š French Cinemas Ring the Alarm Bells as Admissions Plunge
This is your French update, now live from Substack.
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Issue #194 ā¢ Thursday 25rd, September 2025
LE BIG STORY š°
French Cinema Owners Sound the Alarm Ahead of CNC Measures
Facing a 37% drop in admissions since pre-COVID years, exhibitors of all sizes are calling for urgent reforms at the 80th FNCF Congress.
UN CAFĆ WITH āļø
Deauville 2025: Universalās Xavier Albert Calls for āConstant Dialogueā Between Distributors and Exhibitors
Speaking at Franceās 80th National Exhibitorsā Congress, the studio head outlines Universalās strategy amid an uncertain market.
SPECIAL FOCUS š
French Animation Guilds Sound Alarm Over OpenAIās AI-Generated Film Project
As OpenAI announces Critterz, an animated feature created with AI, Franceās leading author organizations warn of a threat to the industryās creative and economic fabric.
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LE PETIT UPDATE šļø
, ending its long-running partnership with Universal and signaling a strategic shift in its home entertainment approach.
With demand for animation booming worldwide, French studios are facing shifting audience expectations and co-production dynamics, sparking debate over how the industry adapts to new talent pipelines.
A recent experiment revealed that Lionsgateās use of AI-driven marketing fell short of expectations, raising industry concerns about the limits of automation in film promotion.
Guillermo del Toro confirmed production is underway in Toronto as he unveiled the cast of his long-awaited Frankenstein, with Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Andrew Garfield leading.
The CNC appointed Dominik Moll as president of its Feature Film Commission, bringing the The Night of the 12th directorās auteur credentials to the funding body.
Expanding into immersive media, Studiocanal is launching a new VR initiative, testing how traditional film storytelling can bridge with virtual reality experiences.
In a push for greener practices, Ecoprod introduced three new training programs aimed at equipping crews with sustainability skills as eco-standards grow stricter.
French exhibitor Megarama is upgrading its network with Christie RGB laser projectors, promising sharper visuals and improved energy efficiency.
Despite its wealth, Belgium continues to suffer from a lack of cinemas outside major cities, fueling concerns over unequal access to film culture.
Broadcasters TF1 and M6 are preparing a joint premium streaming platform, betting on local content and scale to rival U.S. giants.
Production has started in Quebec on Ćmile Gaudreaultās bilingual comedy Bloody French, with the French-Canadian filmmaker eyeing a 2025 release.
In a major festival coup, LumiĆØre will host the European premiere of Disneyās Moana 2, ahead of the filmās worldwide rollout this fall.
Canneseries is bringing back its industry program in April, offering panels, showcases, and networking opportunities for the global TV drama sector.