Cannes Chief Thierry Fremaux Hails French Film Model as CNC Head Gaëtan Bruel Vows to Fight for Its Future at 80th Anniversary

France’s National Film Board, the CNC, marked its 80th anniversary with a three-day gathering of industry leaders in Paris, including Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux who praised the country’s unique film funding system. CNC president Gaëtan Bruel, meanwhile, warned against attempts to dismantle a model that has helped make France a global cinema powerhouse.

The anniversary celebrations, held from Oct. 26-28 at the Cinémathèque française, came at a particularly fraught moment for the institution which faces growing political scrutiny and budgetary pressures as France heads toward the 2027 presidential election.

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Frémaux, who also heads the Institut Lumière in Lyon, highlighted the CNC’s key role on display across films showcased at Cannes and other major festivals.

“We don’t say it because the Americans accuse us of constantly favoring certain things, because they themselves cannot imagine that the selection process is conducted in complete independence. But you can see just how much French money, the CNC and French professionals are absolutely everywhere,” Frémaux said during an onstage conversation with film historian Antoine de Baecque at the French Cinémathèque on Wednesday.

Frémaux also pointed out the CNC’s support for film restoration, noting that countries around the world have begun developing…