Canal+ will have to answer to the courts. The Human Rights League and the CGT Spectacle union have announced they have filed a lawsuit against the media group for discrimination, following remarks made by Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+. The case dates back to the Cannes Film Festival. In response to an opinion piece critical of Vincent Bolloré and his influence on French cinema, the Canal+ executive declared he no longer wanted to work with the professionals who had signed the text.
A phrase that ignites French cinema
The open letter, published by the "Zapper Bolloré" collective, denounced the billionaire's growing influence in several cultural sectors, including media, publishing, and film. It also expressed concern about Canal+'s acquisition of a stake in UGC, with the prospect of a broader takeover starting in 2028. Maxime Saada's statement that Canal+ no longer wished to collaborate with the signatories sparked a heated controversy. For the organizations behind the legal action, this stance amounts to excluding film professionals because of their opinions and public statements.
A challenge for freedom of expression
The issue is all the more sensitive given Canal+'s central role in financing French cinema. The group is regularly presented as one of the sector's main economic backers, which lends particular weight to any decision to cease working with certain artists, directors, producers, or technicians. The LDH (Human Rights League) and the CGT Spectacle (a French trade union) are demanding, in particular, that the courts overturn this decision and prevent any exclusionary measures or refusals to collaborate targeting the signatories of the open letter. They are also calling for guarantees to prevent any future discrimination.
A questionable approach
One might question this approach, however. Those who criticize the Canal+ group and Bolloré are the first to benefit from the group's funding. To be consistent with their statements, logic would dictate that they refuse all funding, whether direct or indirect, from Canal+ and Bolloré, and find other ways to make ends meet. Instead, they prefer to bite the hand that feeds them, and then dare to complain when the "feeding bowl" no longer appreciates being spat upon. This crisis reflects the state of French cinema, whose lack of talent is matched only by its utter indecency.
