2026 Press Releases

Fiscal incentives and rebates – a game changer for public funding?

The European Audiovisual Observatory will take up its usual residence in Cannes this year with two new conferences announced and a stand on the Marché du Film (H1 Riviera). The Observatory team is looking forward to meeting up with you on our Marché du Film stand, in the Palais des Festivals and on the Croisette. We’ll be around from the beginning of the Film Market and mainly right through the first weekend. 

The first conference will ask what role fiscal incentives and cash rebates play in the larger picture of public film financing. 

Fiscal incentives to support the production of film and audiovisual works were first introduced in Europe over two decades ago. They were then joined by cash rebates and are now available in most European countries, with the amounts seemingly increasing over the years. However, schemes do vary significantly between countries. We’re also observing their shifting share of film financing in Europe. The percentages of tax credits and cash rebates with regards to all sources of public funding in European film production budgets has increased over the last years.

So it’s time to dive into European film financing structures! This conference will explore the figures and real financial value of the various public financing sources. We’ll also be looking at the legal complexities of making use of these mechanisms and indeed combining them in one single budget structure.

As usual the Observatory team will provide scene setting context with snapshots by Sophie Valais, Deputy Head of the Observatory’s Legal Department, and Elisa Joliveau- Breney, Observatory Cinema Analyst. This year’s expert panel brings together onstage Yohann Bénard, Public Policy Director Europe, Digital at Amazon, Marianne Furevold-Boland, Head of Drama, Entertainment & Fiction at Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Peter Dinges, CEO of the German Federal Film Board (FFA), Edith Sepp, CEO of the Estonian Film Institute, Alvaro Longoria, Co-founder and producer at Spanish production company, Morena Films and Filip Bobiňski, CEO of Prague based Dramedy Productions. Our panel will be moderated by Maja Cappello, Observatory Head of Department for Legal Information, and Martin Kanzler, Deputy Head of the Observatory’s Department for Market Information.

This conference: Fiscal incentives and rebates – a game changer for public funding?

will take place on Saturday 16 May from 9.30 – 11.30 (CEST) in the Main Stage (Riviera) conference area. The event is open to all Marché, Festival and Journalist accreditations. If you have a pass to get into the Palais, you can come!

The conference is a hybrid event and will also be live streamed on the Marché du Film’s YouTube platform for anyone not taking part in the Marché. Conference language is English.

Register here for our Fiscal incentives and rebates conference

A second Observatory/Marché du Film conference will launch the 2026 edition of the Observatory’s FOCUS – World Film Market Trends report which will be freely available as a give-away at this event and on the Observatory’s stand (H1 Riviera) during the Marché du Film. This annual pocketbook report gives essential one-stop shop insights into the main key trends in the international film sector. This conference, co-hosted by the Marché de film, is designed as an “all you need to know” event in a short 45-minute format. Martin Kanzler and Cinema Analysts Elisa Joliveau-Breney and Nicolas Edmery will zoom in on the latest tendencies in cinema going, film production and distribution with a special focus on Japan, this year’s Country of Honour at the March du film. Our guest panelist will be Naohiro Kaji, Director of the Culture and Creative Industries Division at the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

FOCUS 2026: Key Trends in the Film Sector session

will take place on Friday 15 May from 17.00 – 17.45 (CEST) on the Palais stage at level -1.
All participants will receive a free copy of the Observatory’s annual FOCUS – World Film Market Trends report. Conference language is English.

Register here for FOCUS 2026: Key Trends in the Film Sector

The European Audiovisual Observatory team will be present on stand H1 in the Marina/Riviera area of the Palais des festivals from 12 to 20 May. Drop by for a chat on our stand and pick up some free reports and goodies!

Cannes press contact: [email protected]