The CNC reforms its four support schemes for film writing and preparation
On 17 July 2026, the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC, French national film centre) announced that it had adopted a major reform of its support schemes for the writing and preparation of feature films. Four schemes are affected: the development grant for authors (aide à la conception), the screenplay grant (aide au scénario), the investment for the preparation of cinematographic works (IPOC) and the development grant (aide au développement). The CNC presents this reform as a way to “better support the risk-taking of authors and producers”.
Changes affecting authors
The aide à la conception, the only automatic support scheme directly benefiting film authors, sees its flat-rate amount increased from €10,000 to €15,000. In return, its eligibility conditions have been tightened: the scheme now focuses on authors and projects with the strongest prospects of being brought to fruition.
The aide au scénario, a selective scheme for writing or rewriting a screenplay, receives increased budgetary resources for first-time feature film authors. The reform also creates continuity between the aide à la conception and the aide au scénario: the same project may now be supported by both schemes in succession, from synopsis through to finished screenplay.
Changes affecting producers
The investment for the preparation of cinematographic works (IPOC), which allows producers to draw on part of their automatic support to finance writing and preparation costs (location scouting, casting, etc.), is now limited to writing costs alone for the purposes of the grant top-up. That top-up, now set at 47% of the amount drawn, comes with higher ceilings: €140,000 per year (up from €100,000) and three projects per year (up from two). The scheme’s management rules have also been simplified, with tighter controls.
The aide au développement, a selective scheme that is mostly repayable, covers the option and acquisition of adaptation rights, writing and rewriting and, for animation, graphic design work. The reform strengthens the producer’s role in presenting the slate of projects submitted to the committee, while simplifying the system of top-ups: it will now include only two bonuses, a new one of 30% for certain development costs, and another of 100% reserved for producers supporting an author’s move from short to feature film.
What this reform means for industry professionals
Beyond its budgetary aspects, the reform is intended to shape contractual negotiations between authors and producers. The creation of a continuous pathway from the aide à la conception to the aide au scénario calls for a rethink of the timing of rights assignments and adaptation options, anticipating the various phases of public funding for the project. Likewise, refocusing the IPOC on writing costs, combined with higher ceilings, should prompt producers to review how they draw on their automatic support, particularly companies developing several projects in parallel.
This reform continues a broader CNC policy in favour of authors, following the 2023 reform of upstream support for audiovisual works and the institution’s backing of the five agreements concluded between authors and producers between 2023 and 2025, covering in particular remuneration and contractual practices.
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