French Cinema and Moving Image Code

The sums to which production companies are entitled as automatic aid for the production of long-term cinematographic works are non-transferable and non-seizable. These sums may only be allocated for the production of a new cinematographic work subject to payment of the preferential claims referred to in article L. 312-2 arising from the production of previous feature-length cinematographic works.

The sums referred to in article L. 312-1 to which production companies may be entitled as a result of the exhibition of a given long-term cinematographic work are allocated by priority, according to the order of preference below and within the conditions and limits set by decree, to the payment of outstanding debts relating to this work, listed under the following production items: 1° All sums recovered by the State…

Preferential creditors may exercise their right directly with the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée. However, this action must be taken no later than eight months after the issue of the cinematographic licence for the work that gave rise to the claim. Once this period has elapsed, the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée will draw up a list of preferential claims and, in the absence…

The rights of preferential creditors remain and may be exercised freely when the production company is the subject of one of the procedures provided for in Book VI of the Commercial Code, without the exercise of these rights being subject to the declaration of claim provided for in Article L. 622-24 of the Commercial Code. In this case, however, the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée sends the…