France Télévisions warns far-right privatisation would devastate French cinema
French cinema could lose one of its largest financiers if the far right takes power and sells off public television.
The warning came from Manuel Alduy, the France Télévisions executive who oversees cinema and international series. He told Variety on Oct. 16 that privatisation would mean no more investment by public television in French feature films, leaving fewer films with less money behind them, Variety.
The party in question is the Rassemblement National, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. It is leading polls ahead of France's 2027 presidential election, with the first round scheduled for April 18.
Its latest budget proposal calls for dismantling the National Film Board, known as the CNC, and privatising public broadcasting. Funding for public broadcasting would fall by €3.5 billion by 2028, a cut of more than 90%. Only Arte and franceinfo would stay in public hands, according to the same Variety report.
The numbers explain why producers are alarmed. France Télévisions puts more than €60 million a year into pre-financing, money paid upfront to help films get made, across more than 60 features. Nearly a third are first or second films by new directors.
That system was visible at Cannes this year. France backed 81% of the films that world-premiered in the official selection, with France Télévisions co-financing seven of the 22 titles in competition. The CNC supported 69 films across the official selection.
The CNC is not funded by general taxation. It runs on a levy charged on every cinema ticket sold, a mechanism designed to recycle box-office money back into future production.
Pressure is already building before any election. France Télévisions faces a €47-million funding cut for 2027 under the Finance Law, plus a further €47-million reduction in subsidies. More than 170 filmmakers signed an open letter published in Le Monde on Oct. 14 warning that the cuts could mean 400 fewer French films made over five years.
What makes this stand out for audiences is the pipeline. Fewer pre-financed films now means fewer debuts and smaller budgets reaching screens in two or three years.
