French film production has suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic, but less than expected, according to the annual study by the National Cinema Center (CNC), published Tuesday, March 30. In total, 239 feature films received CNC filming approval last year, a decrease of 20.6% compared to 2019. The dreaded hecatomb has been avoided thanks to the establishment of a fund insurance in the amount of 100 million euros intended for compensation for filming in the event of a pandemic.
This initiative, half financed by the public authorities and the other half by a private insurance fund, was the sine qua non for filming – 152 to be stopped in May 2020, at the first containment issue – can resume. It restored confidence to the producers, who were able to continue their filming during the key summer period while observing a strict sanitary protocol. Very few claims have also been declared.
Public aid provided directly to the production sector – 24 million euros out of a total of 322 million intended exceptionally for the seventh art since the start of the health crisis – have also played their role of shock absorber. The number of films fully financed by French capital amounted in 2020 to 151, up from 185 in 2019. Due to draconian travel restrictions for film crews abroad, the number of international co-productions (88) fell 24% to its lowest level since 2006.
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One of the major characteristics of film production in 2020 is the drop in investment, to 783.9 million euros (- 29.8%) for the 239 approved films. And its corollary, the decline in the average estimate. Pay-TV and free-to-air TV channels funded 127 films to the tune of 205.7 million euros, in pre-purchases and co-production agreements. A historically low threshold, which for private channels can be explained by the drop in their advertising revenues.
Canal +, which remains the main banker of cinema in France, cofinanced only 86 films, or 34 less than in 2019, to the tune of 76.64 million euros, a decrease of 27.9% compared to to 2019. The encrypted channel must devote, by virtue of its obligations, either 12.5% of its annual turnover, or 2.41 euros per subscriber and per month, to the acquisition of European cinematographic works. Canal + has also just been called to order by the Superior Audiovisual Council (CSA) for not having honored its commitments in 2018 and 2019. Regarding 2020, the CNC notes that it is is the lowest level of funding for Canal + since 1994. And the fourth year of decline in its contributions to the cinema.
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