«once again the government has taken a decision unilaterally without listening to a large majority of the sector which carries a different vision (…). Oppose a liberal view does not mean to be anti-reformist», has thundered the Société des réalisateurs de films (SRF), which brought together 300 filmmakers reacting to the official announcement of the appointment of Dominique Boutonnat to the head of the CNC (National Cinema Centre).
» READ ALSO – Dominique Boutonnat, the new president of the CNC, responds to criticism
«the president of the Republic has decided to ‘force’,» said for his part the producer Saïd Ben Saïd, seeing it as a «great detestation of the cinema of author and culture». The one who works with great filmmakers like Paul Verhoeven had felt, before, that the appointment «would mean that it would be necessary to finance the films of Philippe Garrel and those of Franck Dubosc in the same way, according to the same economic criteria». «There would be more films of Philippe Garrel», he concluded.
The great detestation of the auteur cinema and the culture which prevails in the political environment, has lead to the appointment of Dominique Boutonnat to the presidency of the CNC.
— Saïd Ben Saïd (@saidbensaid66) July 24, 2019
even Before the appointment of Dominique Boutonnat, over 70 filmmakers, including Jacques Audiard, Palme d’or 2015, and Michel Hazanavicius, oscar winner for The Artist , had expressed their disapproval in a forum. The students of la Fémis – école forming the trades of the cinema – had joined in, referring to «an attack against the French cinema» if he were to take the result of Frédérique Bredin, 62 years of age, whose mandate ended in mid-July.
On Twitter, some actors in the film world have also reacted to this appointment, like the lobbyist Pascal Rogard, director since 2004 of the Society des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques, which lambasted a «profession film in running order».
#Culture60 #Malraux expressed «the wish to ensure the largest audience for our cultural heritage,» 60 years later , that same day, #Macron called #DominiqueBoutonnat president of the CNC, joyful @xavierbeauvois1 @LaSRF1968 @L_ARP https://t.co/DeJcI4Fsuo
— Marie-Pierre THOMAS (@mapitoma) July 24, 2019
After the appointment of Dominique Boutonnat profession film is in running order. https://t.co/Vg0jek9wfH
— Pascal Rogard (@fandoetlis) July 24, 2019
#DominiqueBoutonnat tipped to take the lead on the #CNC: pic.twitter.com/iioELzJVix
— Christian Creseveur (@ChCreseveur) July 14, 2019
A report, which advocates more private financing
cause: the report commissioned by Bercy and the ministry of Culture on the financing of the film, released mid-may by Dominique Boutonnat. While reaffirming the role of the national Centre of the cinema as a «regulator», he advocated developing the share of private funding in addition to public support existing.
» READ – To calm the sling facing the candidate of Macron, Olivier Henrard acts in the capacity at the CNC
To his detractors, this report, which speaks of «return on assets» and points to the danger of»a pro-natalist policy works» (production of films) has no ambition other than to focus on a business logic. «It is the first time that a professional of the cinema is chosen to lead the CNC», defended the Elysée palace.
The person concerned has himself responded to the criticism in the pages of the Figaro . «With the teams of the CNC, my goal will be to preserve our cultural exception in having an obsession: the diversity, quality and freedom of creation», he assured, confirming in passing that it is désengagerait of all its mandates and would give the shares of its companies, in order to avoid any conflict of interest. «I intend to protect and strengthen the CNC as well as our model, unique and envied around the world», insisted the new leader.
» READ ALSO -Opera of Paris, Fémis, CNC, Pass Culture… Festival of appointments in the ministry of Culture
Fervent support of Emmanuel Macron
another aspect of the producer of the Untouchables or Polisse concerned about: his support for the campaign of Emmanuel Macron in 2016, which feeds the suspicions of the reference elevator. «I, like others, paid 7500 euros to support the campaign of Emmanuel Macron, because I enjoyed his vision,» but «I’ve so far never involved in a political party and I am not a member of» walking, defended the producer, always in Le Figaro.
Aged 49, is the brother of Laurent Boutonnat, composer dedicated to Mylène Farmer, worked for ten years at Axa, before embarking on the film in 2005. He has used a niche tax abolished two years ago that allowed to deduct from its ISF investments in SMES to go in search of private funding for the creation of cinema and audiovisual. The label ISF Cinema, Dominique Boutonnat has co-created in 2009, proposed to invest in companies to co-finance (to the side of the major producers) a set of several films. «He has contributed to the production of approximately 250 cinematographic and audiovisual works particularly diverse,» says the CNC in a press release, citing to the more recent freedom! de Pierre Salvadori, and the song of The wolf of Antonin Baudry (2019).
