Two French cinema organizations, the ACID (Association du Cinéma Indépendant pour sa Diffusion) and the GNCR (Groupement National des Cinémas de Recherche), have refused to sign a major financial agreement with Canal+, a major French media company. This agreement, signed in late July by several cinema organizations, involves an investment of nearly one billion euros between 2028 and 2032 to support the film industry. According to a statement titled "Libres à nous: quelques mots au sujet de l’accord Canal," published on September 10, ACID and GNCR have consistently refused the deal since May 2023. They acknowledge the financial benefits of the agreement but are concerned about the growing dominance of a single powerful player in the industry, which they believe could limit artistic freedom. The organizations argue that the new agreement could disadvantage cinema professionals, including over 1,000 filmmakers who signed a petition in May 2023, published in the magazine Libération, against Vincent Bolloré, a conservative billionaire and major shareholder in Canal+. They worry that the deal may shift economic power in a way that reflects political tensions, potentially marginalizing those who use their work to express controversial or politically charged views. ACID and GNCR emphasize that while definitions of "independent cinema" may vary, one core principle remains: to preserve public freedom and resist undue influence from industrial interests. They are calling on the entire film sector to examine the implications of this agreement and continue discussions on how to protect the creative freedom of artists, technicians, and cultural professionals. The organizations stress the need for everyone involved to create spaces that ensure this freedom is upheld. In July, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada celebrated the "new historic agreement" between Canal+ and French cinema organizations, despite the controversy that had arisen at the Cannes Film Festival in May. At that time, Saada had stated that his company would no longer fund films by those who signed the anti-Bolloré petition, which criticized the growing influence of the far right in cinema. He later denied creating a "blacklist" and maintained that he would not fund anyone who he believed harmed Canal+'s public image. The agreement, worth exactly 980 million euros, aims to allow Canal+ to offer subscribers access to the best French, European, and international films six months after their theatrical release. Saada also emphasized that Canal+ has long been a key supporter of French cinema and would continue to fund and promote it.