26/11/2003

To evaluate bilateral co-production agreements and to analyse the consequences for the distribution of films in the partner countries, especially in Europe. This was the task set last year by the French minister of culture, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, and Jacques Renard was nominated to oversee the studies. Renard sent his report to the ministry 10 days ago, but, for the moment, the minister doesn’t intend to publish the findings, even though the weekly publication, “Ecran Total”, has managed to get its hands on a copy of the report, and has stressed the relevance of the findings.

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Out of the many themes tackled by Jacques Renard, there’s an complete overview of co-productions made in France over the last ten years, and it shows there’s been a recent increase in this type of filmmaking. It amounts to 47% of French production in 2002 (94 films out of 200) as opposed to 38% in 2001 (78 films out of 200), with investment in co-productions totally €447.62 million last year, when compared with €373.32 million in 2001. The report stressed that the majority of the bilateral production agreements signed by France are rarely used because the rules are too rigid.
In addition, Jacques Renard, who previously produced a report, at the end of November in 2002, criticising the operation of the European support funds for Eurimages co-productions, has also studied the different funding systems currently in place in Europe, for example tax incentives or purely financial co-production agreements. A comparison between the existing French support fund and the new tax credit system (starting on January 1, 2004) is, without a doubt, the reason behind the minister’s decision to keep the report confidential for the moment. Finally, on the technical level, Jacques Renard raises questions about the minimum limit of 25 points out of 100, that have to be met by co-productions with a French minority share, a figure he says is too difficult to achieve. On the other hand, as part of the multi-lateral co-production initiatives started under the aegis of the 1992 European convention, there are plans to increase the limits for majority producers to 70%.

(Translated from French)