30/06/2003

BLIC has refused to add its signature to the new film production deal that was recently signed by France Télévisions and French film industry organisations that belong to ARP and BLOC.
On Friday 27 June, BLIC, the office that coordinates the French film industry whose members are producers who belong to the leading networks, theatrical distributors and exhibitors, had harsh words for the aforementioned agreement that binds the pubcaster and almost all French film independents.

Headed up by Marin Karmitz, “BLIC wonders about the usefulness of an agreement that fails to solve the problems of France Télévisions’ policy towards cinema, and one which risks widening the divisions that already exist in the film union. That is why we are calling on the Culture Ministry to intervene. “
This is what BLIC had to say about the possible creation of a special fund to help independent theatrical distribution: “BLIC is surprised that production industry operators managed to ignore the trend towards a mechanism that brings order to theatrical distribution for small-budget films.” An analysis of the premises that make up this controversial agreement (which includes broadcasting at least 360 films per year on France2 and France3) BLIC was keen to emphasise the fact that France Télévisions could “make more cuts to the number of films they screen on their channels as a direct consequence of a reduction in their programming by private distributors.”

(Translated from French)