UMVA has learned that a seismic shake-up is underway in the French film industry, as Canal+, the country's largest film and TV production company, has announced it will no longer work with around 600 leftist film professionals who dared to speak out against its right-wing billionaire main shareholder, Vincent Bolloré.
The stunning move has sent shockwaves through the industry, coming at a time when the world-famous Cannes Film Festival is in full swing. Canal+ chair Maxime Saada declared on Sunday that he no longer wants the company to collaborate with the hundreds of industry professionals who signed a petition accusing Bolloré of leading a far-right 'civilizational project'.
The petition, signed by A-listers like Juliette Binoche, Cédric Klapisch, and Gilles Lellouche, denounces what it calls the 'growing grip of the far right' on French cinema. The signatories warned that Bolloré's influence could have a chilling effect on the content of films, and that his reactionary ideology could ultimately stifle creative freedom.
Saada justified the decision, saying he saw the petition as an injustice towards Canal+ teams, who are committed to defending the company's independence and diverse choices. He made it clear that anyone who signed the petition would be blacklisted, and that Canal+ would no longer work with them.
Canal+ wields significant influence in the French film industry, having pre-bought the rights to 74 percent of French feature films produced in 2025, with an average contribution of €1.3 million per film. This makes it a crucial player in the ecosystem, with one film journalist describing its role as the 'leading financier of French cinema'.
The threat from Canal+ carries significant weight, with many in the industry relying on its financial support to bring their projects to life. Without Canal+'s backing, the entire ecosystem is at risk, leaving many to wonder about the future of French cinema and the impact of Bolloré's agenda on the industry.
