Following its premiere in Un Certain Regard at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and a prize-winning run at Annecy in June, animated feature Le Corset (The Corset) will hit French theaters on October 14, 2026.
Distributed by KMBO, the film marks the solo directorial debut of Louis Clichy, who previously co-directed the box-office hits Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods and Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion alongside Alexandre Astier.
A Crossover Arthouse & Family Positioning
KMBO boarded the project in June 2022 after reading the script following its initial pitch at Cartoon Movie. Set against the backdrop of 1980s rural France, the narrative bridges family-friendly animation with mature thematic depth:
Core Narrative: Tackles the shift from traditional family farming to intensive agriculture, pre-adolescent coming-of-age, father-son relationships, and emotional suppression represented by the central metaphor of “the corset.”
Evening Showtimes for Adults: Although family-accessible, KMBO is executing an arthouse crossover strategy by securing 8:00 PM and prime evening slots in participating theaters.
Adult Media Buying: Trailer campaigns were attached to Cannes adult auteur titles such as Fjord and Soudain. Media partners include France Inter, France Télévisions, Télérama, Le Figaro, and AlloCiné Kids.
School Outreach and Niche Community Engagement
To maximize long-term box-office longevity beyond the upcoming Toussaint school holiday, KMBO is deploying a targeted educational and local marketing campaign:
Educational Curriculum: Educational packs tailored for primary and middle school students are being distributed alongside 30,000 copies of KMBO’s quarterly journal Séances Scolaires.
Grassroots Partnering: Reflecting the film’s subplots involving agriculture and choir singing, KMBO is conducting direct local outreach with agricultural high schools, local choirs, and municipal orchestras.
Rural Previews: August preview tours targeted smaller towns and rural mobile cinema circuits (circuits itinérants) to generate early word-of-mouth momentum.
Broad Exhibitor Support & Cross-Media Rollout
The feature will launch on a strong combination of 300 to 350 prints, supported by major exhibitor endorsements, including three AFCAE labels (Inédits, Jeune Public, 15-25) and circuit stamps from UGC Spectateurs, MK2 Révélation, CGR Illumine, and Kinepolis À découvrir.
The theatrical release is anchored by several promotional and publishing tie-ins:
L’École des loisirs Book Release: On October 8, L’École des loisirs will publish an adapted book featuring original illustrations by Louis Clichy.
Gallery Exhibition: The Achetez de l’Art gallery in Paris (Bastille) will display an exclusive production artwork exhibition from October 1 to 18.
Blink Blank Cover: The biannual animation journal Blink Blank will feature Le Corset on the cover of its October 13 issue.