How French Cinema Works

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SOURCES & FURTHER READING
CNC Bilan 2022
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Jonathan Buchsbaum, "Exception Taken"
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Sarah Walkley, "To what extent can France
continue to defend the cultural
exception in the digital age?"
wrap.warwick.a...
Jens Ulff-Møller, "Hollywood's Film Wars With France"
archive.org/de...
French Cinema, A State Affair: History of Cinema and Public Policies from WWII to the Digital Age
• French Cinema, A State...
Ruth Vasey, "The World According To Hollywood"
archive.org/de...
US Film Tax Incentives Map
www.mediaservi...
MUSIC (Via Epidemic Sound)
Drizzle Rider - Ted Beattie
Domestic - DEX 1200
Progressive Progress - Howard Harper-Barnes
Ascent - Martin Landh
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[@maellebonnin7698]

I'm a teacher in middle school, in rural France. Without the "Ma classe au cinéma" program, most of my pupils would never get the chance to see something other than a Disney movie in the theatre. It's such a great opportunity to study cinema as an art form !

[@noone9472]

I remember watching Persepolis in the theater as a kid with my class. It left a profound impression on me. I’m curious to know which films do you bring them to? 😊

[@archeogeek315]

@@noone9472 From my childhood I remember we went to see King Kong (the original), The Gold Rush and Singing in the Rain.

[@clairedeluuune]

"Ma classe au cinéma" was the only time I've watched a film other than a Disney in theater as a child lmao. really good memories

[@trakksfendacre]

​@@noone9472 When I was at elementary school, I remember seeing, in no particular order, U by Serge Élissalde and Grégoire Solotareff, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and in middle school, we watched The 400 blows, My Life as a Courgette. There are many more that I can't remember of, but the ones I've mentioned made an impression on me for sure.

[@annabarr1304]

As an American in France, I thought it was odd when my daughter went to the cinema with her school, makes sense now

[@ThomasFlight]

Thanks for breaking this down Evan! I was always curious how this all worked. Being at Cannes it's obvious France is a country that, more than any other really seems to take pride in their cinema not just as an industry but as a cultural art form.

[@benjaminmouliets8038]

The CNC also supports the release of films on physical media (4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD). It's very important to stress this out, because I think it's part of the whole take of "cinema as a cultural art form" you're mentioning. Making available overlooked gems is part of the whole process, and many independent labels need these funds to create critical content and release them as disc extras - interviews, essays, you name it. In the same vein, but at a purely digital level, you have some excellent KZbin channels that receive support from the CNC. There are many, but I'd like to encourage you to check out "Calmos" (my highest recommendation if you are interested in French comedies).

[@a.leuchat3168]

it would be a shame if ... the french government were to publicly attack the Palme d'or winning female director ... oh wait.

[@jon7187]

Woah two greats of mine in a thread! @thomasflight your metamodern video is what I introduce a ton of my friends to the same way I intro my friends to nerdwriter though his Logan video and every frame a painting with his Edgar wright video. Please keep up the good work!

[@RcsN505]

It also funds very forgettable commercial movies that never make it to screens abroad. As is the case in most countries other than the US, only prestige films get exported/picked up by streaming companies.

[@Shornaal13]

Even then, many French people think that Cannes has become a gala for the famous and wealthy to be seen and be hip. Imagine what it used to be like.

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

For smaller countries (such as Denmark, where I live), this kind of system is vital because the potential market for films in their local languages is so small that big-budget movies aren't even close to being profitable on their own.

[@MinorCirrus]

Yep. The world should understand that they wouldn't have the likes of Mads Mikkelsen without such programs.

[@pau8957]

this happens too in south american countries. it keeps the film industry going

[@STEPA1994]

@@guyg.8529they can of course, but it’s far from being the rule. The share of films that have a potential for international appeal is very small, particularly in countries where the specific cultural references make the film difficult to understand to general audiences in other countries.

[@tanketom]

@@STEPA1994 Absolutely. And to expand, there is also a question of numbers here. Even if a handful of movies from, say, Denmark, reach international audiences every year, that still leaves a lot of other movies that could still be important and/or successful locally without those international sales. Most would simply not be made.

[@lucymacpherson-mulcahy2175]

Denmark is literally the GOAT of public funding

[@ZbLuffer]

Fun fact: I've just finished a videogame with the CNC logo in the credits. The game is called "Chants of Sennaar", and this is excellent.

[@MrYuuzh]

An absolute gem. It's been a long time since I had fully completed a game 100% without letting go of the controller. And what a success. That was clever, trully inspired. Loved that game

[@gaudaddy]

Chants of Sennaar was genuinely such a breath of fresh air, I loved it SO MUCH. Please reply to this comment and tell me if y'all know more games that are similar

[@ZbLuffer]

@@gaudaddy ​ Hi, 1) Although completely different in style, Return of the Obra Dinn is another great deduction game. 2) I didn't try it yet, but Tunic looks similar and has great reviews. 3) Outer Wilds is again quite different but requires a functional brain and is probably the most rewarding game of all time - a full blown masterpiece. 4) Even more different is Subnautica which is rewarding on several levels and is a great combination of everything. Cheers

[@MrYuuzh]

@@gaudaddy Hey ! I agree with ZbLuffer, "Return of the Obra Dinn" is a different style of gameplay, but the logic behind the puzzles is quite similar. I also really like it and the art style is quite unique, but very satisfying to complete. For another deduction game, you can take a look at "The Case of the Golden Idol." Although I haven't played this one personally, it was highly recommended to me for the same reasons.

[@warenradio5744]

Thank you man, the game is awesome

As a French Filmmaker, I would always defend the CNC ( even if I was more snubbed than helped by it 😂). Thank you for this video. Even a lot a French people doesn’t understand how it works here.

[@unechaineparmistantdautres5514]

Waaaaaaaaaaa j'ai lu "French filmmaker" et que voi-je ? Le F? Je m'attendais pas à te trouver dans les com de cette vidéo. (bon film au passage 👍👍👍👍👍)

[@MikojinToyunda]

Je confirme, je ne connaissais pas le fonctionnement ! D'ailleurs, pour le film du Visiteur du Future, vous aviez réussi à avoir un peu d'aide ou pas du tout ? Si c'est "pas du tout" ou très peu, alors c'est bien dommage... Mais comme tu le dis, la CNC reste une très bonne initiative qui doit rester.

