04/12/2002

France’s film and audiovisual industry associations sounded the alarm bells on 3 December when it emerged that Sofica Gimages may well be on the verge of closing down.
Created by the BNP-Paribas bank and guaranteed by Havas–Images, this particular Sofica (a group of film and audiovisual industry finance companies) supports the overwhelming majority of French independent producers and invested Euros4.6million in 22 films in 2001. According to its annual survey, the CNC reports that Gimages was France’s number 1 Sofica for the number of films produced, and the 4th for the amount of money invested. It emerges however that Gimages will not be taking on any projects in 2003 and will indeed close down very shortly.
France’s independent producers’ guild – SPI, and ARP, the association of actors, producers and directors reacted immediately by asking the government to find a way to ensure the ongoing activity of Gimages. This news comes at a particularly delicate moment because an earlier CNC report into finding various new ways of financing French cinema called for the Soficas to play a much bigger role. In addition, French industry operators are also waiting to learn the results of the Leclerc Report into financing that was commissioned by the Minister and is scheduled for January. The Leclerc Report, however, has no influence on the future of the Soficas which answer to the ministry of Finance.

(Translated from French)