CNC Urges UK Producers to Partner with French Firms
The New Waves programme in London facilitated collaboration to bolster international co-productions between the two nations.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Film — General
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CNC president Gaëtan Bruel encouraged UK producers to increase their collaboration with French companies during the recent New Waves programme in London. The initiative aims to strengthen ties between the two film industries through institutional partnerships.
Why it matters
The CNC and BFI have maintained a close institutional relationship to ensure that film production collaboration remains relevant following Brexit. British filmmakers are specifically encouraged to leverage financial resources to support cross-border projects.
The fourth New Waves programme hosted 16 UK producers and 12 French producers for collaborative meetings. The CNC maintains an 8 million euro annual budget for its World Cinema Aid fund to support global co-production efforts.
The players
Gaëtan Bruel
He serves as the president of the CNC, the French national center for cinema and the moving image.
CNC
The Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée is a French public administrative organization that oversees the film and audiovisual industries.
BFI
The British Film Institute is a charitable organization that encourages the development of the arts of film, television, and the moving image in the UK.
British Film Commission
This organization is responsible for promoting the UK as a destination for film and television production.
The details
The programme, held at the Institut Français during the BFI London Film Festival, provided a platform for producers to explore joint ventures. The collaboration utilizes existing frameworks like the Moving Image Cooperation Agreement and a memorandum of understanding with the British Film Commission.
Timeline
October 8-10, 2026: New Waves programme meetings and events occurred.
2017: Rungano Nyoni's film I Am Not A Witch premiered.
2023: Jessica Hausner's film Club Zero premiered at Cannes.
2024: Sandhya Suri's film Santosh premiered at Cannes.
Industry Dynamics
The New Waves programme follows a pattern set by the post-Brexit UK-France film cooperation agreements to maintain industry ties. By fostering direct producer-to-producer relationships, the initiative counters potential isolationist effects of new trade barriers.
Increased co-production activity means that audiences may see a rise in joint UK-French feature films in future festival cycles. These films will likely benefit from expanded international funding sources that allow for more complex and diverse storytelling.
The takeaway
Producers looking to access international funding should investigate the specific eligibility criteria for the CNC World Cinema Aid fund. Cross-border partnerships remain a vital pathway for filmmakers aiming to navigate the complexities of modern European cinema production.
Further reading
For more context on international industry trends, visit the Film — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Screen.
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