Covering protests and strikes in France
Strikes, marches and blockades are part of French political life, and they are hard to film well from the outside. Right now we have three fixers deployed with international broadcasters on the social unrest in France. Here is how we keep your team safe, close to the story and on time.
01
How we work a protest day
From the night before to the feedThe night beforeRoute, gathering points and union calls checked; prefecture announcements read; positions and an exit plan chosen.
MorningInterviews with strikers on picket lines, at depots, refineries, schools or stations, before the march.
The marchFixer with the crew at all times, reading the crowd and the police lines; interviews in French translated live.
Late afternoonThe tense moment is often at the end of the march. We decide early whether to stay, move to a safe position or pull out.
FeedRushes uploaded from a safe spot, or a live position set up away from the crowd.
Filming the police is legal, and so is staying safe
Filming police officers carrying out their duties in public is legal in France. What protects a crew is not the law but the plan: clear press identification, a fixer who speaks to officers in French, a position you can leave, eye protection and a first aid kit, and never filming from inside a group being dispersed. We brief your team on all of it before the march.
02
What we cover
Social unrest, strikes and movements01StrikesPicket lines, depots, refineries, schools, hospitals: access negotiated with unions and workers, and interviews that go beyond the slogans.Access
02Marches and demonstrationsParis and the big cities, with positions, routes and a safety plan.Street
03Blockades and roundaboutsRural and suburban France, where many movements start: crews hired locally, joined by one of us.All of France
04Students and youthUniversity and high school movements: access to assemblies and occupations, with care for minors on camera. We covered the student protests for ITV, NBC News and ERT.Campus
05ContextUnions, demands, political stakes ahead of the 2027 presidential election: we brief your correspondent and check what will read badly in France.Editorial
03
Right now
November 2026France is going through a wave of social mobilisation over wages, pensions and public services, with union days of action through October and a cross-sector strike on 5 November 2026. Three of our fixers are currently deployed with international broadcasters on it. For what this means for other shoots in France this month, see our monthly briefing.
Elie Petit is a bilingual, intuitive French journalist with a strong knowledge of French politics, history and society. I have turned to him many times to assist our news teams on major breaking stories in France.
Is it legal to film protests and police in France?
Yes. Filming public demonstrations and police officers carrying out their duties in public is legal in France. Crews should still carry clear press identification and follow a safety plan, especially at the end of marches.
How fast can you get a crew to a protest in France?
In Paris, within hours. Elsewhere in France, within a day, with crew hired locally in the region and one of the founders. Call or WhatsApp +33 6 68 08 61 02, 24/7.
Do strikes stop film shoots in France?
Rarely. Strikes mainly affect public transport and streets along march routes. Productions plan crew transport by car and keep exteriors away from the routes.
Can you get interviews with union leaders and strikers?
Yes. We work with unions, workers and spokespeople across France and translate live. Access to picket lines and occupations is negotiated in advance where possible.
Quarterly · Free · No spam
The France Production Brief
Four times a year, what changes for foreign productions in France: permits, tax rebate, border rules, strikes, the events calendar and what we see on set. Written by the two founders.
Covering the protests? We can have a fixer with you today.
Your story, city and deadline. We send a crew plan, a safety brief and the first interviews we can line up.
Or email [email protected]. We reply within 3 hours.