Paris (AFP)
The National Cinema Center (CNC) launched an unprecedented sponsorship campaign on Tuesday to restore and digitize heritage films, in which it will play the role of intermediary between the rights holders of the films and the patrons.
"This is a first for the CNC, a unique device to support the restoration and digitization of heritage films. Sponsorship exists in all other areas of culture. We encourage it today, to continue to support the history of French cinema, "said CNC president Dominique Boutonnat in a press release.
While the CNC has digitized and restored 1,200 films at a cost of 68 million euros since 2012, this new device will make it possible to continue this dynamic by supplementing its funding.
The CNC will continue to devote 2.8 million euros to digitization and restoration in 2020.
The fictions "La Belle captive" by Alain Robbe-Grillet, "Chocolat" by Claire Denis, "Madame Butterfly" by Frédéric Mitterrand or "Kennedy et moi" by Sam Karmann, the documentaries "Notre Dame, Cathédrale de Paris" by Georges Franju, "Broadway by light" by William Klein or "News from home" by Chantal Akerman are notably part of a first list of films eligible for patronage drawn up by the CNC.
Originality of this system, the CNC will act as a "trusted third party" between the rights holders of the films and the sponsors.
The rights holder must in particular authorize the CNC to restore its film with sponsorship money, and the CNC and the patron will agree on the counterparties from which the latter may benefit (thanks, name in the end credits, etc.). The works, which will be carried out by laboratories selected by the CNC, will be carried out under the sole responsibility of the National Cinema Center, in conjunction with the rights holder of the film.
Patrons will be able to benefit from tax deductions possible in this case, i.e. a tax reduction of 60% of the amount of the donation for businesses, and 66% for individuals.
© 2020 AFP