François Hollande, President of the Republic, and Audrey Azoulay, Minister of Culture and Communication, visited Annecy yesterday as part of the 40th edition of the International Animation Film Festival.
The Head of State and the Minister visited the nursery «Les Papeteries Images» in Cran-Gevrier, emblematic of the dynamism of animation production. Their visit then continued in the stands of the film market, especially those of the School of Gobelins, the CNC, Millimages and France Télévisions, before exchanging with the professionals and organizers of the Festival.
France is the world’s third-largest animation producer (behind the United States and Japan). This official visit pays tribute to the dynamism of French animation, a sector of excellence that combines creation and technological prowess. For the past 20 years, it has been able to open up internationally, with 80% of the volume of French animation funded with international partners in 2015.
This sector is fully forward-looking, constantly reinventing itself thanks to technology integrated into its production processes. The excellence of French training, recognized all over the world, has enabled us to create talents for writing, design and production within the studios.
The government has consistently supported the development of this industry, which is emblematic of the success of the cultural exception, and which is reflected in:
- financial support: more than €50 million in aid granted by the CNC to the sector at all stages of creation in 2015, to which is added a facility for relocating shooting in France thanks to tax credits, the rate of which was raised in January 2016.
- investment and broadcasting obligations for television channels.
France and its partners carry this model of cultural exception within the European Union. The European Commission’s recent proposal for a new “audiovisual media services” directive reinforces this model by considering extending these obligations to new digital broadcasting platforms.
This ambitious policy, combined with talent, creativity, and the commitment of professionals, has enabled French animation to be a track of excellence.