Filmmaking in France
Learn, write, produce, shoot, broadcast : french filmmaking supports
France, country to cinema in all its forms, constitutes a favourable ground for international coproductions, starting from the development stage right until broadcasting. We are offering below a non-exhaustive list of support and development aids for international feature films with French coproducers, which intervene during the different stages of the film, from its/the writing to its/the broadcasting.
Aide aux cinémas du monde
Producing and financing
The Aide aux Cinémas du Monde lends its support to foreign filmmakers conducting a co-production project with France. Accessible to all nationalities, this fund, in an effort to help production, is open to fiction feature films, animation and creative documentaries.
ALCA NOUVELLE AQUITAINE
Producing and financing
Partenaire des acteurs de la filière Cinéma et audiovisuel de Nouvelle-Aquitaine, ALCA accompagne les œuvres, leurs auteurs, leurs producteurs et leurs fabricants, de l’écriture à la transmission aux publics. ALCA favorise l’émergence, la diversité de la création, l’aménagement culturel du territoire.
Atelier Grand Nord
Residences and workshops
Initiated by the SODEC, Atelier Grand Nord brings together cinema professionals of the French-speaking community, to scriptwriting work sessions and exchanges.
Ateliers d’Angers
Residences and workshops
Founded by Jeanne Moreau, the Angers Workshops, in conjunction with Premiers Plans Festival, were launched in July 2005. These Workshops have been created for young French-speaking filmmakers or fluent French speakers with one or several short films to their credit, who have a first feature fiction film project in development.
Bourse Brouillon d’un rêve Documentaire
Screenwriting and development assistance funds
The Scam offers direct support to authors (either members or not of the Scam and regardless of their nationality), documentaries and short medium or full lenght feature film projects meant for television or cinema.
Ciclic : animation residence at Vendôme
Residences and workshops
The necessary infrastructure for the creation of film animations, whatever the technique utilized (except fo the use of 3D). The residents can therefore work on the animation, the development and the writing of their short of feature film projects for cinema or TV series.
Free access for winners of the writing grant (Poudrière/Ciclic partnership) or of the Ciclic prize following participation to the Animation du monde call for projects (Ciclic/CITIA partnership).
Ciclic Soutien au co-développement international
Screenwriting and development assistance funds
Based on the principle of the world cinemas support and pursuing the goal of strengthening the regional production and encouraging diversity in films, Ciclic has defined a support for the development of international film projects that include representatives of our regional production. This aid is aimed at supporting the development of international feature film projects associated to production companies which are based in the Centre-Val de Loire region.
Cinéfondation / L’Atelier
Development and coproduction forums
Each year, l'Atelier selects about fifteen feature length projects from around the world, and invites their directors to the Festival de Cannes in order to put them in contact with film professionals. The filmmakers are selected according to the quality of their project and that of their previous films, as well as on the state of progress of their finance plan.
The programme will enable them to gain access to international financing and speed up the production process.
Cinelatino
Development and coproduction forums
Cinéma en Développement is a place where professionals from Latin America and Europe can connect. It's all about meetings and exchanges : the objective of this hub is to put the professionals who want to discover new talents and projects in touch with directors or producers who are developing a project and who want to create or reinforce their professional network.
Cinelatino « cinema in construction » Latin America
Post-production
Films in Progress, a joint initiative between Cinélatino, Rencontres de Toulouse and the San Sebastian Festival, endeavours to facilitate the completion of rigorously selected independant latinoamerican films which, though completed, are having difficulty finding their way into the post-production stage.
Since 2002, this double event presents an annual selection of 12 works-in-progress in two sessions: 6 films in Toulouse in march and 6 films in september in San Sebastián.
Cinemed
Development and coproduction forums
Since 1991, the Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival has been awarding the Development Aid Grant for feature films projects thanks to the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, the International Organization of French-speaking Communities, the Région Languedoc-Roussillon, the Association Beaumarchais, and Éclair Group.