[@taragoudard5515]

Attend quoi ? Toi tu t'est fait snober par le CNC, mais d'où ? Je veux dire...Le visiteur du futur! les dissociés ! Si toi tu te fait snober, j'imagine qu'il faut juste le god mode pour passer😂 Apres on vois beaucoup de filmes qui tendent a se ressembler, avec en fond pour certains, des messages idéologiques qui ne sont plus vraiment bienvenu au bout du 3eme film du même genre (et surtout si le scénar' plait pas). Tout le monde a internet, tout le monde a déjà un avis sur tel ou tel idéologie, donc ça agace beaucoup de gens. Malgré l'utilité du CNC, les gens a la fin, ils ne voient que le prix tu ticket, et si le film était cool, ou pas. Ils ont Netflix et beaucoup de films/séries pour comparer, leurs agacement exacerbe juste leurs avis qui deviens un rejet total au lieu d'un simple "ok ouais, sans plus" A la fin on se retrouve avec le public en mode "CNC = Gros Scam" parce qu'il en ont marre de voir sans cesse revenir le même type de film qui floppe a chaque fois, que presque personne ne veux, ni ne va voir au final mais qui reviens quand même avec un autre nom, un scénario similaire, la même idéologie, pendant que beaucoup d'autres, talentueux, se prennent un "mdr t ki degage pov con" par le CNC alors que leurs audience juste sur KZbin prouve que c'est un bon pari et proposent des truc sinon originaux, au moins appréciés.

[@Maxalrun00]

As a french working in the film industry, i feel like every french should watch this video. This is very miss-understood in France, and a lot of people are against this system because "it's public money for movies that won't be seen", but as you said, it's really not at all. The CNC and all the other aids (we have funds from regions, from private investors, TV channels that are obligated to invest in the cinema industry...) are crucial to our industry, and we make beautiful films, some even nominated at the oscars ! We also have a very very unique system for people working in the movie industry called "Intermittent", which helps a lot in terms of work stability. Anyway, nice work, and thanks for that !

[@themockingnerd7991]

lmao.

[@themockingnerd7991]

Hi! I'm French. I don't think anyone will read this, but never mind, I have to express myself. (iI advance this text is automatically translated so if there are mistakes it's not me it's the A.I ^^ ) There's a lot to say about this analysis but I'll try to keep it short. To begin with, as you said, the CNC gets money even on a film that isn't French. And that's a huge detail. It's American cinema that keeps French cinema alive today. French cinema is a dying patient on life support. The state decides which French films will be released (50 on average per year) and to be chosen (to get the money) you have to offer smooth, consensual films, or, as everywhere else, have a name or be part of an "actor/director" family. In France, the director has the final cut. And that doesn't make a good director. Most French cinema is boring as hell. Romantic comedies, dramas, biopics or comedies, that's what you're allowed to make in France. SF? Fantasy? Horror films? Action movies? NO! Why not? The answer: Too expensive. If one day American cinema stops exporting to France, French films will disappear. It's a sad fact, but the country that invented cinema was also the first to see it die. A director with real ambition for tripple A cinema can only export himself abroad. The best example of this is Luc Besson's Europa and The Fifth Element. No, really, the CNC is the worst when it comes to financing films, because for years it has allowed French cinema to release crap films that nobody watches, without giving a chance to artists with a real vision of cinema.

[@Rori72]

Entièrement d'accord.

[@bongs1995]

​@@themockingnerd7991Sounds like a gripe with the selection not the system itself. Something that can be changed without breaking the system itself

[@Maxalrun00]

I feel like you are not really going to the movies here in France bud. Sure we have a lot of crappy comedies, but we have a looooot of other things. Just the last year, did you watch Anatomy of a fall ? Vermines ? The animal kingdom ? Thats all such unique movies, horror, drama, fantasy, c'mon mate ! Sure we dont have the Avengers or James Bond, but we have such unique movies instead. About the financing from US movies, its about half of the ticket sold that are from US movies, thats like 80Million tax, so about 10% of CNC's budget. Sure they do help us, but thats not all. Also, Luc Besson did something unique with Europacorp sure, but thats personnaly what i like about french cinéma. It was new and a game changer, but i'd hate a french cinéma where everything would look like cheep US movies. We make 20 films with the budget of a blockbuster, lets keep it that way.

[@kioumim]

As someone who lives in France, i have never really noticed how cinema was a part of our education or at least never questioned it as it was "normal", but after watching this video i got to think of all the moments i got to watch movies at the movie theatre and later on discuss it in class. In high school i got to choose an optional class called "littérature et société", where we'd discuss/debate/study a lot of interesting topics(politics, gastronomy, litterature, journalism, art...etc/ nglit felt like Dead poets society) and one of them being CINEMA! With the few people in the class we got to go to a film festival in Aubenas called " Les rencontres des Cinémas d'europes" which was such an amazing experience and got to discover Mustang! I've always loved cinema and i think the cinema culture being very accessible in France definitely made it easier for me to have fun.

[@Papy1412]

It's very interesting to see something like this, as a french person who mostly sees french ppl heavily criticizing the CNC, mostly because they only see that it's based on "taxes" and thus assume that it's general universal taxes, not to studios/on cinema tickets, and also because a lot of the french movies that end up produced by the CNC are... kinda bad, and those are the ones with a lot of advertisement. Still, I think that french cinema is a real goldmine, and I hope all the talk around Anatomy of a fall (especially if it wins some academy awards) will help those movies get recognition beyond our small little country. Just in 2023 there were so many cool movies, from more "classic" dramas (the taste of things, chien de la casse), horror/thriller (vermines, vincent doit mourir), scifi (le règne animal/mars express), and they exist in part thanks to the CNC, but mostly because there's a generation of incredibly talented directors who deserve to shine and be talked about out of the country.

