PARIS, Feb 29 (AFP) – Mel Gibson’s controversial film “The Passion of the Christ” will be shown in France despite rumours that it could not find a distributor, the Journal du Dimanche newspaper reported Sunday.

Gibson’s production company Icon was quoted as saying that the name of the French distributor would be revealed Monday.

Marin Karmitz, president of the French National Federation of Film Distributors, angrily rejected reports that the film might be boycotted because of fears it could stoke anti-Semitism – saying the row was manufactured as a marketing device.

“It was a deliberate tactic on the part of Icon to make themselves look like martyrs … It is a totally unacceptable kind of marketing,” he said.

“The Passion of the Christ” opened in the United States on Wedensday and on its first day brought in some USD 20 million.

© AFP

                                                              Subject: France news