A Growing Controversy in French Cinema
French cinema has been thrown into turmoil just days before the prestigious Cannes Festival, which ran from 12 to 23 May. Over 600 professionals have signed a petition protesting against the growing influence of conservative businessman Vincent Bolloré on the country’s film industry. The petition, initiated by the collective “Zapper Bolloré,” calls for an end to what it describes as the far-right’s increasing grip on the sector.
The list of signatories includes prominent figures such as Hollywood stars Javier Bardem and Ken Loach, as well as renowned French actresses Adèle Haenel and Juliette Binoche. The petition now has nearly 3,500 signatures and criticises Bolloré, who is the largest shareholder of Canal+, France’s leading film producer.
Bolloré, a 74-year-old media mogul, has faced accusations of using his vast empire to promote reactionary and far-right ideas. In 2025, Canal+ announced its acquisition of a 34% stake in the UGC cinema chain, with plans to potentially take over the group in 2028.
The petition, published in the French media outlet Libération, states: “By leaving French cinema in the hands of a far-right figure, we risk not only a homogenisation of films, but also a fascist grip on the collective imagination.”
Responses from Canal+
In response to the petition, Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, made controversial remarks during an event for film producers at the Cannes Festival on 17 May. He claimed that the petition was an injustice to the Canal+ team and stated that the company would no longer collaborate with those who signed it.
“I will no longer work with, and I no longer want Canal to work with the people who signed that petition,” Saada said.
Euronews reached out to Canal+ for clarification on whether these threats would be carried out, but representatives declined to comment.
Many industry professionals and commentators view Saada’s comments as a form of boycott threat, which could potentially violate freedom of speech. Socialist deputy Céline Hervieu accused Bolloré of “quashing freedom of speech and creativity,” while French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos remarked, “you cannot be afraid of losing your job simply for expressing a collective concern.”
Legal Implications of Saada’s Comments
Yann Personnic, a Paris-based lawyer specialising in media and intellectual property law, told Euronews that while Saada’s statements are not a direct violation of France’s freedom of speech laws, they raise complex legal questions.
“Saada is entitled to speak freely, but if he follows through on his threat, it could conflict with principles of non-discrimination in the workplace,” Personnic explained. “One cannot discriminate against people or refuse to work with them based on their political opinions.”
He added that this principle applies to both employees and potential independent producers. However, proving discrimination in court would be challenging.
“If the Canal+ group says ‘I do not want to work with you because you signed that open letter,’ that is obviously reprehensible; but if it says ‘I will not work with you for such-and-such artistic or financial reasons,’ then that cannot be held against them.”
Legal Obligations for Canal+
Despite the controversy, legal experts point out that Canal+ remains bound by several legal obligations designed to protect media pluralism in France. These include requirements to invest in French-language productions and support independent filmmakers within set budgets.
France’s 1986 foundational legislation governing freedom of communication mandates that TV channels ensure the pluralistic expression of different schools of thought and promote diversity.
Efforts to De-Escalate Tensions
In the background, key figures in French cinema have attempted to de-escalate the situation. France’s audiovisual regulatory body Arcom has called for dialogue and a reduction in tensions. Meanwhile, the French Society of Film Directors (SRF), which represents around 500 filmmakers, has proposed mediation between the petition signatories and Canal+ teams to “rebuild trust.”
It remains to be seen how these efforts will unfold and whether they can resolve the growing divide in the French film industry.
