commercial cinema.

But film buffs know that many great films, from big box office successes to small film festival darlings, are made outside of the American motion picture industry. Let’s take a look at some hit films from around the world.

France

France has been one of the greatest producers of films and has had a large influence on the film industry itself. In general, French cinemas are most commonly commercial and auteur films but there are a wide array of films produced. Cinema in France dates to the beginning of 1895 when two Frenchmen patented their Cinematographe, a device that recorded moving images and then allowed for them to be played back onto a screen. Shortly after the invention of this device, the two inventors patented the invention and began screening photos. French film has only since evolved.

Japan

Australia

The Australian film industry has been characterized as a time of either “boom” or “bust” to the inconsistency of its behavior. In October 1896, Australia produced its first short film the “Salon Lumière” at 237 Pitt Street, Sydney beginning the “boom” era of Australian film. Shortly after, The Story of the Kelly Gang was produced in 1906 as one of the earliest feature-length narrative films produced in Australia. This film was the beginning of cinema in Australia and since then there have been many more films produced, many of which have received international recognition.

United Kingdom

Overview

Cinema in the United Kingdom is said to date back to 1889 when the first moving pictures were developed. Shortly after these moving pictures were developed, Robert W. Paul and Birt Acres built and ran the first camera in Britain and produced the first British film “Incident at Clovelly Cottage.” For many years, film in Britain would see much success and it would not be until World War 2 that the decline in film would occur. However, in 1985 ten-screen cinemas would open and the number of screenings increased by about 500. This would allow film in the United Kingdom to find the path of success and follow that over the next few decades, producing films like “Love Actually”, “Harry Potter” and “James Bond.”

By Katelyn Bireline, Marketing & Communications intern

World Cinema: Films from France, Japan, Australia & the U.K.

France

Japan

Australia

United Kingdom

Overview

Contact

Our Blog

Mailing List