[@Keversez]

I think CNC's are pretty cool, the way they can just cut anything with a precision depending on the cad file given is such a time saver. I like the water jet ones which one do you like.

[@TheMoviePlanet]

"a lot of the french movies that end up produced by the CNC are... kinda bad" - this is just not true. Just about every single French movie is supported by the CNC in some way: Anatomy of a Fall? Participation du CNC. The Three Musketeers? En partenariat avec le CNC. All Your Faces? Participation du CNC. Astérix & Obélix: The Middle Kingdom? Soutien du CNC. The Goldman Case? Soutien du CNC. Etc...

[@apersonlikeanyother6895]

Never trust anyone who complains about tax.

[@KrMees]

"Small little country?" France is around the top-20 in the world going by population, still top-50 by size, and culturally one of the more dominant nations on the planet. If your country is small, then Croatia, Namibia or Paraguay barely exist 😅

[@atomsk1972]

Thanks for the recommendations. I was actually going to post asking for some good recent French cinema 👍🏽

[@cinecure]

I'm French and working in the film industry and boy is that music to my hears. Great work, thanks!

[@alliesfrench]

Oh man. Thank you for this. I adore French cinema - there was a small theatre down the street from my apartment in Paris that would screen older titles - always packed, always riveting, and always followed by amazing conversations at the bar with my friends and locals. The French appreciate art so much it’s in their souls.

[@thibautnarme6402]

One thing I feel was not stressed enough in the video: this system also helps maintain a degree of technical know how from gaffers to animators at every step of the production. Many of those technicians and their companies - which would eventually work form market-viable productions - have all started on CNC-led budget. Those also explain the outsized success of French cinema beyond its border. Something BC and Georgia are now starting to experience since to their long standing tax discount schemes... This know-how becomes a competitive advantage on top of pure accounting.

[@LucasScremin]

In Brazil, there is a similar system in the Cinema Industry. The Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual (Cinema Industry Fund, or something like that) invests in projects for cinema, tv and streaming. The way money gets back into the fund is very similar, taxing every video ad, comms industry and video projects in general. Doesnt have the same scale, but the structure is pretty much the same. Even with some of the problems mentioned in the video, it works.

[@HeribertoEstolano]

I had a Video Production company for ADs for 5 years, the taxes are very low if you're a small video producing company. Also there's a great increase on taxation if you put an Ad produced outside of Brazil or using foreing footage so companies would preffer remake the whole AD here instead of just dubbing a foreign ad from a muntinational company (but they exist and get aired anyway).

[@rayanovelha]

ANCINE

[@LucasScremin]

A ANCINE é uma agência reguladora, mas é o BRDES quem gerencia o FSA utilizando dados da ANCINE pra fazer o gerenciamento dos investimentos. Funciona em paralelo.

[@rayanovelha]

@@LucasScremin CALMA TORCEDORES!!!!

[@LucasScremin]

@@rayanovelha o caps não era pra gritar, é só a sigla hahahah

[@juma__]

In my country, Argentina 🇦🇷 We have our own version of CNC called INCAA, which has been crucial in supporting our film industry and preserving our cultural identity on screen. However, there's talk of defunding it to shift towards a more 'American' system, where private investment rules. While I understand the need for change, I worry about losing our unique voice in cinema.

[@chriss780]

It would mean watching nothing but hollywood slop.

[@LynnHermione]

Thats what i was thinking. INCAA can stand a fixing (i have seen some epically inept movies at the mdp film fest financed with grants, and great indie arg movies that got no distribution) but it is a necessary part of the industry

[@pepperpattynaise]

There always a need for change, nothings perfect. This is such a vapid argument. "Need for change". Such an empty concept, and its the whole reason why Milei rose to power. Of course things can be better! But now people are condoning the actual elimination of our sovereignty, all in the name of "change", or "freedom". Makes me sick to my stomach.

[@Minifutzi_o.O]

I think it's just an excuse to save money.

[@pepperpattynaise]

@@Minifutzi_o.O the thing is INCAA sustains itself with the money people pay to see movies, a small percentage at that. The government does nothing and svaes nothing by eliminatinf it. They just hate cinema, and this might sound hyperbolic but they were celebrating last week when the president anounced hes gonna sell an emblematic and historic public cinema, and his minions were literally saying "we couldnt care lees, we hate cinema, real countris dont care about cinema hahahaha". These is the kind of peopme we are dealing with.

[@The_Unholy_Roman_Empire]

As a French person, i never realized how much important the role of the CNC was. It is a really great program that sometimes gets critized. I think the best part is the aid for Ma Classe au Cinéma, it allowed me to see mutiple films a year in middle and high school that has sparked my interest in cinema, and it's something i'm really thankful for. It is things like these that make me proud to be a French citizen

[@djocko1364]

i remember beeing a kid in the early 2000s waiting all month long to get to the day we were going to the cinéma with my class to watch a 3h long 1930 movie or some animation film,no matter the movie we were all so exited to have to chance to be in the cinéma with our friends to share quality time and I think this initiative from the CNC is what built this passion for cinéma deep inside me. Merci le CNC

[@ThatGenericCanadian]

This reminds me of the music industry in Canada. For ages there's been good access for musicians to fund and promote their music, it's one of the reasons that in a country with a population smaller than California, Canada is constantly putting out huge artists to the world stage.

[@Michaelonyoutub]

Yeah Canada has adopted many of these ideas for not just music, but tv, film, and more recently online news. Being majority english speaking and on the border of the largest, most influential, and wealthy, english speaking country, which has almost 10x the population, it is extremely easy for Canadian culture and industries to be dominated by America. Taxing entertainment and media industries and funneling that revenue back into Canadian projects and talents in those industries, helps Canadians compete and protect Canadian culture.

[@roadrollerdio565]

Canadian Film and TV get some of their funding from the govt agency Telefilm Canada as I understand it, which provides 50% of a film's budget.

[@edmerc92]

Canada's population just surpassed California's.

