Canal+ commits €980m to French film production in new five-year pact
July 27, 2026 17.52 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Canal+ has signed a new five-year agreement with leading French film industry organisations committing almost €1 billion to support French and European cinema from 2028.

The deal, signed with the BLIC, members of the BLOC and the ARP, will see Canal+ and Ciné+ OCS invest €980 million over five years. The broadcaster said the agreement is the longest and largest ever concluded between a broadcaster and the French film industry.

The funding will support a broad range of productions, including debut films, emerging talent, animation, independent productions and so-called films du milieu – mid-budget films regarded as essential to the long-term health of the French cinema sector.

The agreement also maintains Canal+’s privileged position in France’s media chronology, allowing subscribers to watch films six months after their theatrical release in return for its continued investment in film production.

The announcement comes as France continues to defend its long-standing model of linking investment in local film production to release windows. In recent years, global streaming platforms have taken differing approaches to the system. Netflix became the first major streamer to sign the media chronology agreement, while Disney+ only agreed its own investment deal in 2025, securing a nine-month theatrical window. Amazon Prime Video remains on a longer release window.

More recently, Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video have jointly challenged new French rules governing how streaming investment must be allocated, arguing the latest requirements are too restrictive despite continuing to invest heavily in French productions.

Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada said the agreement reaffirmed the broadcaster’s historic commitment to cinema and would ensure subscribers continue to receive French, European and international films six months after their cinema release.