Cité internationale des arts in Paris
Residences and workshops
The program is aimed at foreign artists from all around the world who wish to pursue a research project in Paris during a minimum period of three consecutive months, and that are supported by one or more cultural partners.
These partners associated with the artist may be institutions of the French cultural network abroad (Institut français, Cultural Services of the French Embassies, and Alliance française) and / or French or foreign cultural structures (art centers, associations, multidisciplinary laboratories, galleries, museums, theaters, production centers for dance and circus, concert halls, festivals abroad, etc.).
CNC – Fund in support of audiovisual innovation (documentary)
Producing and financing
A reinforced development aid of an amount of 50 000 €, authors or production companies can apply, but the aid will be granted to the production company (which must be French).
This aid is reserved for the financing of the first shoot and first-cut of a limited number of projects. The fund aims to help particularly creative and ambitious work which need to go beyond the stage of script.
Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma français
Schools, trainings
The Conservatoire Libre de Cinéma français offers a three-years educational program in the fields of assistant directing, editing, scriptwriting, dialogist and production directing. The school is accessible in first, second or third year post-baccalaureate. International students must apply through the school’s application form. The CLFC film school is a member of CAMPUSFRANCE, CILECT (International Liaison Center for Film and Television Schools) and GEECT (European Group of Film and Television Schools, CILECT European Department).
ENS Louis-Lumière
Schools, trainings
ENS Louis-Lumière offers theoretical, practical, technical and artistic education and training for those wishing to go into the various branches of the audiovisual industry. It offers a state-funded course at postgraduate level leading to a nationally-recognised Masters degree in one of three subject areas: Film (Cinematography), Photography and Sound Engineering. Admission is gained via a competitive entrance exam for both French and international students.
Entrevues Belfort
Post-production
Through the Films en cours award, EntreVues Belfort International Film Festival offers complete post-production support for first, second, and third feature films (narrative as documentary). Five international feature films that are towards the end of the editing process are selected and examined by a jury made up of the award’s support partners, a film festival programmer, and a filmmaker. The films are presented during the festival in screenings reserved for industry professionals (distributors and programmers).
The jury deliberates at the end of the screenings and nominates only one film among the 5 applicants, which will receive the entire post production services proposed.
ESRA
Schools, trainings
The ESRA group includes three schools: the Higher School of Audiovisual Realization (ESRA), the Higher Institute of Sound Techniques (ISTS) and ESRA Animation. ESRA International also offers one-year, three-year and summer programs, delivered entirely in English for international students.
Festival Amérique latine de Biarritz
Development and coproduction forums
Biarritz Latin American film festival organizes coproduction meetings with the support of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and in partnership with the agency ECLA. In this framework, producers interested by Latin American coproductions are invited to the festival.
Festival de Cannes – Cinéfondation / La Résidence
Residences and workshops
The Résidence du Festival welcomes every year a dozen young foreign directors to work on their first or second fictional feature film project, in two sessions lasting four and a half months.
Accomodation in the heart of Paris is made available to the participants, a personalised programme is put in place to accompany the script-writing in addition to a collective programme of forums with film industry professionals.
Fidlab
Development and coproduction forums
FIDlab is a workspace organized around selected film projects in response to an international call, aimed at offering directors the opportunity to have dynamic meetings with producers, support funds, broadcasters, distributors.
Each year, 10 international projects are selected, without criteria of format, duration, subject, fiction and documentary, whether at the stage of writing, development or post-production.
Film France
Touring
Free information on locations, crews, labour rates and facilities. Providing assistance with contacting appropriate agencies regarding immigration/work permits and filming permits, as well as information regarding labour rates, studio facilities, post-production facilities and suppliers. Nowhere else in Europe will you find such a large diversity of locations combined with a highly skilled workforce. Providing information about coproduction opportunities in France and assists foreign producer who want to apply for the TRIP (Tax Rebate for International Production).
Final cut Venise
Post-production
A workshop to support films in post-production from Africa, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. The goal of the project is to enhance the role of the Venice Film Festival as a Bridge Builder supporting the production of independent quality films coming from Africa and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria;
Providing concrete help to film productions; and promoting the competitiveness of their audiovisual products on the international market.
