SAINT-PAUL-DE-VENCE, France — French and South Korean leaders convened a global gathering this week to address mounting challenges facing the film industry, underscoring concerns about the impact of digital streaming platforms and advances in artificial intelligence on traditional cinema. The conference took place Monday in this medieval village on the French Riviera, drawing around 250 participants from across the industry, including filmmakers, studio executives, and technology representatives.
French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, co-hosts of the event dubbed the Lumière Summit, outlined a series of initiatives aimed at revitalizing cinema in their respective countries. Both governments pledged 500 million euros (approximately $580 million) each to support domestic filmmakers, with a focus on preserving film heritage, enhancing film education for youth, and sustaining independent theaters. Macron framed the effort as part of France’s broader cultural mission, recalling the nation’s foundational role in the birth of cinema with the Lumière brothers’ pioneering work in 1895.
The gathering sought a multilateral response to what organizers described as an existential crisis for feature films, as audiences increasingly turn to services like Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok. While Google, YouTube’s parent company, sent representatives, YouTube itself declined to participate, and TikTok was represented by an executive, reflecting the complex relationship between traditional filmmakers and new digital competitors.
Industry figures and officials expressed concern about the health of Hollywood amid ongoing corporate upheaval, including the stalled merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. Gaëtan Bruel, president of the French National Center of Cinema, highlighted the significance of the American film industry’s stability for global cinema markets, noting that Warner Bros. remains one of the few studios closely tied to theatrical film production. Bruel cautioned that a decline in U.S. movie production could have broad international ramifications, given American cinema’s dominance in many territories, although France remains a notable exception with about 60 percent of its box office coming from domestic films.
The conference underscored France’s intent to strengthen ties beyond Europe, with South Korea seen as a strategic partner thanks to its thriving film sector. Organizers noted that during the period of reduced American engagement with global cultural cooperation, particularly under the Trump administration, the Franco-Korean alliance reflects a broader shift toward regional collaboration. Despite this, officials avoided direct criticism of former U.S. policy, instead acknowledging that some American measures, such as federal tax credits for movie production, align with European approaches to supporting the industry.
The French government’s commitment to cinema has involved trade-offs, with some funding reallocated from other performing arts like theater, opera, and orchestras. The summit also touched on concerns regarding the influence of social media on young people. Macron highlighted recent French legislation aimed at limiting social media access for users under 15—parts of which have been challenged in court—as part of a broader effort to protect cultural identity and promote meaningful storytelling in an era dominated by short-form digital content.
A declaration signed by the Motion Picture Association, represented by chairman Charles Rivkin, called for a coordinated international effort to safeguard the future of movies. Whether the industry and governments worldwide will act collectively remains uncertain, but the event signaled a clear desire among the organizers to reinvent cinema’s place in a changing media landscape.