[@felidiazbo]

In Argentina we have the INCAA, which works in a similar manner to the CNC

[@guillaumevidi7886]

In fact, the CNC has enabled the world's two oldest productions, Gaumont and Pathé, to stay alive. Gaumont released the Lupin series not long ago on Netflix, and Pathé released a two-part mega-adaptation of The Three Musketeers (Les mousquetaires d'Artagnan and Les trois mousquetaires milady) last year. The CNC helped Pathé finance this small French blockbuster (19 million of the 72 million budget).

[@plouviettheo5286]

I'm french, and I can say you're dead on. It's amazing that you could do this analysis compared to the US, and I even learned a thing or two. Thank you !

[@ruskasielu6261]

As a French guy, I didn't expect to see such a video on your channel. That was nice ! Another topic you could have talked about is the "chronologie des medias": the fact that movies can only be shown after a set amount of time on different supports. Because of that, it can take a loooooong time (I'm talking years) between watching a film in the cinema and being able to watch it on Netflix for example.

[@onsenfousputain7467]

I think it was true decades ago, now the delays are shorter. Don't do your french. :p

[@ruskasielu6261]

@@onsenfousputain7467 nope, currently it's 15months for France before a movie gets on netflix, in the US the minimum is around 30 days, so that's still a big difference

[@Origamidude]

As an US American, I am jealous of the CNC's approach to the creative field of their nation. Well done France, there have been lots of media that I have enjoyed as a result of this program.

[@pj-ok4gt]

There is no "creative field", there is : "wich story could afford money from cnc ?" simple, a story where white french are bad, and poor migrant are cool. 100% of time.

[@TheAmericanPrometheus]

Jealous? If we tried implementing something similar to what France has in here, it would almost immediately be hijacked by our government for propaganda purposes.

[@pauljamesyoung-70]

@@pj-ok4gt Wow, a government artistic program that's been ideologically captured? I'm in complete shock!

[@zsht]

BFI is similar in the UK, although instead of auteurs these funds are seemingly preserved for the privately-educated

[@Neville60001]

The Canadian version is Telefilm Canada.

[@SeaUrchinFilms]

BFI system is totally different! The way it gets its funding, the way it distributes it, and the scale of the funding has nothing to see with CNC. Biggest governmental contribution to filmmaking in the UK is via tax relief, which is not curated or selective.

[@zsht]

@@SeaUrchinFilms similar in the sense that it is a governmental body inshrined by law, partially funded through taxpayers, that selects and funds projects

[@SeaUrchinFilms]

@@zsht - Okay, I get your point now.

[@gulubidulu]

As a matter of fact, the CNC also has a fund for innovation. I work in the VFX industry, and these funds are often used to develop new pipelines or eco-friendly technologies. It has its issues, but it is a good incentive for studios to invest on better ways of doing stuff.

[@Lancelotxxx]

if only they could fund better salary and working conditions ...

[@TUROCK320]

@@Lancelotxxx

[@ErwannKerroch84]

Still such a master storyteller, Nerdwriter ! Yeah, CNC is not without issues, but as you say in your video, it is essential for french cinema. As a coincidence, I applied for the first time last year for a grant from the CNC, and was awarded one. I then was contacted by producing companies who wanted to know about my project, and signed up soon after with one - who I'm now developing the project with. I never thought in a million years I'd become a writer, but thanks to the CNC it was made possible.

[@nanardeurlambda]

congratulations! and good luck.

[@mimisaiko]

I lived in Taiwan. There is also something similar to this selective type of subsidy. The common criticism about this system is: 1. Who is making the decision who would get the money 2. The industry would get dull and not trying to make films that resonate with the masses Although indeed it would be super hard to get a commercial success without such aid. But still, there are other ways that film can profit other than from box office.

[@Nakhaan]

I'm a French guy working in the cinema industry from time to time. Money from the CNC is sometimes called 'Free Money' because we don't owe anything to the CNC afterwards, unlike investors and private companies who want their money back. (The CNC can only help fund a project partially, and cannot be the majority funder; it depends on the overall film budget). It's wonderful, but it is also a double-edged sword for independent filmmakers as it can fund your independent film, but if it's not successful, they won't give you any money in the future. It's like they give you a shot; you'd better make the best out of it, if not, no more help. And then it becomes even more difficult to try to make a new film. So, the mistake is to ask the CNC for funding for your first serious indie film, as your first projects are usually not the best. But nonetheless, I'm glad the CNC exists.

[@safedreams6241]

fun fact No money is free. our dear French artists are subsidized by the CNC via taxes! in fact the French are the most taxed people in the world. This is the advantage of a communist system.

[@jhenmhor9558]

@@safedreams6241 return to your slave state wage slave, at least my taxes GUARANTEE me respectable health treatments were yours (tax and insurance) doesn't

In Brazil, we have a similar public system to finance production.

[@franciscofarias6385]

Yes, and the conservatives want to kill it. I don't want to start a political war, plurality of political views is important, but specifically in the case of public investment in cultural production it's important to promote the, admittedly non-obvious, benefits of governamental spending.

[@HelgaCavoli]

Yes! We just need to take even MORE pride in it. ❤ They invest in restauration of theaters, this Brazil should take note.

[@pepperpattynaise]

Same for us in Argentina, until people voted for a lunatic.

[@PatientCommenter]

But in Brazil it's not about culture, but politics. Brazilian cinema became an indoctrination system.

[@briopalumpus8676]

@@pepperpattynaise 😅😅😅😆😆

[@hydroxycuh]

Julia Ducournau is one of the most exciting directors in modern cinema right now. Really broadened my horizons and got me into French film.

[@valdir7426]

I agree; I'd also include Quentin Dupieux and Céline Sciamma in this renewal of french cinema (among my favorites are also Leos Carax even if he's not so young)

[@iamagoddmangoblin]

The mothion graphics and sfx in these videos are incredible

[@filmdetective]

Thanks for that You might also want to talk about the closed money-system and subsidies which allows shooting technicians to not have to struggle when they can’t find jobs. It’s called “intermittent du spectacle”. Basically we pay a little more taxes on our salary (us film and audiovisuel technicians) so that it auto finances the system. When we don’t work, the rest of our I unworked days we get unemployment (you do have be eligible). If I work 2 days in a month, the rest of the days I still get unemployment money, without having to apply for unemployment every week or whatever 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@ninceur]

I was researching French film working laws and saw that and thought it was such a helpful system. In the US we have nothing like that, I ended up leaving the industry here in part because I couldn't keep waiting for it to get busy again and for work to return (I'm in a smaller film market, for one).

