OPINION: Bollore's influence on French cinema, TV and media is dangerous

An open letter signed by 600 French film professionals warned about growing power in French cinema held by right-wing billionaire Vincent Bolloré. Major French film organizations refused to sign the letter, but the signatories cited concerns about Canal Plus moving toward full ownership of UGC, a major cinema operator and film backer. The letter argued that leaving French cinema under a far-right owner could standardize films and enable a fascist takeover of collective imagination. Bolloré’s media holdings include CNews, which broadcasts extreme right-wing propaganda, and a transformed Journal du Dimanche aligned with nationalist-populist, Europhobic, pro-Russian politics. Writers also left Grasset en masse after Bolloré control.

"There still IS a French cinema. British film is now mostly a branch office of Hollywood. All the more reason to take seriously the complicated row about French movie finances, a Breton billionaire and possible Far Right influence on film-making which has broken out during the Cannes film festival. Settle down with your popcorn. The story-line is fascinating but not always what it seems."

"The letter complained that the Canal Plus cable TV network, majority owned by Bollore, was moving towards 100 percent ownership of UGC, one of France's biggest cinema operators and also a backer of films. The signatories complained that leaving French cinema in the hands of a far-right owner would risk not only the standardisation of films, but a fascist takeover of the collective imagination."

"Bollore's companies control the most popular French 24-hours TV channel CNews, which spews extreme right-wing propaganda. (Think Fox News, without the balance.) He has taken over the once excellent Sunday newspaper Journal du Dimanche and turned it into a mouthpiece of the nationalist-populist, Europhobic and pro-Russian Right."

"It all started last week when 600 French film people, mostly obscure but also including the great actress Juliette Binoche, signed an open letter in the newspaper Liberation warning of the growing power in French cinema of the right- wing billionaire Vincent Bollore. There was little reaction at the time. All the main organisations which represent French films refused to sign the letter which was written by a group called Zapper Bollore."

Read at www.thelocal.fr