More than 170 directors, producers, and actors from France's film industry have signed an opinion piece in Le Monde warning that the draft 2027 finance bill could devastate the country's cinema sector. The signatories, including Jacques Audiard, Costa-Gavras, the Dardenne brothers, Claire Denis, Justine Triet, and Julia Ducournau, argue that a combination of tax increases and budget cuts could lead to the disappearance of around 400 films over five years—roughly 80 productions annually.
“The new finance bill risks wiping French cinema from our screens on a scale never seen before,” they write. The op-ed condemns a series of measures that would weaken the two pillars of film funding: public subsidies and private investment.
Public funding under pressure
On the public side, the budget for France Télévisions—which supports around 70 films a year—is set to drop by €47 million by 2027. Additionally, Philippe Juvin, the budget's general rapporteur from Les Républicains, has proposed a €35 million levy on the National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) in 2027. The CNC is the backbone of French cinema, redistributing funds to support writing, shooting, distribution, and exhibition.
What makes the CNC unique is that it costs the state nothing. It is financed by small taxes on cinema tickets, television channels, and streaming platforms, plus private copying levies on devices like smartphones and hard drives. As the signatories note, “French cinema therefore runs without costing taxpayers a single cent.” The industry also generates 260,000 jobs and sustains a dense network of cinemas across the country.
Canal+ VAT hike: a looming catastrophe
The most immediate threat comes from the private sector. The government is considering doubling VAT on pay-TV subscriptions from 10% to 20% by 2027. Canal+, the largest private investor in French cinema, could either pass the cost to subscribers or cut its film investments. A cross-industry agreement signed in July stipulates that any VAT increase would void Canal+'s investment obligations. Filmmakers estimate this could mean a €750 million shortfall for film creation between 2028 and 2032.
“Very concretely, over a five-year period, this means 400 films simply will not exist,” they warn. Smaller, more fragile productions would struggle to secure financing, with knock-on effects on shoots, jobs, and the diversity of films available to audiences.
The situation is not without irony. In May, during the Cannes Film Festival, several of the same signatories joined the “Zapper Bolloré” movement, protesting the influence of Vincent Bolloré, whose group controls Canal+. Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada responded by refusing to work with the protesters. Now, these filmmakers are defending Canal+'s financial contribution, highlighting the industry's dependence on a player whose influence they contest.
A call for a new cinema law
Beyond the budget, the signatories urge a complete overhaul of the legal framework, still largely based on the 1986 audiovisual law. They advocate for a genuine cinema law that would protect the chronologie des médias—the French rule governing release windows for VOD, free-to-air TV, and streaming platforms like Netflix. They also call for tighter regulation of artificial intelligence and a clear remit for the CNC.
The debate comes as France's broader fiscal situation remains tense, with borrowing costs rising and EU-level budget negotiations ongoing. The 2027 budget is still a draft, and the VAT hike may not survive parliamentary scrutiny. But the industry's alarm is real: French cinema, a cultural and economic pillar, faces an unprecedented threat.
As the signatories conclude, the stakes extend beyond the screen. “This is about jobs, regional vitality, and the very diversity of stories we tell.” The coming months will determine whether French cinema can survive the fiscal squeeze.
