28/03/2007

After an overdrive with 240 films in 2005, French film production has returned to a calmer pace with 203 accredited features in 2006, which include 164 French initiative films (FIF) and 39 majority co-productions.

This was the main result announced yesterday by CNC Director General Véronique Cayla at the presentation of the 2006 French film production results to the press. The analysis shows that the high number of productions in 2005 may be explained by anticipation of producers regarding the uncertainty of the tax credit reform, details of which are still under negotiation with Brussels.

2006 statistics show that French film production received close to €1.15bn funding, including €865m in FIF and €283.4m in minority co-productions. The year also saw an improvement in FIF funding. Despite a 12% decrease between 2005 and 2006 in the number of films receiving this funding, the amount funded fell by only 7% while the average budget increased from €4.99m to €5.27m.

At closer inspection, French funding stood at €834m in 2006 (€777m for FIF and €57m for minority co-productions) whereas foreign funding totalled €314m (€88m in FIF and €226m in majority foreign productions).

While French cinema maintained a steady flow of production with 56 features and 27 second films, from a total 164 accredited FIF films, the structure of funding sources has undergone minor changes.

In television, pay channel Canal + continues to lead the way with €138m in funding for 125 films it pre-bought (109 FIF and 16 minority co-productions), while French public broadcasters saw a 20% drop in pre-sales and co-productions, with only €102m for 84 films: TF1 (€44m), France 2 (€29m), France 3 (€14.6m), M6 (€9m) and ARTE (€5.25m). TPS invested €14m in 2006 and CinéCinéma, €9.3m.

However, this decrease in television funding is offset by growth in public funding: tax credit (119 features funded in 2006 ), regional funds (€13.4m for 59 films), Sofica (€32.8m for 78 features) and automatic support (€56m invested in production) and CNC selective support (€19.5m in advances on receipts before production for 52 films).

(Translated from French)