SERIES MANIA: France is negotiating coproduction agreements with South Africa and Israel, according to industry body Centre Nationale du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC).

Vincent Leclercq, director of audiovisual and digital creation at CNC, told delegates here at Series Mania in Paris today that the funding body was keen to strengthen the country’s coproduction links around the world.

“We are trying to ease the work of producers by signing coproduction agreements with key countries. We don’t need a copro agreement in Europe because it’s a free market, but we need copro agreements overseas,” said Leclercq.

The negotiations with South Africa and Israel come after CNC agreed ^[1] a coproduction pact with Brazilian film agency Ancine at the Rio Content Market last month.

Once endorsed by the ministries of both countries, the agreement will mean audiovisual coproductions between the two countries will face fewer obstacles in each territory.

France already has a coproduction agreement covering feature films with South Africa, while there are a growing number of French producers working with Israeli producers on new TV series.

These include French production group Newen, which last year partnered ^[2] with the international arm of Keshet Media Group in Israel to source local writers of high-end drama series.

One such show, The Steins (8×45′), was presented at Series Mania’s fifth European Coproduction Forum pitching competition yesterday.