The 8th Beaune Film Festival has been open since yesterday. During the first debate today, we discussed the MAI (multilateral investment agreement) negotiations, which France decided to withdraw from.
Jack VALENTI, present at the 9th Rencontres cinématographiques de Beaune, explains the reasons for his presence in Beaune. He then says what he thinks of the French cultural exception.
Interviewed, Jack VALENTI, president of the MPA (Motion Picture Export Association), talks about the importance in cinema of young independents, screenwriters, authors, directors.
Interview with Pierre VIOT, new director of the National Film Centre. For him, the French film meets its audience in theatres and is improving its international market share. The Cannes Film Festival helps this unique place in French cinema and is optimistic about the future.
Several authors' societies, including the SACD, organized today in Paris, at the Théâtre de l'Odéon, a major gathering-debate against the signing by France of the OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment and for the maintenance of the "cultural exception". Commentary on factual images, excerpt of speech by Catherine TRAUTMANN (Minister of Culture), and interviews by Bertrand TAVERNIER (director) and Alain FINKIELKRAUT (philosopher).
Many film stars gather around the Minister of Communication, Alain CARIGNON, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to defend "the cultural exception" in the GATT negotiations. Factual images and reactions of personalities, Claude BERRI, Alain CORNEAU, Gérard DEPARDIEU and Brigitte FOSSEY.
Faced with the flood of American films in France, the various cultural actors must take the initiative to arouse public interest in national productions. Explanations by Stefan HUTTER (German producer of French films, "Prokino Films"), Margaret MENEGOZ (President of Unifrance) and Lambert WILSON (actor).
The financing of French cinema often raises questions, insofar as this economic model, peculiar to France, is based essentially on public money. But is that fair? Explanations by François GARCON (director of the master cinema at the Sorbonne) and COSTA-GAVRAS (director) who point out the perverse effects of this economically unprofitable system.
France, at the origin of cinema, has also invented "the cultural exception" to protect its own, or how to safeguard its cultural heritage in front of the huge American film machine. Explanations with the interventions of Jean-Marc AYRAULT (Prime Minister), and the interviews of Bérénice BEJO (actress) and Radu MIHAILEANU (director): "The thought of European people and citizens does not change and is not at the same level as a car." Plateau in situation Pascale DESCHAMPS.