Fondation GAN
Producing and financing
The foundation’s aid to creation concerns first or second fiction feature films (non-animation), selected on a script written in French.
The projects must be submitted by a feature film production company residing in France, whether the film is a French project or the fruit of an international coproduction. The French production must represent the majority share.
Bilateral funding programmes
Producing and financing
The CNC has created bilateral funds of coproduction with Tunisia, Portugal and Greece. Germany and Canada are also beneficiary of this aid in the as part of mini-treaties.
Groupe Ouest
Residences and workshops
Helping with the scriptwriting process, exploring new methods for creating stories, coaching writers, helping them find their “touch” and produce a meaningful story, a blueprint for a powerful movie.
INA Sup
Schools, trainings
INAsup offers a variety of courses that cover all aspects of audiovisual and digital, from cinema to television. The school has 14 courses all recognized by the French State, accessible through a competitive exam open to international students. INAsup is a member of the Cilect (International Liaison Center for Cinema and Television Schools) and Campus France. INAsup is part of the Erasmus + charter.
Young francophone creation development
Screenwriting and development assistance funds
The Fund for young francophone creation was created as a joint project of the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) in France, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium, the Luxembourg Film Fund in Luxembourg, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) in Quebec, Téléfilm Canada, TV5Monde, Orange, France Télévisions, the SACD, the Belgium SACD and the SACD Canada.
Envisioned as a system of selective aids aimed at supporting the dynamic creation of cinematic projects, audiovisual series and web content.
Its main objective is to promote the emergence of promising talents from subsaharian french-speaking African countries and Haïti.
The support at the stage of development is opened to authors and producers of projects in development. It is granted under the form of the complete cover of the residence’s program or course (including transportation, accomodation and per diem or bourse).
Young francophone creation (Post-production) French-speaking Africa
Post-production
The support for post-production is exclusively adressed to feature films (limited film duration equal or superior to 60mins) : fiction, animation or creative documentaries.
Jeune Création francophone production
Producing and financing
The production support to projects is conceived as a system of financial aids granted for the production of short or feature films (fiction, documentaries, animation, audiovisual series and web creations). The collaboration of a director/writer and a producer based in French-speaking Africa is an mandatory condition for submission.
Jump In (Poitiers Film Festival)
Residences and workshops
The Jump In program consists in six working individual or collective modules. The purpose of these meetings, beyond the network they can bring, is to share experiences and exchange know-how between young directors and confirmed professionals.
La CinéFabrique
Schools, trainings
The CinéFabrique is a National School of Cinema and Multimedia that offers 3 years free initial training and diploma, accessible by a national exam. The CinéFabrique also hosts the Ciné Nomad School, an international program allowing 90 students from 6 cinema structures in Benin, Burkina Faso, Poland, Nigeria, Myanmar and France to write and direct short documentary and fiction movies.
Cinémathèque Afrique
Art house suppport
With responsibility for the preservation and distribution of Africa’s heritage cinema, the Institut français holds one of the largest collections of African films from the 60s to today. Created in 1961 by the Ministry of Cooperation, the African Film Library contributes to the promotion of African cinema throughout the world and makes available to professionals and programmers a catalogue of over 1,500 titles, over 700 of which are free of royalties and available for non-commercial distribution.
Since it was integrated into the Institut français, the African Film library has mainly been focused on international distribution, whilst also disseminating titles within France through non-profit networks. The African Film Library contributes to the conservation of African heritage with a digitalization program, and conducts retrospectives (Sotigui Kouyate, Raoul Peck) and themed cycles ("The great figures of African film and the Caribbean"; "African Independence") destined for worldwide distribution.
La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut français and its foreign partners
Development and coproduction forums
La Fabrique Cinéma de l'Institut français is a tailored program helping talented young directors from emerging countries increase their international exposure. Each year, this program, developed by the Institut français, invites ten directors working on their first or second feature films to attend the Festival de Cannes along with their producers.