[@alexcoyg3281]

I Love "Amelie"❤ It is one of the most magical movies of my childhood. Luc Bessons Taxi series are also very enjoyable combination of comedy and action done right which I loved as a kid too.

[@benjamindeharo314]

Subway, The Big Blue, Nikita, and Léon: The Professional are also very good

[@Lazarettootv]

You Can try Albert Dupontel's movies if you dont know him. i'm french and he's m'y favorite french movie maker :)

[@halfling49]

She cook an egg with a spoon 🥚 🥄

[@alexcoyg3281]

@@Lazarettootv Thank you! Will check him out!👍

[@alexcoyg3281]

@@halfling49 Dips hands in sands of grain and cracks top of Creme Brulee ❤

[@logreira]

In Colombia we have the same. The FDC, and works similar to the video with all the perks and problems that you can imagine. Without it, it wouldn't be possible to make the 90% of the movies in Colombia. It has dramatically change the film industry panorama.

[@trakksfendacre]

I'm really pleased that this matter is emerging in the public debate. I'm not going to beat about the bush: the CNC is an institution that redistributes and in particular reinjects money into the French film industry, and that's what makes the model so solid in terms of success (successful films can always be released with a model like this), while at the same time allowing a real cultural ferment to take place underground. I know that not all French people are very familiar with the CNC model, or like it for that matter, and it's good to say that it also leads to certain problems that are dealt with downstream. The fact remains that, as it stands, the French exception stems largely from this. I'd also add that from what I've heard from friends who know more about the international film world than I do, it's a model that's been taken as an example in several countries. South Korea is the most obvious, but I've also heard of similar mechanisms in Brazil and other European countries. I'm still finding out, but I'm really keen to take an interest in the small-scale cinema that is emerging in these countries thanks to subsidies.

[@Cocolassticot]

Happy New Year ! Cup of tea on a Wednesday! It's not just CNC, but also tv channels that are forced to produce french TV show and movies. Wich help give work and experience to a lot of actors and directors etc. You brushed on the "Exception Culturelle Française" that started after second world war, but every single second on TV have to be in french. Every movie is dubbed, add spots can have words in English, but they need to translate, and even on radio, there is a quota minimum of french songs. Maybe you could do a part 2 on music finance in France haha

[@planclops]

So glad I get to learn about film outside the US. Thanks for sharing

[@mateogaleano8706]

I love this video! I wanted to tell you that in my country Argentina we have the same thing called INCAA a national instate for the arts that has "financed" our best movies that have even won oscars! we are so proud that it exists since it has put Argentinan cinema at the top of South American cinema!

[@manuelaugustosisko9758]

Movies nominated to the Oscars since 2009: - El Secreto de sus Ojos (2009) - Relatos Salvajes (2014) - Argentina, 1985 (2023) None of these movies received funding from the INCAA, the three of them were almost entirely privately funded. Also most funded movies by the INCAA haven't even been seen or known by most argentinians... The system doesn't work as described in the French version, probably because all the funding is the Selective Funding kind.

[@LukRoes]

@@manuelaugustosisko9758 Both El secreto de sus ojos y Relatos salvajes were partly founded by INCAA, like a lot of big productions, those movies had multiple financiers, and were co-productions. Argentina, 1985 was funded by Amazon, and THEY were not interested in involving public funds into the mix. Please read before comenting incomplete facts. One of the reasons some people are a against the INCAA is because of MISSINFORMATION 👈

[@baltazarnadalino647]

The director and the producer of Argentina 1985 talk at congress in behalf of the film industry and the Incaa against its defunding. And you should learn what a Subsidio de primera via its before talking without information.

[@manuelaugustosisko9758]

@@baltazarnadalino647 the fact is that not a single Incaa production received even an Oscar nomination, which males your original comment false, that is all I wanted to point out, all You replied is basic propaganda. Justo accept most productions funded by the incaa are quite Bad.

[@HelgaCavoli]

This is AWESOME!! Gorgeous! Amazing!! I'm in awe! 🇧🇷 Brazil got A LOT of influence from France/French thinking. Thank Heavens! 🙏🏽It's STILL pushing the edge on creative FREE thinking! ❤🎉

[@bibitobastosqueiroz]

I think its worth noting that this system is used in bascially all european countries

[@PhilippeAllardRousse]

And Canada!

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

And many other countries I see this all the time with American KZbinrs, who think that America is the centre of the universe, and that everything else is weird. When, in fact, the rest of the world does it this way, and America is one of the only countries that doesn’t. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@SenhorKoringa]

South America too, to some extent, like anywhere but USA

[@Johnnystrangeways]

what's the system in Canada called? @@PhilippeAllardRousse

[@AweSean-wv3xo]

except the UK

[@DavidTMarchand]

Argentina has as similar system with the INCAA (National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts), plus a recently elected Libertarian government that wants to shut it down in favor of a more market-based system.

[@manuelaugustosisko9758]

You failed to mention that the INCAA only has Selective Funding, and that the INCAA often funds the entire cost of movies. Coupled with the fact that a small number of politically-alligned production companies receive most of the funding for movies, and you have the reason why most funded movies end up being really bad. Only 3 movies have been nominated to the Oscars since 2009 and none of these movies have been funded by the INCAA. Also the reason why 99% of the movies produced are known and seen by basically noone in the country.

[@LukRoes]

Both El secreto de sus ojos y Relatos salvajes were partly founded by INCAA, like a lot of big productions, those movies had multiple financiers, and were co-productions. Argentina, 1985 was funded by Amazon, and THEY were not interested in involving public funds into the mix. Please read before comenting incomplete facts. One of the reasons some people are a against the INCAA is because of MISINFORMATION 👈@@manuelaugustosisko9758

[@baltazarnadalino647]

“Es como cortarle las piernas a Messi”: el productor de ‘El secreto de sus ojos’ durísimo contra el desfinanciamiento del INCAA Pero ojo que Manuel Augusto el de youtube dice lo contrario! Escuchemos a Manuel Augusto, es indudable que tiene razón.

