Open Letter Challenges Vincent Bolloré’s Growing Control of French Media

On the opening night of Cannes 2026, a coalition of French and international cinema professionals released an open letter titled “Time To Switch-Off Bolloré.” Initially signed by about 600 French filmmakers, the letter later added international figures including Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo, Walter Salles, Ken Loach and Yorgos Lanthimos, protesting Vincent Bolloré’s growing influence. Bolloré’s group holds 30 % of Canal+, which in 2026 acquired a 34 % stake in UGC with an option to buy the remainder by 2028. Canal+ chair and CEO Maxime Saada announced the company would cease working with any signatory. The Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE), representing 31 organisations in 27 European countries and 10,000 writers, framed the dispute as an European trend.

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The initial roster listed roughly 600 French cinema professionals; later signatories include Bardem, Ruffalo, Salles, Loach, Coixet, Jacir, Abu Assad, Bakri, Kaurismäki, Lanthimos, Moore, Morante and producer Robyn Slovo. Canal+ pledged €480 million for cinema over 2025-2027 (€150 m, €160 m, €170 m). Bolloré’s group remains Canal+’s largest shareholder (30 %). The UGC deal gives Canal+ a 34 % stake with a buy-out option by 2028. FSE’s membership spans 31 organisations in 27 countries, representing 10,000 writers.

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Canal+ chair Maxime Saada publicly declared that the group would no longer collaborate with any signatory of the open letter. The FSE issued a statement describing the Canal+ case as “symptomatic of a growing threat to freedom of creation and expression” and warned that existing national and EU safeguards may be unevenly applied.

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Two producer organisations publicly disavowed the letter, arguing that the boycott could jeopardise ongoing negotiations with Canal+. Some French professionals also contend that no concrete editorial interference has yet been observed in Canal+’s cinema operations.

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The FSE documented four instances of alleged editorial interference, including a 2022 script change to “Paris Police 1900” and the 2017 rejection of “Sorry Angel” for LGBT themes. By contrast, some industry voices maintain that no direct political interference has been proven.

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• “The 2026 Cannes Film Festival will be remembered as the unintended stage of a demonstration of the growing threats to freedom of creation and expression in Europe,” — Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) spokesperson

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• “There’s sense that everyone needs to sign this letter now to cancel Saada’s threat,” — Unnamed industry figure

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• “Four cases in which works were affected by decisions attributed to the same shareholder — in their financing, their content or their distribution — have since been documented,” — FSE statement

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• “The only remaining question is whether these laws will be applied with the same seriousness with which they were written,” — FSE conclusion

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Producer syndicates continue talks with Canal+ on future cinema funding, while the FSE plans to monitor compliance with European legal protections for creators and may pursue legal action if interference is confirmed.

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