Suspension of support fund sparks concerns

The National Center for Cinema and Animated Image (CNC) halted its video creators support fund in April 2026, following controversial remarks by a streamer who was then part of the funding allocation committee. The decision has raised fears that certain video formats may no longer be viable, with some creators describing the situation as a sign of disrespect for the internet creation sector by the French cultural funding body.

Streamer’s comments lead to removal

In March 2026, streamer Ultia, newly appointed to the CNC committee for the video creators support fund, said on Twitch that she would reject extreme right-wing projects and favor those of "people she likes." She was quickly removed from the committee, an event that drew criticism from opponents of the public institution and led to a wave of online harassment against its members.

Support program suspended after controversy

The controversy prompted Gaëtan Bruel, the president of the CNC, to suspend the support program. Six months after the suspension of the social platform creation support fund—previously known as CNC Talent, which had an annual budget of 3 million euros (0.37% of the CNC’s total budget)—video creators still lack public financial backing. It has been nearly a year since any support was awarded to the sector.

Creators warn of a cultural economy in decline

Dozens of video creators, particularly those in the April 11 Collective, fear the "disappearance of an entire emerging cultural economy" and are calling for the reactivation of financial support. Charlotte Vautier, a documentary filmmaker who received 30,000 euros from the CNC in September 2025, says the funding allowed her to "pay a competent editor properly" or enhance the visuals of her videos.

Loss of support hinders creative development

Marie Treibert, a science communicator, says the CNC fund helped her establish herself and "test creative communication languages" such as drawings or models. Without the support, "it's blurry," she says, adding that she will have to take on more small jobs with less time to develop projects.

Reduced ambitions and format homogenization

Jean Massiet, a political communicator and creator of the Twitch show Backseat, says he must "reduce the ambition" of his program to cut costs, especially by halving the number of technicians on set. Roxane Tyrbas, a lawyer for content creators and author of a report submitted to the CNC, says that fiction, animation, long formats, and projects related to history or science are the most affected by the loss of public support.

Public funding vs. private interests

Tyrbas explains that public support is "a grant based on the artistic quality of the project," while private advertisers, another source of income for video creators, prioritize "performance and profitability." The risk, she warns, is "homogenization of formats and profiles."

Future of the sector uncertain

Amélie Deloche, co-founder of Paye ton influence, a collective that fights against the industry's excesses, says the CNC’s decisions on funding, expected at the start of November, "will determine which types of influencers will be the most popular in a few years." She stresses that young people rely on video creators for information and learning and should be given the means to be reliable and independent of private advertisers.

CNC delays comment pending report

When contacted, the CNC declined to comment before the announcement of its decisions and the publication of a report by Maxime Boutron, a state council advisor tasked with reviewing the adaptation of support for creation on social platforms. The findings of this mission are expected to be released within a few weeks.

YouTube France calls for increased funding

Justine Ryst, head of YouTube France, also wants better support for creators and, when asked by Challenges, expressed hope for "ten times more" funding than the 3 million euros allocated in 2026.