CNC aid for films, audiovisual works and games will require a script author

The board of France's Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC) adopted Deliberation 2026/CA/28 on 14 October 2026. Published in the Journal officiel on 31 October, it amends the CNC's general aid regulation to frame the use of artificial intelligence.

A new article 122-8-1 bars CNC aid for the early drafting, development, preparation or production of a film, audiovisual work or video game unless the applicant justifies the involvement of at least one author in writing or rewriting the script and the bible. Animated works also need at least one graphic author.

Aid tied to original music is granted only if at least one author composed it. For dubbing, voice-over and audio description, eligible spending covers text authors, performers and recording costs. For subtitles, it covers subtitle authors and synchronisation. A change to article 132-6 bars committee members from putting an application's protected artistic material into AI tools.

For producers applying to the CNC, a script and bible with no author behind them rule a project out of these aids. A score with no composer loses only the music-linked aid.

As of 1 November 2026, the deliberation names no form, type of evidence or sanction for justifying an author's involvement. Article 1 applies to applications sent from its entry into force, for which the text gives no date. The CNC's professional news page listed no guidance when checked.