The British Film Commission (BFC) and Film France CNC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost collaboration between each country’s screen industries and further incentivise inward investment.
The agreement was signed today (July 9) at a BFI Southbank ceremony attended by French culture minister Rachida Dati, UK minister for creative industries, arts and tourism Chris Bryant, CNC president Gaëtan Bruel, BFC chief executive Adrian Wootton, and BFI chief executive Ben Roberts.
With the MoU, both film commissions are aiming to boost greater economic, cultural and creative exchange between both countries.
Recent projects that filmed or carried out VFX and post production work in both territories include The Amateur, Head Of State, Damsel and season two of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power.
In the UK, inward investment spend on film and high-end television production during 2024 reached £4.7bn.
Wootton said: “Our aim with this MoU is to work more closely with the CNC to support a frictionless service for cross-territory productions, allowing both nations to harness the economic and creative potential of inward investment film and high-end TV production.”
Bruel added: “This agreement is good news for our industries and professionals. We have already organised several co-production meetings to strengthen links and co-production between France and the UK. But we still want to do more, and we can do more, by exchanging ideas between real partners on the common challenges facing our industry: the return of audiences to cinemas and our European independence in front of the giants of global competition.”
The agreement follows previous MoUs signed between the BFC and European counterparts, including Spain, Italy, Austria, Norway, Malta and the Netherlands.
BFI, CNC agreement
The BFI and CNC also signed a separate Moving Image Co-operation Agreement at BFI Southbank this morning, which aims to enhance strategic co-operation between the two organisations.
Topics covered in the agreement include: public policies for supporting the screen sector; education and young audiences; preserving film heritage; events to encourage stronger business ties; a BFI and CNC employee exchange programme; and audience development and support measures for cinemas, festivals and platforms.
Roberts said: “The UK and France are two of Europe’s most dynamic filmmaking nations. We have a long history of collaboration, including through co-production and the distribution and exhibition of each other’s films across all platforms… Co-production is one of the most meaningful ways we can continue this shared exchange – and this initiative of knowledge building and collaboration has been built in that spirit.”