[@loganlawrence4668]

Loved this! I'd be interested in seeing moe videos like this - engaging breakdowns of systems, understanding what's going on behind the scenes.

[@TheIcydwarf]

This is not just the France system but similar to most European film finance!

[@jesseleeward2359]

Like patronage

[@punkcrown629]

i feel like it's relevant to talk about the french system cause it was a model to the rest of the world and that french cinema ranks as one of the best and most distinguished

[@stephennootens916]

It makes sense given that the America is kicking their ass in the free market. We have been the dominant poo culture since world war 2.

[@tmcz7482]

It was inspired by the French system, that’s why it’s still the reference.

[@Daimo83]

Don't start sentences with "SEE..". It's either "You see?" or "Do you see?" both of which are questions. See? before explaining something is completely wrong, see? Yes this makes me angry.

[@_MC529]

As a German filmmaker, it's heartbraking to see my country's industry, once the most renowned in the world, having the world's first movie studio, at one point even the most cinemas, go down the road it went. France is defnitely the powerhouse in Europe's film industry today and some Fremch movies are of my all-time favourites. Hope we can be incentivized to support our filmmakers and cinemas the way France does. At least some hope is on the horizon considering one (or actually two, or actually three) German movies being nominated for best International Picture at the Oscars.

[@lookintoit4537]

Das Boot is my favourite movie. Also loved Lives of Others, Run Lola Run, Goodbye Lenin and Funny Games.

[@_MC529]

@@lookintoit4537 unfortunately, they all came out rather long ago..

[@DavideGobbicchi]

I would say Italy is probably the most prolifico country in Europe for cinema...Cinecittà are the major studios in the EU.

[@cepho8349]

You do realize that Germany has a similar system in place already lol? Also there is a lot more to cinema than the Oscars.

[@_MC529]

@@cepho8349 Germany's funding is inaccessible for small or medium sized productions. Trust me, I tried.

[@baltazarnadalino647]

Hi! I’m from Argentina and here we have a similar sistem, it’s called INCAA and it’s in jeopardy now that we have a Libertarian Government that wants to apply the yanki way killing it.

[@PitchWheel]

In Europe, i'm from Italy, we pay taxes like we're lemons to be squeezed. don't forget that it depends on your luck whether you have honest officials who use your money in the right way. in Italy waste and dishonesty are rampant, and no one pays because the system simply provides that tax money is generically allocated to "cinemas" or perhaps "theatre renovations". But who gets it? Sure, maybe in the USA you don't have anyone who finances cultural cinema that no one watches, but are you sure that in the end, from an overall point of view, it's worse? Don't be in such a hurry to nationalize and centralize money!

[@jozews]

Before you paid taxes to the king to let you live on his land. So be grateful at least you have some property now.

[@murphy7801]

That's because Italian government is horrifying corrupt and people don't stand up. In France if a government member was corrupted they know there in deep trouble.

[@arthurlorente5581]

Can someone tell me from which movie is the clip beggining at 8:42 ?

[@manasavachat5101]

Finally a new nerdwriter vid!!

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

Living in Brussels I really noticed that the French-language film industry is so massive and self-sufficient, that it honestly felt like it had a bigger presence than some Hollywood films at times, and seemed to be completely independent from its strategies and tactics and genres in the theatres. I know national industries are a big thing in any country but I was just shocked by how strong the French-language section of films were, how many you would see in theatres for months on end. Definitely makes me happy seeing those sort of independent films cropping up a lot rather than just the same shitty studio blockbusters. I love Hollywood but it does need to change becuz right now every studio is being run like an investment bank, only working towards their bottom lines/profit maegins through IP-films. ppl like David Zaslav are running a creative industry into an iphone assembly line.

[@IntellectualWave]

As someone who've been watching french movies his entire life, OH MAN THEY'RE SO BORIINGGG !!!!! Except very few, the movies are entiiiiirely built on dialogue and conversation rather than visuals and events.

[@AardvarkDK]

AntiIntellectualWave

[@IntellectualWave]

@@AardvarkDK 😂 Indeed, but a movie is made to be seen before being heard !

[@AardvarkDK]

​@@IntellectualWave I think it's admirable that you only watch silent films.

[@UltraPatate]

OK Michael Bay

[@limetheslime1]

Loved that "Free Market." At 7:59

[@JohnBroedtl]

Interessenting! The equivalent in Germany is the Filmförderung (film subsidy) of the federal states. Although they don't have such a big budget as in France and they are critized to often support mainstream movies or commercial succesfull US movies that shoot as few as one or two small scenes somewhere in Germany

[@ThisIsWideAngle]

Germany might be a good example how such a structure gets impotent because of bureaucracy and political influence...

[@murphy7801]

​@@ThisIsWideAnglebureaucracy problems in Germany *sarcasm* I genuinely feel Germany needs to update its government paperwork methods after being there.

[@Freedmoon44]

​​@@murphy7801you havent seen french paperwork then, i shudder everytime i have to do anything remotely bureaucratic, once asked if i could observe a job related to a Historical monument (thus public) for school. Done all the paperwork specifically mentionning the date for the observation was in 3 months. They said no... one YEAR later

[@xyoxus]

8:44 what movie is this? And why are there clips in this video without a credit/movie title >:(

[@Nkanyiso_K]

This is a brilliant concept, I wish the industry would adopt these changes & help keep local theatres open

[@plato8427]

The Soviet film system was also pretty interesting. Even George Lucas said he wished he had made Star Wars in the Soviet Union because in America you have to fit such a narrow commercialised narrative.

[@AndreaFasani]

It's the same in italy and even if we had quite an industry with good movies, it's mostly shit now. Almost every movie is a cheap comedy or a family drama. We still have great photographer and other professionists, but most of the time the good movies and series are indie or mostly private. The difference is that France always took pride with their industry in cinema or other arts, like comics, so they put energy and attention, not just money. It's funny because many italians would get famous working in France as illustrators.

