New agreement with the French Cinema

CANAL+, the BLIC, the first signatories among BLOC members (the SRF, the SPI, the UPC, DIRE, the SDI and Animfrance) and the ARP have signed a new agreement, with an unprecedented five-year term, aimed at sustainably preserving cinema's place at the heart of the French cultural model.

The agreement, which applies to CANAL+ and CINÉ+ OCS, includes a global commitment from CANAL+ of €980 million over five years in support of French and European cinema, starting in 2028.

Given its scale, duration and the commitments it entails, this agreement between a broadcaster and the film industry is unprecedented.

Beyond its economic significance, it reaffirms a founding principle of the French cultural exception: cinema is a creative art form that requires a specific approach to funding, support and distribution. The signatories thus reaffirm their ambition to preserve a model that guarantees diversity, the plurality of perspectives and aesthetic approaches, new talent and creative styles, and the vitality of the entire sector.

This agreement places cinema at its core. Its artistic and economic specificities are taken into account while the status of its author is enhanced.

Beyond the financial commitment, the parties wished to include in the agreement structural safeguards designed to ensure the balanced development of film production.

Therefore, CANAL+ is particularly strengthening its support for:

• new filmmakers and new styles of filmmaking;
• debut films and emerging talent;
• diversity films;
• animated films;
• so-called ‘films du milieu’ which are essential to the renewal of French cinema and its economic stability;
• as well as the most ambitious works aimed at a wide audience.

The agreement also includes several qualitative commitments aimed at improving the visibility of movies and supporting diversity in film productions.

Cinema has been a key element of CANAL+’s editorial identity since its foundation. By renewing this agreement for the next five years, the signatories are demonstrating their desire to continue and deepen this historic partnership, reflecting a spirit of dialogue and a shared ambition to sustainably enhance the development and influence of French filmmaking, one of the most dynamic in the world. This agreement will enable CANAL+ to continue offering its subscribers the greatest French, European and international films just six months after their theatrical release.

Against the backdrop of profound changes in the distribution of films, this agreement provides authors, directors, producers, publishers-distributors and broadcasters with a lasting framework to sustain the film industry and ensure it reaches its audience.

The parties therefore commend the spirit of responsibility and dialogue that guided the negotiations and look forward to embarking on a new cycle of cooperation in support of film creation. They call for the work already underway with all stakeholders to be continued, in order to preserve an ambitious media chronology, which is essential for the funding of film creation and the preservation of France’s cultural exception.

Maxime Saada, CEO of CANAL+:

“I am delighted with this new agreement, which highlights the longstanding ties between CANAL+ and cinema. By investing a record amount of nearly 1 billion euros over an unprecedented five-year term, we are proud to reaffirm our support for cinema, its power, creativity, and diversity. The very best of cinema is on CANAL+ just six months after its theatrical release and will remain so for many years to come.”

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Raphaël Abensour / raphael.abensour@canal-plus.com