France

[FR] Creation of fund to compensate for interruption, delay or abandonment of filming due to COVID-19 pandemic

IRIS 2021-2:1/7

Amélie Blocman

Légipresse

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters a new phase, with vaccinations becoming available and new mutations of the virus being discovered, the French Government has continued to support the audiovisual sector, which has suffered long-term harm because of the health crisis. In a decree published on 30 December 2020, a special support fund was created for certain audiovisual production companies whose filming on French soil was interrupted, delayed or abandoned when one or more indispensable individuals, such as production team members, were unable to work due to the COVID-19 virus. This one-off fund is designed to enable the production companies concerned to pay the additional costs not covered by their insurance and to encourage them to resume filming. The decree sets out the conditions of eligibility for the funding and how it will be managed. The support is available to programmes in any of the following three genres: game shows and magazine programmes; entertainment; documentaries and real-life programmes. The programme must also: be the subject of a pre-purchase or co-production agreement with a television or on-demand audiovisual media service provider established in France; be covered by an insurance policy that includes a guarantee concerning the unavailability of individuals; have involved filming that started, resumed or was delayed on or after 1 June 2020; and be produced on French soil. Finally, the programme must not be eligible for the financial support granted by the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (National Centre of Cinematography and the Moving Image) under its general regulations. In order to receive funding, which takes the form of a subsidy, production companies must apply to the Minister of Communication by 31 May 2021.

On 16 January, the Prime Minister announced that the state’s financial support programme would be extended (solidarity fund, social charge exemptions and wage subsidies). In addition to the cross-sector measures, specific arrangements aimed at each part of the cultural sector, whether providing support to companies or individuals (rescue fund, emergency fund, compensation), will also be extended and adapted if necessary. The Minister of Culture announced that a particular effort would be made to protect jobs in the artistic and cultural sector, for both artists and authors.