[@billhaverchuck3745]

Italy has several excellent directors who have been quite successful at major film festivals and awards cerimonies. Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Sorrentino, Matteo Garrone, Alice Rohrwacher, to name a few.

[@AndreaFasani]

@@billhaverchuck3745 yeah, but few good movies.

[@thomascatty379]

And remember in the 60’s they were many film collaboration between France and Italy, Il Gattopardo in 63 was a franco-italian production with Visconti as director and Alain Delon as actor. Rocco e i suoi fratelli was a franco-italian movie with Delon and Annie Girardot as actress. Ennio Morricone worked on French movies in the late sixties. Alain Delon even spoke fluent italian.

[@AndreaFasani]

@@thomascatty379 for decades, but its very hard for the Italian industry to land a products like amelie.

[@Twistxlaytondarklink]

It’s also interesting to point out that French cinema has a different way of creating movies. With a director that is more of an author than a Hollywood yes-man. It’s more a pice of art than in the us. (A whole subject)

[@shoarma2083]

It’s important to note that other European countries have similar systems of public funding. The French system however is clearly the best, because there is significant support in the form of legislation. Not only the tax system, but also the minimum requirements of broadcasters and streamers to have a percentage of homegrown content. This means Netflix, Amazon and other streamers have to produce French content. In a lot of countries this is not the case, which means that a Netflix subscription is entertainment money ‘leaving the country’.

[@ferdumas]

The Argentine industry, INCAA, works in a similar way to the CNC. Our government wants to destroy our culture because it is making people believe that this is taking money away from them to eat, which makes no sense.

[@AScreenwritersJourney]

Thank you for this video. I've never noticed the CNC credit before, but always notice the Studio Canal and Canal + credits. I wish America had something like the CNC.

[@ludmilajazmin919]

Hay que proteger nuestro INCAA!!!

[@hfs212000]

You should look into the korean film industry it is slightly related to this as it is govt funded as well to support the hallyu wave, basically profits back to korea

[@hamedmanoochehri5136]

There are more bold and original films coming out of American indie cinema than France each year, you guys just lack math skills to understand that. Anything that gives government power over artist is a plague. My life in Iran gives me enough credit to say that.

[@jmalmsten]

While the system is great for keeping niche genres alive. I must also remember that here in sweden, where we have a very similar system. I have not been exited to see a Swedish production since... The Millenium films (known as The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo for foreigners) and the latter Johan Falk movie series (where Joel Kinnaman got his big break if memory serves). And I find whatever I see from our productions as generally abysmally bad and at worst downright intellectually insulting to consume. But I don't think the hollywood system would remedy those problems. So I think another approach must be possible.

[@MrTerapak]

well to be fair sweden is way smaller, so even if you have the same system it cant be that huge as in france, so it cant produce just the number of films.

[@VoOrT3xX]

One precision : South Korea copied the french system in the early 2000 and now korean cinemais at his best :)

[@ykles24]

As a Frenchman, big meh. The original goal "to support an independent cinema that is bold in terms of market standards" was noble, but it has completely deviated. For quite some time now, there's been an implicit political filter for the allocation of subsidies, resulting in a predominance of artsy, left-wing or far-left productions featuring the same group of actors year after year, the same ideologies, and coming the same caste of people (le milieu socialiste bourgeois). It's getting old, and it shows in the declining ticket sales: fewer and fewer people are seing them. Essentially, it has evolved into a form of political monopoly in the industry. Saying it's imperfect understates the reality of it.

[@BruneSixtine]

Exactly, all films funded are pro-immigration, pro-LGBT, pro-diversity, and the French film industry is now mostly crappy comedies nobody want to watch !

[@ricky9451]

Pas faux

[@VoOrT3xX]

The french exception

[@Bast6]

As a french editor/colorist/screenwriter/director (the laters, for now, are waiting for a production company to pick up something I wrote and/or am attached to direct, but still 😉), I appreciate SO MUCH your video because it's well documented, VERY fair, obviously wall made. Thank you.

[@heybeepbeepMF]

I took a French film class in film school and this was never discussed. The films were great but it's illuminating to know some of the financing mechanism behind them. Thank you

[@erik-bm4po]

Let's not forget that most french films are very samey, bland family dramas or bad comedies. Many french people actually complain about the of quality entertainment

[@balajprasanna]

The soft focus of your shots for this topic adds to the aesthetics perfectly. Nice touch Evan!

[@Shornaal13]

And that's also why French cinema isn't bloated with remakes, live versions, or endless Marvelised sequels who are afraid of innovation for fear of losing money.

[@quentin7670]

That and the fact that those kind of blockbuster usually costs dozens or even hundreds of millions of dollars to make, and french cinema just doesn’t have this much money.

[@50sKingJet]

the funny thing is there are some german filmförderung/insitution for movie financing banners by several different german states at the end of at least a few avengers movies, at the end of the credits somewhere. i'm a little embarrassed about that, as a german. look, i did go to see some marvel movies just to be entertained but at the same time i dislike how I as a taxpayer help this machinery put out more stupid militaristic superhero blockbusters even if I don't go to see them. böhmermann, a german comedian, made an episode about this topic once, explaining that in each german state there's a single person responsible for choosing which films get money and which ones don't, according to their own taste. i'd say these people have something akin to a cultural monopoly/cartel but of course that's not entirely true. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5abp4ljpZaCgpY

[@Chris-fn4df]

There are plenty of "artsy" and "cultural" movies produced in the US and by US producers. What gets attention is the mass produced well-researched films that are _designed to entertain the masses and make a lot of money in the process._ The only "mass" appeal that comes from French movies is their innate "Frenchness". That _je ne sais quoi_ from French cinema is almost always targeted at French culture, and the people who have a certain view of French culture, drama, etc. They make very little attempt to make their movies appealing outside of France, or even accessible to people outside of the Francophonie. It is right that the rest of the world ignores that which wants to be ignored.

