VIPO Strengthens Cooperation in Film and Audiovisual Fields with the French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC)

The Visual Industry Promotion Organization (NPO) (Abbreviation: VIPO, Chairman: Takayuki Matsutani, Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and the French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, hereafter CNC) signed a cooperation agreement in the film and audiovisual fields on the occasion of the official working visit by French President Emmanuel Macron and French Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard.

Based on the shared goal of developing the cultural and creative industries of both nations, this agreement aims to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between professionals in France and Japan.

At the signing ceremony held at the National Art Center, Tokyo (Minato-ku, Tokyo) on April 1, 2026, representatives from both organizations signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

(From left: Gaëtan Bruel, President of CNC; Takayuki Matsutani, Chairman of VIPO)

The MOU includes exchanging best practices on public policy and creative support, developing skills and career paths, matchmaking experts and companies to promote co-productions, as well as supporting joint initiatives such as residencies, workshops, Japan-France mentorship programs, and professional networking events.

This cooperative relationship will take concrete shape starting with the Marché du Film at the Cannes International Film Festival in May 2026, where Japan will be welcomed as the "Country of Honour," and will continue at the MIFA (Marché international du film d’animation) during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June.

## Comments by Gaëtan Bruel, President of CNC

(From left: Takayuki Matsutani, Chairman of VIPO; Catherine Pégard, French Minister of Culture; Gaëtan Bruel, President of CNC)

"In the history of cinema, Japan and France are bound by truly deep shared ties. First and foremost, both Japan and France place great importance on auteur cinema. Secondly, cinema is deeply rooted in our daily lives.

However, in the coming era, I feel it is necessary to go beyond this and take on further 'challenges.'

To achieve this, we need to bring the cooperative relationship between France and Japan even closer and design various frameworks.

While there is no organization exactly like the CNC in Japan, under the current circumstances, we consider VIPO to be an equivalent body, and since I took office a year ago, we have been strengthening our relationship with VIPO.

Not only in film, but also in visual arts...