The summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence brought together leaders from the entertainment industry to tackle challenges facing cinema, including competition from streaming platforms and threats from artificial intelligence. French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced a joint investment of one billion euros to support the audiovisual sector through the “Lumiere Partnership.” This initiative will see France’s state investment bank Bpifrance contributing 500 million euros, with the same amount coming from South Korea, known for its influential filmmakers like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho.
Macron emphasized the need for a new form of “multilateralism” to revitalize the film industry and protect copyright, while warning about the risks of AI overshadowing creators. A new international organization aimed at supporting independent cinemas was also announced to ensure diversity in the film model.
