Latest in France

Staff at French state broadcasting companies France Télévisions, Radio France and France Media Monde were due to strike today in protest of government plans to phase out the TV license fee which traditionally finances their services. From early morning, 24-hour cable news channel France Info was re-running feature…

France's National Cinema Federation (FNCF), which represents exhibitors in the market, has said it “firmly protests” Disney's decision to bypass French cinemas with animated adventure pic Strange World. As we reported earlier today, Disney has opted to forego theatrical and will release the movie directly on Disney Plu…

Disney is taking a stance versus the recently revised French windowing system, opting to bypass theatrical on animated action adventure Strange World in France and sending it directly to Disney Plus. In a strongly-worded statement provided to Deadline, a studio spokesperson said: "Strange World will be available to…

In a repeat of 2017, France's 2022 presidential election is now down to the same two candidates: the incumbent Emmanuel Macron and far right leader Marine Le Pen. In first round voting which took place on Sunday, centrist Macron emerged with 27.6% of the votes while Le Pen managed 23.4%. This is a bigger showing for…

French actor Gérard Depardieu has lost an appeal in a case of alleged rape and sexual assault, and remains under investigation, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed today according to Paris Attorney General Rémy Heitz, local media is reporting. The long-gestating case began in August 2018, when a then-22-year-old…

Beginning March 14, a pass demonstrating full vaccination against Covid will no longer be required to access cinemas in France. Nor will it be obligatory for entry to theaters, bars, restaurants, amusement parks, gyms or other leisure venues. Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the upcoming changes Thursday afternoon…

UPDATE, writethru: Xavier Giannoli's Lost Illusions (Illusions Perdues) scooped the Best Film prize at France's César Awards this evening in Paris. Along with the top honor, the period drama adapted from the Honoré de Balzac classic took a further six statues and was the overall biggest laureate of the evening…

A long-gestating, hot-button move to revamp France's arcane windowing system reached an important stage today as a new agreement between TV channels, streamers and the film industry was signed by Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot. Key among the new measures is that Netflix will have access to films 15 months after…

Stopping short of a lockdown or the addition of curfews as some other European countries have imposed recently, France is introducing new measures to combat the spread of the Omicron variant. Chief among them affecting the entertainment industry is that consuming food and drink in cinemas will be banned beginning…

UPDATED: A Saudi national suspected of playing a part in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was detained by French police, emphasis on “suspected.” Today, Paris prosecutors said the person detained was not a former member of the Saudi Royal Guard who participated in the murder of the Washington Post contributor…

Legendary Jazz Age performer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker made history today as the first Black woman to enter France's hallowed Panthéon. Baker is also only the sixth woman to be honored in such a way. A ceremony was held this evening, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, who called the late Baker a…

Julia Ducournau’s Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Titane has been selected to represent France in the Best International Feature Film Oscar race. The country’s selection committee had shortlisted three titles as the potential submission, including Audrey Diwan's Venice Golden Lion winner L'Evénement (Happening)…