TF1 Fined Over Distribution of Spike Lee Film

PARIS: A Paris court has ordered TF1 to pay 32 million euros in damages for failing to distribute Spike Lee’s 2008 war film Miracle at St. Anna in international markets.

In 2007, TF1 International picked up the distribution rights to the film, outside of the U.S. and Italy, which was based on a James McBride novel. It was released theatrically in the U.S. by Touchstone Pictures in 2008 and delivered less than $8 million at the box office.

TF1 Droits Audiovisuels has been ordered to pay the Italian producer of the film, Lee, McBride and the film’s bankers, BNP Paribas, 32 million euros for "failure to distribute the film in the four principal European territories," the company said in a statement. TF1 maintains that the film "did not conform to the approved script" and that it had sought termination of the distribution agreement.

TF1 says it will appeal the decision and the level of damages awarded—"which appear manifestly disproportionate given the film’s performance, especially in the American market."