La Fémis – Initial training
Schools, trainings
La Fémis (école nationale supérieure des métiers de l'image et du son) ensures a technical, artistic and cultural education for postgraduate students. It offers a set of courses of varying duration and level of access (script, production, image, sound, editing, decor, distribution, exploitation) accessible through a competitive international exam.
La Fémis - Summer University
Documentaires
The Summer University is a two-month programme for 15 young professionals from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe (outside the European Union) who are awarded a grant from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. It aims to help participants acquire the essential tools for making documentary films and develop their artistic approach.
Les Ateliers Varans
Documentaires
The Ateliers Varan offer workshops in different countries around the world. At the end of the internship, the Ateliers Varan accompany trainees as much time as needed to ensure the autonomous functioning of the workshop thanks to the material left on the spot. These courses are set up in the countries that make the request, in cooperation with representative organizations such as universities, televisions, trade unions, film schools, or cultural organizations.
Meditalents - Région méditerranée
Development and coproduction forums, Producing and financing
Meditalents lance en 2019 son premier atelier de coproduction en Méditerranée, en partenariat avec la Région Sud et l’Institut Français de Paris, avec les soutiens de la Ville de Marseille, du CNC, et de Montévidéo. Celui-ci devient en 2020, le Forum de Coproduction en Méditerranée. Ce Forum est ouvert aux projets de longs-métrages, tant fiction que documentaire.
Meditalents - Région méditerranée
Residences and workshops
Méditalents selects each year 8 to 12 projects of filmakers-scriptwriters and accompagnies them with professional coaches in the scriptwriting of their feature film during 3 sessions of writing residences which each last 7 days over a lapse of 9 to 10 months, followed by regular Skype exchanges.
MIFA Animation du monde (international)
Residences and workshops
NEF Animation (Fontevraud) is an international writing residence created in 2006 by Xavier Kawa-Topor, which welcomes each autumn for one month, 10 writing project holders at the Abbaye of Fontevraud (Maine-et-Loire).
NEF Animation (FRANCOPHONE)
Residences and workshops
NEF Animation (Meknes) is a francophone plateform for professionals dedicated to the writing of and about animated film. NEF Animation is a place of reflection on animation as an art form, a place of resources for research and studies, a place of convergence for initiatives and a place for developing projects and actions.
Produire au Sud
Development and coproduction forums
The Produire au Sud workshop was created in 2000 in Nantes, in order to support the creation of a network of young producers from Asia, Africa and Latin America and lay the foundations for lasting cooperation between European film professionals and emerging professionals from the South.
It is a workshop focusing on the outline and structure of coproduction within the film industry. The workshops aims to familiarize young producers based in Africa, Latin America, and Asia with a variety of important tools and international coproduction techniques by coaching individual projects in development.
Région Ile de France
Post-production
The aid aims at supporting economically fragile projects that managed to finish shooting but have not yet achieved production. It’s objective is to facilitate the broadcasting of the film in cinemas.
REGION SUD
Screenwriting and development assistance funds, Producing and financing
En partenariat avec le CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée), la Région Sud soutient la création et à la production d’œuvres cinématographiques et audiovisuelles de qualité dans toute leur diversité. Il s’agit d’œuvres ayant un lien géographique ou culturel avec Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur et ayant été retenues par les comités de sélection du dispositif « Carte blanche aux artistes ».
Régions
Producing and financing
Certain regions have set up support programs for international cinematic production in the case of a coproduction with a company based in the concerned region. CICLIC offers an online access to a database listing all the possible aids
Résidence : Moulin d’Andé
Residences and workshops
The scriptwriting aid proposed by Moulin d’Andé -Céci concerns authors of film projects (all formats, genres and lenghts) who are simultaneously
seeking for time and space in order to foster their freedom of creation, and a stimulating pedagogic support program.
Résidence Réunion Tout en Auteurs Agence du film réunion
Residences and workshops
The agency Film Réunion and the region Réunion offer aid to scriptwriting, development and preparation. Your projects will be followed from the very beginning, starting from the writing process until the production and even up until post-production.