France

[FR] Changes to Regulations on Financial Support for the Cinematographic Industry

IRIS 2011-3:1/20

Amélie Blocman

Légipresse

With the publication of the Decree of 4 February 2010 and the four Orders amending the regulations on financial support for the cinematographic industry, the “Club of 13” has seen its efforts rewarded. The group of thirteen celebrities in French cinema circles, formed in 2008 on the initiative of the director Pascale Ferran, had drafted a report entitled Le Milieu n’est plus un pont mais une faille ("The middle ground is now a fault line rather than a bridge"), denouncing the increasing difficulties in financing and distributing "middle of the road" films in France, i.e., films occupying a position somewhere between the American blockbusters and very minor films. Specifically, these texts are concerned with the cinematographic production companies that receive financial support for the production of full-length cinematographic works from the national centre for the cinema and animated images (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée - CNC). For each film produced, part of the money generated by ticket sales is paid back to the delegated producers, and part to the co-producers. The Decree raises the rate for repaying revenue to French films according to the number of tickets sold or reserved for the delegated production company in the case of a co-production. The amounts paid back are now to be increased up to a limit of 5 million tickets, a level that few French films ever achieve, whereas previously all films received support, regardless of their success in cinema theatres. The delegated producer will now be allocated 100% of the support money if the film generates support of up to 150,000 EUR, compared with 50 000 previously. As a result, the television channels, which are co-producers but never delegated producers, will receive less money. The Decree also increases the allowance paid for expenditure on preparatory work involving the initial idea, adaptation and scriptwriting where this is incurred before production begins. It also sets up specific support measures in favour of authors in respect of the initial idea for the project.