France

[FR] Reform of Financial Support for the Film Industry

IRIS 1999-4:1/16

Charlotte Vier

Légipresse

The reform of the funding mechanisms for the cinematographic industry, announced some months ago, has now come about with the publication of the Decree of 24 February 1999. Previously, these procedures were governed by texts dating from 1959 which had been amended so often that they had become barely legible and scarcely coherent. The reform clarifies both the shape and content of financial support for the cinema. This is aimed not only at the production of full-length or short films and their distribution and broadcasting, but also at encouraging the promotion of the French cinema in France and elsewhere, modernising cinema theatres and technical industries, and providing support for vocational training.

The new text does not radically change the conditions and procedure for obtaining aid for the production and preparation of films. It is based on four areas, and offers firstly a clear definition of the delegated production undertaking which alone may apply for approval and " carries the initiative and the financial, technical and artistic responsibility for the production of the cinematographic work and guarantees its completion". Secondly, the Decree of 24 February abandons the criterion of language in which the film is made in distinguishing between reference works and re-investment works. Funding may now be invested in all works, whatever the language in which they are made.

The reform also provides access to funding for audiovisual works which have received support from the COSIP (support for the audiovisual programme industry). The producer must then refund the amount of the funding awarded by the COSIP, on condition that the work has not yet been broadcast on television. Lastly, the concepts of approval of investments and approval of production replace those of investment approval and supplementary approval, which used to be the condition for access to funding. The two procedures thus become totally separate for the purpose of obtaining financial support.