Paragraph 1: Purpose and eligibility criteria

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Article 231-11

French Cinema and Moving Image CodeIn force

Updated 7 Nov 2023

I. - The first group comprises the following two categories of cinemas:
1° Category A: cinemas located in central municipalities with a population of 100,000 or more and in urban units with a population of 200,000 or more;
2° Category B: cinemas located :
a) either in central municipalities with a population of less than 100,000 and in urban units with a population of 200,000 or more;
b) or in central municipalities with a population of 50,000 or more and in urban units with a population of between 100,000 and less than 200,000.
II. - A. - Establishments are eligible for classification and aid if the basic proportion is equal to or greater than:
1° Category A: 65% of film screenings made up of art house films shown in their original version;
2° Category B: 50% of film screenings made up of art house films shown in their original version when they have achieved more than 500,000 admissions in Paris and its suburbs.
B. - The basic proportion is calculated as the ratio between the total number of film screenings of art house films organised in all the cinemas of the establishment and the total number of film screenings organised in the establishment during a reference period.
III. - The basic proportion is weighted by a weighting coefficient and a weighting coefficient, the values of which are between:
1° Weighting coefficient: 0 to 40 points;
2° Weighting coefficient: 0 to 65 points.
IV. - The weighted basic proportion gives entitlement to art house classification and to aid if it is equal to or greater than:
1° Category A: 70%;
2° Category B: 55%.
V. - The gross amount of support is a function of the weighted basic proportion, in accordance with the table appended to this book.
VI. - The net amount of aid is the gross amount weighted by the following multiplying factors, depending on the number of rooms in the establishments:

- 1 venue: 1.26;
- 2 venues: 2.1;
- 3 venues: 3.15;
- 4 venues: 3.9;
- 5 venues: 4.8;
- 6 and 7 venues: 5.5;
- 8 and 9 venues: 6.2;
- 10 and 11 venues: 6.9;
- 12 and 13 venues: 7.6;
- 14 venues and more: 8.3.

Mariela Petrova

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Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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