Q. How long will it take for my funds to be received?
A. Standard international payment time. However, with the right foreign exchange broker, this can be done as fast as the same day.

Q. Who can I send EUR to?
A. Both individuals and businesses can receive funds for countries sending with the Euro.

Q. Is sending EUR expensive?
A. Not if you use the right currency broker, who will be able to offer you bank-beating exchange rates and significantly lower payment charges.

Q. Can you use forward contracts with EUR?
A. Yes. With the right currency broker, you can book a EUR exchange rate forward, protecting you against any adverse currency movements. With these contracts, you will always know exactly what is coming out of your bank account.

Information courtesy of Currencies Direct.

Film Commissions

Film France

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Commission du Film Auvergne (Auvergne Film Commission)

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Bureau d'Accueil de Tournages Bourgogne Franche-Comté (BATBFC) (Burgundy & Franche-Comté Film Commission)

Brittany

Bretagne Cinéma (Brittany Film Commission)

Centre-Val de Loire

Ciclic Centre-Val de Loire (Loire Valley Film Commission)

Grand Est

Grand Est Tournages (Grand Est Film Commission)

Strasbourg Film Commission

Hauts-de-France

Pictanovo (Hauts-de-France Film Commission)

Île-de-France / Paris

Film Paris Region (Commission du Film d'Île-de-France) (Île-de-France Film Commission)

Filming in Paris

Normandy

Normandie Images (Normandy Film Commission)

Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Agence du Film 64 (Pyrénées-Atlantiques Film Commission)

ALCA (Agence Livre Cinéma et Audiovisuel en Nouvelle-Aquitaine) (Nouvelle-Aquitaine Film Commission)

Bureau d'Accueil de Tournage du Lot-et-Garonne (Lot-et-Garonne Film Commission)

Ciné Passion

Commission du Film Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Pyrénées-Atlantiques Film Commission)

Gironde Tournages (Gironde Film Commission)

Occitanie

Commission du Film Occitanie (Occitanie Film Commission)

Pays de la Loire

Atlantic Loire Valley Film Commission

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Cinéma de la Ville de Marseille (Marseille Film Office)

Commission du Film Côte d'Azu (Côte d'Azur Film Commission)

Commission du Film du Var (Var Film Commission)

Commission du Film du Vaucluse (Vaucluse Film Commission) (at the time of writing, no website is available for this commission)

Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur Film Commission

French Territories

Agence Film Réunion (Réunion Film Agency)

Bureau d'Accueil de Tournages Nouvelle-Calédonie – Province Sud (New Caledonia Film Commission)

Corsica Pôle Tournages (CPT) (Corsica Film Commission)

La Commission du Film Guyane (French Guiana Film Commission)

European Film Commissions Network (a non-profit association, which supports and promotes the European film industry and culture)

Visas & Permits

Visas & Work Permits

France is a member of the Schengen area.

UK passport holders can enter France visa-free for stays of up to 90 days, over a 180 day period, for some business-related activities (such as attending business meetings). However, for longer stays or other types of work, a visa or permit may be required.

Further information on work visas can be found at the GOV.UK website. Alternatively, please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. There are also specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.

Film Location Permits

France has a streamlined permitting process and most locations are open to filming.

Parisian street filming requires a permit from the French film commission and from the Préfecture de Police (the city’s police authority). If the crew consists of fewer than ten people, with a light amount of equipment, a permit from the Prefecture de Police will only be needed. Permits generally take about a week to process. Most Paris streets and landmarks are free, while drone filming is possible.

As far as image rights are concerned, only buildings whose architect is living or who has died less than 70 years ago are subject to image rights. Additional rules also apply, such as with the Eiffel Tower that is free to use by day, but royalties are due to the lighting artists when shooting by night.

It should also be noted that valid insurance is required for small b-roll shoots.

Customs

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, France is an ATA carnet country.

When to Film

When to Film

The climate of France can be divided into three climatic zones: oceanic, continental and Mediterranean.

Paris and Western France have an oceanic climate with warm summers and chilly winters. Central and Eastern France have a temperate continental climate. Southern France has a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and mild winters. The Alps have snowy winters.

In France, Christianity is the largest religion but, as a multicultural society, all major religions are represented.

Public Holidays

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in France.