“Camera libre” Residency Programme for Foreign Filmmakers (France)

This support scheme welcomes in residence in France foreign filmmakers who have already made at least one feature-length film selected at a leading international festival, and who are developing an international feature-length film  project, but are prevented from its writing, financing and/or production due to violence, censorship, persecution or political threats they face in their country.

Benefits

• The residence includes full coverage of residents’ travel and accommodation costs (international transportation, visa costs, travel insurance, grant to cover living costs) as well as artistic, legal and administrative support:
  • Artistic support: Specific support will be set up depending on the expectations and needs of residents: consultations, participation in additional writing workshops within partner residences, participation in professional events, etc.
  • Legal and administrative support: Directors whose situation requires special support from the French authorities will be able to benefit from legal expertise and administrative support provided jointly by the Cité internationale des arts and L’usage du monde.
  • Professional support: Presentation by the CNC of the national and regional film and audio-visual support schemes available in France. Additional professional meetings may be organised at the CNC’s premises or in parallel with events and festivals.

Duration

• The selected directors and directors will start their residency from February 2024 for six months.

Eligibility Criteria

• The “Caméra libre” scheme is open to foreign directors who meet the following conditions:
  • They are confronted in their country of origin or country of residence with censorship or persecution for reasons related to: their membership in a group (ethnic, political or religious, among others); their sexual orientation, their public or political positions, or the content of their work;
  • They have directed at least one film, lasting 60 minutes or more, selected in one of the international festivals listed in the appendix. Upon the director’s request, the President of the CNC may allow an exception to this rule, after consulting the Cité internationale des arts and L’usage du monde, if one or more of the applicant’s cinematographic works have received outstanding international critical recognition;
  • They are in the process of writing or developing a feature-length film project (documentary, fiction or animation). Projects in post-production are not eligible;
  • They are fluent in French or English in a professional environment.
• Directors who hold the nationality or a multi-annual residence permit in one of the following countries are not eligible:
  • Member State of the European Union;
  • Member State of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA);
  • Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom United States.

For more information, visit Cite internationale des arts.