12/11/2009

"For the very first time, a telecommunications operator has become a full partner of the film industry." The ARP (Civil Society of Writers-Directors-Producers) thus greeted the five-year agreement signed on Tuesday between Orange and the French professional film organisations (except the UPF and SRF).

The operator has pledged to invest a minimum of €80m in French and European films over three years. A total of 60% of this amount will be allocated for pre-buying works of French original expression, including 25% for features with a budget lower than or equal to €5.35m.

Orange, which owns the cluster of channels Orange Cinema Series and is involved in co-productions via Studio 37, will also support the exhibition and distribution sectors with an amount of at least €1m, from 1m subscribers upwards.

Having signed the agreement with the Film Industry Liaison Office (BLIC) and the Film Organisation Liaison Office (BLOC), the ARP underlined that "this alliance between Orange and the professional organisations is without doubt an important step in the digital revolution, for it maintains the historic financing model for creation whilst trying out new avenues for partnerships." In 2008, Orange invested €31m in the production of 15 French films via Studio 37.

At the same time, negotiations are underway between the professional film organisations and Canal + for the renewal of the agreement which came into force at the start of 2005 and expires on December 31, 2009. In 2008, the pay TV network invested almost €174m in 142 accredited French features. Added to this are the €22.27m and €16.79m in pre-sales via its subsidiaries TPS and Ciné Cinéma.

(Translated from French)