17/01/2005

New episode in the controversy surrounding Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s A Very Long Engagement which started stormy discussions regarding access conditions of non-European companies to the Automatic Fund for film production . In a joint announcement made on Friday 14 January, the trade bodies ARP (Auteurs-Réalisateurs-Producteurs), SACD (Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques) and SRF (Societe de Réalisateurs de films) said they were in favour of the opening up of the Fund to non-European companies based on a principle of precaution. This opinion seems to be shared by Catherine Colonna, Head of the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) who said the previous day:I’m convinced that there are simple solutions, as long as we attempt not to exagerate the perils of such an opening up and underestimate the risks".

For the ARP, SACD and SRF, specific conditions for the opening up of the Automatic Fund to non-European investments would have to be met: only films with French as the original language would be eligible; the money generated by those films whould be allowed to be reinvested only in films with similar characteristics, and a bottom of points would have to be set within the point system of eligibility. Furthermore, stressing the risk of a destabilization of the market because of the financial strength of US studios, the three trade bodies suggested to introduce technical measures (legal agreements and financial obligations from broadcasters…) to protect independent film producers. Just as a reminder, up until 1992, non-European companies were not excluded from accessing the Compte de Soutien. This system includes a redistribution of a share of box office receipts, an amount to be reinvested in new productions.
Details of the proposals can be found onARP and SACD.

(Translated from French)