With the French box office down for nine consecutive months , local exhibitors are facing their first financial crisis since the pandemic; and one they hadn’t seen coming after a milestone 2024 which positioned France as Europe’s healthiest theatrical market.

In most other countries, that sudden turmoil would have translated into a wave of cinemas shuttering, but in France, where the film industry benefits from a strong support system, the National Film Board (CNC) has come up with a targeted scheme to rescue small- and medium-sized exhibitors.

Under the initiative, which was first outlined during the Congres des Exploitants (an annual convention for French exhibitors) at the end of September, the CNC will provide immediate cash flow to struggling independent operators who are facing

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