European Union cinema admissions almost reach one billion in 2009. - The crisis does not appear to have affected European cinema admissions last year. The European Audiovisual Observatory has released its first estimates for European cinema attendance in 2009, which put total admissions in the European Union at an increase of about 985 million tickets sold. In a difficult economic environment this represents an impressive 6.5% growth year-on-year and the highest admissions level since the record-breaking 2004 (1013 million). Tickets sold in 2008 stood at 925 million and those sold in 2007 at 920 million. In 18 of the 24 EU member states for which data is available, the number of cinema admissions increased. In absolute terms Germany registered the most significant growth (+16.9 million, +13.1%), followed by France (+10.9 million, +5.7%), the United Kingdom (+9.3 million, +5.6%) and Poland (+5.4 million, +16.1%). For the first time in the past five years Spain reported an increase in admissions (+2.8%), whereas attendance decreased marginally in Italy (-0.4%). Although the Observatory does not yet have enough data to estimate the overall Gross Box Office (GBO) for 2009, data already available show box office growth significantly outpacing growth in attendance in basically all countries. The increasing number of 3D blockbusters like Ice Age 3 or Avatar selling tickets at premium prices is likely to have been a major contributing factor in this development. Outside the EU, the Russian Federation continued its growth trend of the past years with admissions growing by 11.8% to reach 138.5 million tickets sold, holding its position as the fourth largest cinema market in Europe in terms of cinema attendance. With the Russian rouble losing around 20% of its value against the US dollar in 2009, GBO reported in US dollars dropped from $830m in 2008 to $736m last year. Measured in local currency, GBO increased by an estimated 10.4%. Contrary to cinema attendance increasing in most EU member states in 2009, national market shares decreased in 19 out of the 24 countries for which data were available. Although it is too early to estimate European market shares, it would appear that US films such as Ice Age 3 (3D), Avatar (3D), 2012, Up (3D) or Angels & Demons, played an preponderant role in growing overall cinema attendance in Europe in 2009. Only a few European countries proved an exception to this overall trend. Thanks to the Millennium trilogy, Sweden registered a record year in 2009, with admissions to local films increasing by 81.5% year-on-year, and local market share climbing to 32.7%, the highest level on record. In Germany, led by Wickie und die starken Männer, Die Päpstin and Zweiohrküken, national films topped the record market share of the previous year, capturing 27.4% of total admissions, which is particularly impressive in light of the strong overall growth of cinema attendance in 2009. 2009 also was an excellent year for Spanish cinema with admissions to local films like Agora, Planet 51 or Cell 211 increasing by 35% year-on-year and capturing a market share of 15.4%. Also, Austrian films generated a record market share of 8% in 2009. Despite a drop from 58% to 51% in 2009, Turkey remains the leading European country in terms of national market share . (I.L./transl.fl)