Canal+ CEO Cuts Ties with Cinema Professionals Amid Anti-Bolloré Backlash

Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, has sparked a fierce controversy by announcing that his company will no longer work with approximately 600 cinema professionals who signed a petition condemning Vincent Bolloré's growing influence over French cinema. The petition, published in Libération, criticized both Bolloré and the rising sway of the far-right within the industry. Prominent signatories included actors such as Swann Arlaud, Adèle Haenel, and Juliette Binoche.

Saada described the petition as an injustice and expressed his refusal to collaborate with those branding him a “crypto-fascist.” He stressed the commitment of Canal+ teams to maintaining the channel’s independence and denounced what he perceived as an unfair attack. This move came as Canal+ plays a crucial role as the primary financier of French cinema, heightening concerns about the concentration of media power.

The reaction from the political left was swift and critical. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure lamented a historic disdain for freedom and artistic creation associated with the far-right. MoDem deputy Erwan Balanant called the situation “hallucinant,” while leftist politician Clémentine Autain decried it as "French McCarthyism." These political figures demanded urgent government action to regulate media concentration and reduce dependency on single financial actors, implicitly targeting Bolloré's dominant presence.

Conversely, opposition voices like David Lisnard, mayor of Cannes, accused the petitioners of ingratitude, suggesting they should have pursued alternative funding avenues instead of signing the protest.

The controversy also underscores broader tensions in the French cultural sector, especially with Canal+'s planned full acquisition of the UGC cinema chain by 2028. Critics fear this move will further consolidate Bolloré’s influence over the cinematic landscape.

With political leaders calling for reforms to prevent media monopolization, the standoff between Canal+ management and cinema professionals highlights the ongoing struggle over artistic freedom and media control in France.

As of May 18, 2026, the situation remains heated, with Canal+ maintaining its firm stance against the petition’s signatories while political debates intensify regarding the future governance of French cinema.