As part of a cooperation agreement signed between the Ministry of Culture and Fondation Liban Cinema (FLC) in 2016, the Ministry granted the said Foundation the mandate to participate in the development of the sector in its various aspects. The FLC is therefore authorized to dialogue with all national and international institutions active in this sector. Likewise, it studies and presents an opinion concerning on the one hand the approval files as Lebanese productions and on the other hand the co-production agreements.
In this context, the files of films applying for approval must be registered with the Ministry of Culture, and a digital copy accompanied by the reference of the file sent to the FLC which will study its eligibility and ensure follow-up with the institutions concerned.
Co-Production Agreement between the Lebanese and the French Republics
In November 2016, the French and Lebanese governments renewed a Franco-Lebanese cinematographic agreement (decree number 2000-1026 dated November 3, 2016) in an attempt to develop their exchanges in the cinema industry and encourage the co-productions of cinematographic works that are likely to advance the status of the two countries through their artistic and technical qualities.
In accordance with the provisions of its article 15, this Agreement entered into force on August 3, 2018. As of this date, it cancels and replaces the cinematographic agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Lebanese Republic signed in Beirut on March 27, 2000.
In order to complete the co-production procedure, kindly note the following:
1) The application for co-production must be sent two months before the beginning of the shoot.
2) The applicant must fill the following form, which includes a list of all the requested documents:
طلب الموافقة على اعتبار فيلم لبناني مؤهل للاستفادة من اتفاقية التعاون السينمائي المشترك بين لبنان وفرنسا
The registration file must include:
- The attached form completed in Arabic
- The estimated quote
- The financing plan
- The co-production contract between the Lebanese and French companies
- Contracts relating to other sources of financing
- The final scenario
- The rights acquisition contract (if it is an adaptation)
- Filming permit
3) The applicant has to register his project by dropping the file (application and required documents) at the Ministry of Culture.
4) The applicant has to send a digital copy of the entire file (including the registration number given by the Ministry of Culture) to Fondation Liban Cinema by email, at the following address: [email protected]
5) Fondation Liban Cinema will verify the project eligibility to benefit from the coproduction agreement.
6) Once the project is validated by FLC, a signed letter is sent by the minister of culture to the French CNC.
For more info click on the following links:
Co-Production Agreement between the Lebanese Republic and the French community of Belgium
To know more about the coproduction agreement: In 2016, FLC began negotiations with the Centre du Cinema et de l’ Audiovisuel (CCA) of the Wallonie-Bruxelles region in an attempt to develop their exchanges in the cinema industry and encourage the co-productions of cinematographic works. Today, this agreement is finally signed by the Lebanese government.