[@Williambjarn1]

Great video. We have a similar system in Danish cinema as well without which our tiny nation would never have been able to have the disproportionately large impact on the global film scene that we've had over the last few decades - there are about 6 million Danes on the planet and yet we are considered a force to be reckoned with - especially on an artistic and award-winning level. Maybe you would find a deep dive into the Danish Film Institute interesting too?

[@kdizzle901]

Some of French cinema is some of the best cinema the world has to offer

[@guidor7177]

In Argentina the president and its followers (so called libertarians) want to close our equivalent to CNC called INCAA. Milei sorete te vas en helicóptero!!

[@clem624]

CNC is so great, other friends and I are Game Developers and without it we wouldn't have been able to get the funds to starts a basic version of our games. Even if it's not a massive amount, it's always enough to start something that's finished enough to show it to publishers !

[@REELSERI0US]

This is part of a way larger conversation of whether or not the arts should be financed publicly. Not sure the US society would be very much in favor of that.

[@andir7374]

While I think the French system is great, you have to be really careful when implementing it, because it can easily backfire. Here in Germany the basic idea is the same, but almost all of it is controlled by a few people, who arent willing to take any risks at all. So all they fund are commedies and family movies for your average middle aged middle class family. Due to this the German film industry is really dull and uninteresting compared to its French counterpart and even compared to the US.

[@akshayhere]

That sucks. Because Germany has some of the greatest contributions to cinema, historically speaking.

[@arpeegee_studio]

just little added info, you might think all these taxes will raise the price of movie tickets, blurays or games... but they don't. Move tickets are way cheaper than in the US and it doesn't prevent us to have like IMAX and such. Games are equally priced compared to the US. I guess companies had to adapt, not consumers.

[@morbid1.]

Americans do not understand that government suppose to serve people not profits and corporations... but tell that to average american and they start panic about "communism"

[@franckr6159]

Spot on !

[@gridblaze6573]

☝️🤓

[@Neville60001]

Foe this to happen in the United States, there would have to be a _massive_ sociopolitical change, as well as an embrace of socialism. But as long as attitudes like this exist (kzbin.info/www/bejne/bobPXnicnpaLr9U ), things will stay the same.

[@benwasserman8223]

If this video gets more Americans to watch films from the French New Wave and beyond, all the better.

[@maestro_zen]

in Argentina we used to have a similar model... and it doesn't work. a lot of what is made isn't free of government interference and propaganda. the idea sounds great but in reality ... few "good" movies were released. and a lot of the actors link to it leach from it.

[@RafadelPozo94]

Great video! I love French cinema. I think it is quite common in Europe the existence of those kind of entities. Not sure about the details of each one, nor their commitment or success on the matter, but surely it helps enrich the cinema!

[@WatekFox]

As we love to say in France : "Not bad, right ? It's french."

[@MacTonight666]

Your American flag has 51 stars on it. 7:43

[@ouioui51100]

As a franch i'm happy when it funds great movies but most of the time it's movie that are so bad that is nearly a scam to get those funding

[@PauloSilva-fj9dx]

Could be a double Edge sword. In Portugal, by 00:00:01s of the 1st of January, there were sufficient submissions to all state funds. Granted, not close to €700m lol. Could be and interesting video. Teresa Villaverde spoke about it.

[@linootte]

me, a french person working in the film/animation industry, watching this: 👁👄👁

[@mxnevermind]

I really am continuously amazed by the sheer lack of institutions in the US that I'm used to seeing as simply What Governments Do. It hurts my heart a bit: everyone deserves to have a government that pumps money back into the community. It's far from perfect here in Australia (our equivalent to the CNC is Screen Australia) but the bar in America is SO low, for SUCH a wealthy nation.

[@J.S.3259]

It’s pathetic how America finances the murder of people abroad but doesn’t give a fuck about the arts

[@TheNavalAviator]

It's just insane how modern-day France has perfected effective subsidy structures across the board. If any other country did that amount of government redistribution of funds, that country's economy would just collapse in on itself very damn quickly. Not only does that work domestically but it even spans into the economic relations with former colonies and the activities of the French military.

[@jannikehret]

as someone living in the US this hurts to watch

[@eugenemleblanc]

Great video, really precise and positive. France actually has a tax credit (returns 30% of spendings in France) that accounts for an average 10% of films' budgets. Regions are an important source of financing that doesn't need to be refunded if the film isn't profitable. The state also funds the cinema when Arte or other public Tv channels pre-buy a film. But our system is so great, we're concerned that the liberal politics carried by that Court of Auditors report might restrain the number of films helped by the selective aids in favor of a smaller amount of more profitable films.

[@camilaorellana447]

Lo que me pasa con el cine europeo, es que amo el cine, pero soy latina y vivo en Latinoamérica; tenemos suerte si un par de películas logra llegar a algún cine acá, y la mantienen dos días en taquilla, en un horario de 💩; ahora algunas más, llegan a las plataformas, pero muuuuuuuy pocas; y tratar de conseguirlas en físico es inútil porque estamos clasificados en la misma zona que estados unidos 😫. Vivimos en un constante ¡¡Tomen mi dinero maldita sea, déjenme ver películas de otras partes del mundo!! 😭

[@dunnowy123]

American films don't need state support like this to survive. The CNC only exists because of French anxiety about cultural loss, which is fair. But France has a storied history of film making and a lot of local pride too. Speaking from the Canadian POV, it's possible to overlook success as well. The National Film Board here has been snooty and out of touch for decades, funding films no one cares about or watches. They don't invest into production values, because they have an almost ideological aversion to making commercially appealing films. And it's set our industry back considerably, but also, let's be real, America's entirely market oriented film industry is as successful as it is BECAUSE it's completely independent from the state. The industry has been down before and reconstituted, not due to top down efforts, but bottom up innovation. It'll happen again.

[@StudioAlternatif]

But the truth is today's French cinema is just too bad, nor commercial, nor artistic after la Nouvelle Vague.

[@Jonathan_T]

CNC actually works a lot with nepotism, but no one dare to say it. And for KZbin if you don't have half the money you cannot have the founding, useless fir begennier youtubers

[@joshyguuu]

In germany we have a similar system but it's actually the reason why German movies are mostly trash. They are often just made to collect the funding