05/04/2005

The French Cultural Affairs Secretary, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres makes another move to confirm the Government’s commitment to open film funds to non-European countries. However, he specifies that this opening should be closely defined, give the prority to investments in films in French language or in films which will have a local economic impact, and of course stay in line with European laws. With that in mind, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres entrusted Catherine Colonna, head of the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), with the mission to choose a personnality of the film industry to prepare these legal changes, together with all the appropriate French professional organisations. The project is due mid-June.

By initiating this change, the Cultural Affairs Secretary gives his answer to the controversial issues raised by the termination of the French contracts for A Very Long Engagement by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and L'ex-femme de ma vie by Josiane Balasko. After several months of unsuccessful discussions between the CNC and the professional cinema organisations, the decision was made in favour of the opening. Three of these organisations —including the API (Independant Producers Association) and the SPI (Independant Producers Union)— were actually against the measure. On the contrary, the ARP (Authors, Directors, and Producers Society) and the SACD (Theatre Authors and Composers Society) deemed the national Secretary’s decision was a very positive step, for it should ‘stimulate the production of films in French language’, provided the change is thoroughly channeled by strict rules to avoid French productions companies to suffer from it.

(Translated from French)