Paragraph 1: Purpose and eligibility criteria

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Article 411-45

French Cinema and Moving Image CodeIn force

Updated 7 Nov 2023


Points are divided into five groups as follows:
I.-Commercial broadcasting in France and abroad" group:
The "Commercial broadcasting in France and abroad" group is allocated a maximum total of 50 points per company, divided between the following items:
1° Broadcasting on television services or on-demand audiovisual media services:
a) Where the purchase price per minute in cash is equal to or greater than €400: 3 points per broadcast;
b) Where the purchase price per minute in cash is equal to or greater than €50 and less than €400: 2 points per broadcast;
c) Where the purchase price per minute in cash is equal to or greater than €15 and less than €50: 1 point per broadcast.
The total number of points awarded under 1° is limited to 25. Broadcasts must be supported by a contract for the transfer of broadcasting rights;
2° Other broadcasts :
a) Screening in cinemas, as a unit or included in a programme of short-lived cinematographic works or as the first part of a programme including a long-lived cinematographic work, with a minimum of fifty screenings, justified by a distribution contract with a distribution company eligible for selective financial aid for the distribution of unreleased cinematographic works provided for in article 223-4, or a certificate showing the national release date and the list of cinemas: 3 points per work, up to a maximum of 9 points per company; <br/>b) One-off commercial and non-commercial representation in a cinema, with transfer for consideration of the cinematographic representation rights, for an amount in excess of €40, justified by a sworn statement from the producer mentioning the places, dates and prices of the transfer: 0.5 points per transfer, up to a maximum of 8 points per company;
c) Broadcasting to the public online on any fixed or mobile terminal with a guaranteed minimum or revenue of more than €50 or editing of videograms intended for private use by the public or intended for the non-commercial sector, supported by a broadcasting or editing contract or a revenue statement: 1 point per screening, up to a maximum of 4 points per company;
d) Screening in the Extra-court alternative screening network, the CLAP (Nouvelle Aquitaine), Mèche courte (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), Cour(t)s devant (Centre), Flux (Hauts-de-France), RADI Bretagne and Quartier Libre (Seine-Saint-Denis) networks or within school programmes supported by the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée: 1 point per screening, up to a maximum of 4 points per company.
The total number of points awarded under 2° is limited to 25.
II.Promotion at Festivals in France" group:
A maximum total of 15 points per company is allocated to the "Promotion at Festivals in France" group, broken down as follows:
1° Selection, competitive or otherwise, at one of the festivals on the list appended to this book (category 1), supported by a selection certificate from the festival: 1 point per selection, up to a maximum of 10 points per company;
2° Selection in a competitive section at other festivals (category 2), supported by a festival selection certificate: 0.5 point per selection, up to a maximum of 5 points per company.
III.Prizes won at festivals in France" group:
1° A maximum total of 10 points per company is allocated to the "Prizes won at festivals in France" group, broken down as follows:
a) Prizes won at a category 1 festival, as defined in 1° of II: 1 point per prize;
b) Prizes won at a category 2 festival, within the meaning of 2° of II: 0.5 points per prize;
c) Nominations for the Césars and the Prix Jean Vigo: 0.5 points per prize;
2° Points are justified by a certificate of selection or of the prize won.
IV.Promotion at festivals abroad" group:
A maximum total of 15 points per company is allocated to the "Promotion at festivals abroad" group, broken down as follows:
1° Selection at a category 1 festival, within the meaning of 1° of II, supported by a selection certificate: 1 point per selection, up to a maximum of 10 points per company;
2° Selection at other festivals with at least one competitive section (category 2, within the meaning of 2° of II), supported by a selection certificate for the festival's competitive section: 0.5 points per selection, up to a maximum of 5 points per company.
V.-Prizes won at festivals abroad" group:
1° A maximum total of 10 points per company is allocated to the "Prizes won at festivals abroad" group, broken down as follows:
a) Prizes won at a category 1 festival, within the meaning of 1° of II: 1 point per prize;
b) Prizes won at a category 2 festival, within the meaning of 2° of II: 0.5 points per prize;
c) Nomination for the Oscars, the European Film Awards, the Cartoon d'Or, the Méliès d'Or or any other prize awarded annually to the best short film by a national academy: 0.5 points per nomination;
2° The points are justified by a certificate of selection or of the prize obtained.

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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