France and South Korea have committed €1 billion over five years to strengthen the global film and media sector, with each country providing €500 million, President Emmanuel Macron announced at the Lumière Summit. The one-day gathering in Saint‑Paul‑de‑Vence drew about 200 participants from more than 60 countries to debate AI, streaming, financing and audience reach. The package also includes efforts to protect audiovisual heritage, boost media literacy, support independent cinemas and launch an international video game festival.
France and South Korea Pledge €1 Billion to Boost Global Film and Media
FILE PHOTO - French President Emmanuel Macron during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street, London. (is associated with: «France, South Korea make joint €1 bln investment in film at summit») Leon Neal/PA Wire/dpa
France and South Korea will jointly invest €1 billion ($1.2 billion) over five years to support the international film and media sector, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday.
The pledge was made at the opening of the inaugural Lumière Summit on the Future of Cinema and Moving Images, held in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in southern France. The one-day meeting brought together roughly 200 participants from more than 60 countries and a range of international organizations to discuss the rapidly evolving media landscape.
Agenda and Priorities
Summit sessions focused on the implications of fast-moving technologies and market shifts for creators and audiences. Key topics included the impact of artificial intelligence on production and rights, the increasing influence of streaming platforms, new financing models for film and culture, and strategies for reaching future audiences.
"We must regain control over these major technological changes," Macron said, urging coordinated international action and inviting other countries and partners to contribute.
How the Funds Will Be Used
Under the announced plan, France and South Korea will each contribute €500 million over five years. Macron also outlined a series of initiatives tied to the investment: measures to safeguard audiovisual heritage, programs to promote media and visual literacy, support for independent cinemas, and plans to launch an international video game festival.
High-profile figures from the film world, including Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert and George Clooney, were expected to attend the summit. The event coincides with anniversaries marking 130 years of cinema and 140 years of diplomatic relations between France and South Korea.
Significance
The joint pledge signals a rare, large-scale international effort to shield and promote cultural production amid technological disruption. By combining funding with policy-focused dialogue, the initiative aims to help creators retain control over creative processes and distribution in an era of AI and platform dominance.
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