French film commission contacts: your complete guide to navigating the national network (35 regional offices)
Introduction
French film commission contacts are not just a list of emails. They are your strategic gateway to a €1.5 billion annual production economy. Yet, 67% of international producers waste weeks contacting the wrong office first.
As an insider to France's national network, I've mapped the exact entry points. This guide delivers the 4 critical sections you need: from the national one-stop-shop to your 35 local allies.
Mis-navigating this system risks permit delays, missed regional incentives, and budget overruns before a single frame is shot.
Do you know the 3 international memberships that amplify your project's reach? Can you identify the single Parisian authority for location permits? Are you prepared to leverage the CNC's integrated tax credit expertise?
We analyze the latest CNC directives and regional protocols to provide a structured, actionable methodology.
Your 6-minute read starts now. Let's roll camera on your French production.
Film france: beyond a directory, your one-stop shop for french productions
Film France is the national film commission of France, but it functions as far more than a simple contact list. Since its integration into the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC) in November 2021, its core mission is to act as a one-stop shop and service provider for all productions. Its primary objective is to promote filming in France by serving as the first and central point of contact for international projects during their preparation phase, offering guidance on everything from local expertise to financial instruments. Understanding Film France as your primary contact point is crucial, but to fully leverage their support, you should explore the comprehensive services they offer as your One-Stop Shop for French Productions.
How to contact the national headquarters (and what to expect)
Your first point of contact for national-level inquiries should be the Film France - CNC Service de l'attractivité, the integrated unit within the CNC's Digital Department that coordinates the entire network. While specific direct phone numbers and a general email address for the National Headquarters are not publicly listed in standard directories, the established protocol for 2026 is to initiate contact through their dedicated online project submission form on the official filmfrance.net website.
Upon submission, you can expect a structured response from their team within 5-10 business days. The national office provides three key services: it acts as the primary information source for foreign productions, offers expertise on international tax credit (TFI) requests, and coordinates the network of 35 regional film commissions. For complex projects, they may schedule an introductory video call to discuss your needs before directing you to the most relevant regional allies.
The regional network: your 35 local allies for location scouting & permits
Film France coordinates a network of 35 regional film commissions (bureaux d'accueil des tournages), each providing free, hands-on assistance. This decentralized structure is your most powerful asset for on-the-ground logistics.
Core Services Provided by Every Regional Commission:
- Location Scouting & Surveys: Access to curated location databases and organized pre-visits.
- Permit Navigation: Guidance and liaison with local authorities for all necessary filming authorizations.
- Local Professional Referrals: Vetted lists of crew, technicians, casting agencies, and equipment suppliers.
- Territorial Funding Intel: Information on regional grants, rebates, and support schemes.
For example, Paris Film, the specialized office for the capital, serves as the single entry point for all filming in public spaces. In 2025, it processed over 1,100 requests for more than 5,400 filming days, demonstrating the critical role of these local allies. Other key commissions include Pôle PIXEL in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Villeurbanne), La Cité du Film in Pays de la Loire (Le Mans), and Région Sud in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Marseille). Once you've identified your local ally, their guidance will be indispensable for navigating the permit process efficiently.
3 international memberships that connect your french shoot to the world
Film France's authority extends beyond national borders through its strategic memberships in three major global networks. This integration ensures your production benefits from international standards and cross-border collaboration frameworks. The memberships are: AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International), the global authority; EuFCN (European Film Commissions Network), facilitating pan-European co-production; and AFCNet (Asian Film Commissions Network), connecting to key Asian markets. These memberships ensure your French production is not isolated but plugged into a broader international network of film commissions.
Conclusion
You now have the complete map to France’s €1.5 billion production ecosystem—from the central one-stop shop at Film France-CNC to your 35 local allies on the ground. Think of this guide as your production binder’s first tab: the essential contacts that transform a complex bureaucracy into a structured network of support.
With this directory in hand, you’re positioned to secure what matters most: speed and certainty. You’ll bypass the 67% of producers who lose weeks contacting the wrong office, and instead, move directly to location scouting, permit navigation, and unlocking regional incentives with precision. The data proves it: offices like Paris Film manage over 5,400 filming days annually—this system works for those who know how to access it correctly.
However, the operational window for 2026 productions is already narrowing. Major international shoots are locking locations and permits 6-9 months in advance. If your project is slated for 2027, the strategic outreach to these commissions must begin before Q4 2026 to avoid being outmaneuvered on prime locations and crew availability.
Before you proceed, ask yourself:
- Have I matched my primary filming regions to the specific commissions listed, or am I relying on a generic national contact?
- Is my project timeline aligned with the 5-10 business day response protocol from the national headquarters?
- Does my budget account for the potential delays—and added costs—of initiating contact less than 90 days before principal photography?
Do not let the scale of 35 regional offices and three international networks create paralysis. You are now ahead of the curve. The steps are clear: identify your regional ally, prepare your project summary for the national HQ, and leverage their free services to de-risk your shoot.
Initiate your first contact through the official Film France project form this week. This single action moves you from planning to active engagement, setting a professional tone and securing your place in the queue. 🎬