In recent years, global streaming platforms have become vital patrons of French cinema, driven by the European Union’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video alone contributed €362 million to French audiovisual and cinema production in 2022, underscoring the transformative effect of the directive since its implementation in July 2021.
The AVMSD, which France incorporated into national law in 2021, mandates that global streamers invest at least 20% of their annual local turnover in French film and television production. Over a three-year span from 2021 to 2023, streaming platforms invested over $1 billion (€974.6 million) into French content, according to a report by France’s National Cinema Centre (CNC) and ARCOM, the country’s audiovisual regulator.
Netflix has emerged as the leading investor, supporting 66 audiovisual projects and accounting for 40.2% of the total investment. Prime Video followed closely with 53 projects (32.2%), and Disney+ backed 36 works (22%). In total, these platforms financed 81 feature films, with average budgets significantly higher than those of domestically funded French films—$9.1 million (€8.7 million) compared to $4.7 million (€4.5 million).
Among the most ambitious projects are Antonin Baudry’s two-part epic "De Gaulle" (Disney+), each part budgeted at $39.9 million (€37.7 million); Gilles Lellouche’s "Beating Hearts" (Netflix) at $37.5 million (€35.7 million); and Jean-Jacques Annaud’s "Notre-Dame on Fire" (Prime Video) at $34.2 million (€31.5 million). These productions not only highlight the scale of investments but also demonstrate collaborations with traditional French broadcasters like TF1 and Canal+, showcasing a hybrid model of financing.
Despite the significant investments, the report highlighted areas where platforms have not fully met their obligations, particularly in pre-financing cinema projects. Negotiations over future windowing regulations—how long content remains exclusive to certain platforms—have further complicated compliance.
Looking ahead, the regulatory framework will extend to additional platforms in 2024, with Apple TV+ and Sony’s Crunchyroll joining the ranks of Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video under the AVMSD obligations. This expansion promises further growth in investments, solidifying the role of global streamers as key stakeholders in France’s vibrant audiovisual ecosystem.
France’s proactive implementation of the AVMSD has not only preserved but invigorated its film and television industry, attracting over $1 billion in investments from global streaming platforms. This regulatory success underscores the adaptability of France’s cultural model and its ability to harness the global shift toward on-demand content consumption. As the streaming landscape evolves, the integration of these platforms into France’s production ecosystem marks a new era of creative collaboration and financial support for French cinema.
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