CNC at 80: Cannes Chief Thierry Frémaux Hails French Film Model as President Gaëtan Bruel Vows to Fight for Its Future

France’s National Film Board (CNC) celebrated its 80th anniversary with a three-day industry summit in Paris, drawing key figures including Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux. Frémaux praised the country’s distinctive film funding system, which channels revenue from ticket sales, broadcasters, and streaming platforms back into production, helping France remain a global cinema powerhouse. CNC president Gaëtan Bruel used the occasion to sound a warning, vowing to defend the model against any attempts to dismantle it. The anniversary comes amid ongoing debates over media regulation and cultural funding in Europe, making the CNC’s role more critical than ever for independent filmmakers and the broader French film ecosystem. The gathering underscored the industry’s unity behind a system that has nurtured auteurs and blockbusters alike for eight decades. As digital disruption accelerates, the CNC’s next chapter will test whether this uniquely French approach can adapt without losing its soul.