BNP Paribas and the film industry are connected by a shared set of values including creativity, imagination and innovation. For over 100 years, the BNP Paribas Group has supported and promoted every aspect of the seventh art, both in France and around the world. Its goal is to bring a rich variety of films to all audiences, while supporting the development of the film industry, promoting the emergence of new talent and encouraging transformation throughout the film world.
Active across the industry’s entire value chain, BNP Paribas’s commitment to film is rooted in three main focus areas:
BNP Paribas’ history with the film industry goes back to 1917, when the "Banque Nationale de Crédit" (BNC, one of the BNP Paribas group's predecessor banks), granted the first major loan to a film company.Back in 1935, the Group’s Italian subsidiary BNL created a department devoted to financing film production. Rome, Open City directed by Rossellini in 1944, La Dolce Vita directed by Fellini in 1960, Cinema Paradiso directed by Tornatore in 1989, The Son’s Room directed by Moretti in 2001 – each of these masterpieces received financing from the Bank.
In Europe, more than 100 specialists work on our initiatives to finance film productions. In France, the Image & Media Department combines financing activities for film and audiovisual productions. Through its efforts, almost half of all French films receive direct or indirect funding from BNP Paribas. These activities have made BNP Paribas the leading European bank in terms of financing film and audiovisual work.
BNP Paribas, through its Image & Media Department and its subsidiaries Cofiloisirs and Cinécapital, has participated in the financing of 16 films nominated for the César 2025, and 24 films nominated for the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
But our support for film does not stop there. The creation of BNL’s Artigiancassa “Rete Temporanea d’Impresa” film production loan, in 2007, and the BNP Paribas Fortis Film Fund in 2008 both help to ensure the production, distribution and export of films in Italy and Belgium.
The Group is a partner of 40 cinema events worldwide, including 20 in France: the Télérama Cinema Festival, the Lyon Lumière Film Festival, the César Academy, the Directors' Fortnight, the Semaine de la Critique, the Cinéma Paradiso Louvre Festival, as well as events held in Strasbourg, Saint Etienne, Arras, Rennes, Deauville, etc. To share our passion for the seventh art with all audiences, BNP Paribas became the exclusive partner of the Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF) in 2007, supporting all of its major event in France: La Fête du Cinéma.
In Belgium, BNP Paribas Fortis supports the BNP Paribas Fortis Film Days, the Magritte Awards, the Be Film Festival, the FIFF at Namur and the Ensor Awards. In Italy, BNL pursues its long-term commitment to the seventh art by supporting the International Film Festival of Rome, the Nastri d’Argento Awards as well as the Giornate degli Autori Venice Days, the Premi David di Donatello and many more events.
And because cinema is never more beautiful than when experienced on the big screen, BNP Paribas invites nearly 100,000 people to the cinema each year, through its festival and film partnerships.
In 2019, BNP Paribas created a platform dedicated entirely to film: welovecinema.bnpparibas. The site offers a wide variety of content for all types of film lovers. This includes news about the film industry, actors, film shoots; information about new releases; trailers and sneak-peek images, etc.
In 2012, BNL launched its new site welovecinema.it to connect film lovers with film industry professionals. We Love Cinema has earned huge success on social media with 180,000 fans and 40,000 followers.
In Belgium, BNP Paribas Fortis is the leading partner of Cinevox, a platform dedicated to promoting Belgian film.
Because it is a long-standing player committed to a more sustainable and inclusive economy, the BNP Paribas Group is increasing its support for positive impact cinema. In 2020, BNP Paribas, as principal partner, supported the film ‘WOMAN,’ directed by Anastasia Mikova and Yann Arthus Bertrand, a vibrant film that gives voice to 2,000 women across 50 countries. The film was awarded the Sfera 1932 Award at the Venice Mostra in 2019.
In 2022, as part of the Group’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, BNP Paribas has also supported the promotion of the film ‘Simone, le Voyage du siècle, directed by Olivier Dahan. The film highlights the journey of Simone Veil, her personal struggle and her commitments to womenrights, to Europe and to peace.
In 2023, BNP Paribas supports the film 'Divertimento', which features the life of conductor Zahia Ziouani and the creation of her symphony orchestra Divertimento. A hymn to audacity and dreams that underlines Zahia Ziouani’s ambition to become a conductor in order to make symphonic music accessible to all.
Since 2015, BNP Paribas has been supporting the Divertimento orchestra through various initiatives: the Projet Banlieues, and since 2022 through the support of the BNP Paribas Foundation.
'Divertimento'
directed by Marie-Castille Mention-SchaarIn 2019, BNP Paribas sought to strengthen its action to promote accessibility of film training and the emergence of young talent, by supporting the following initiatives:
BNP Paribas is also involved, alongside Mille Visages, an association founded in 2006 by the filmmaker Houda Binyamina for her film 'Divines' (César Award for Best First Film), with a major ambition: to democratise the film industry. The association also trains young people across the board to create bridges between the various cinematographic professions.
To enable young people to experience the emotions of the Big Screen, the Group is developing partnerships and dedicated events to support this ambition. In France, BNP Paribas supports the "Coup de cœur des Jeunes" at the Telerama Film Festival, the "César des lycéens" and offers 10,000 tickets to young people for the “Fete du Cinema”.
And to make sure everyone can enjoy the magic of movies, the non-profit organization Rêve de cinéma, supported by BNP Paribas since 2011, brings the film world directly to hospitalized or disabled children and teenagers, offering them a few hours of entertainment to brighten their day.
