Cinema

French cinema is a sector that generates billions of euros of revenue every year. France has played a key role in the history of cinema thanks to inventors like the Lumière brothers or Étienne-Jules Marey.

Nowadays, the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC), a public organization under the authority of the Ministry of Culture, has funds to support the French cinema and audiovisual sector and to finance today and tomorrow’s creators. It also regulates the cinema and audiovisual market.

French films are exported a lot abroad, especially in China. In 2016, French movies generated 40.7 million visits in foreign cinemas. Many French actors play in foreign films, like Omar Sy, Marion Cotillard or Léa Seydoux.

France also hosts many film festivals (more than 200 a year) – the Cannes Festival is probably the most internationally renowned.

To better understand French cinema and discover a selection of films, visit the website of the Institut Français.