Organizer Information
Caméra libre is a film residency programme organized by the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) in partnership with the Cité internationale des arts and L’usage du monde au 21e siècle. The programme supports foreign filmmaker-directors whose ability to create freely is restricted by censorship, persecution, violence or political threats. The CNC identifies Caméra libre as an international call supporting feature-film writing and development.
The Cité internationale des arts is a major artist residency institution in Paris, bringing together artists from different countries and disciplines. L’usage du monde au 21e siècle is a cultural association dedicated to supporting freedom of artistic creation for filmmakers from non-democratic or conflict-affected countries.
Title & Description
Caméra libre 2027
Caméra libre 2027 offers a six-month residency in Paris to foreign filmmaker-directors developing an internationally oriented feature film project. The programme is specifically intended for filmmakers whose writing, financing or production work has been obstructed by censorship, persecution, violence or political threats.
Selected filmmakers receive dedicated artistic, legal, administrative and professional support while developing their project. The residency can support fiction, documentary or animation feature films, provided the project is still in writing or development and is not already in post-production.
Categories
- Film / Cinema
- Feature Film
- Fiction
- Documentary
- Animation
- Screenwriting
- Film Development
Eligibility
The programme is international and aimed at foreign filmmaker-directors who:
- Face censorship or persecution in their country of origin or current country because of their identity, political or public positions, or artistic work.
- Have directed at least one film of 60 minutes or longer selected by one of the eligible international festivals listed by the programme.
- Are currently writing or developing a feature-length fiction, documentary or animation project.
- Are not in post-production.
- Have professional working proficiency in French or English.
- Do not hold nationality or a multi-year residence permit from an EU/EFTA country or from Australia, Canada, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand or the United Kingdom.
Eligible previous festival selections include Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Sundance, Toronto, Locarno, Rotterdam, Busan, Fajr, Sarajevo and other festivals listed by the programme.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected filmmakers receive a six-month residency at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris. The programme covers:
- International transportation to France
- Visa expenses
- Travel insurance
- A living allowance
- Artistic support focused on writing and project development
- Legal and administrative assistance
- Professional guidance from the CNC
- Orientation toward French national and regional film funding schemes
- Potential professional meetings and industry connections
Residents must dedicate the residency to writing, rewriting and developing their selected project and submit an end-of-residency report and an advanced screenplay or documentary development dossier.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- First deadline: 1 September 2026
- First selection commission: October/November 2026
- First residency: February 2027, for six months
- Second deadline: 16 November 2026
- Second commission: January/February 2027
- Second residency: April 2027, for six months
Location
Paris, France
Additional Details
The selection commission consists of seven cinema professionals or specialists in freedom of expression. Selection considers the filmmaker's personal and political circumstances, artistic quality, international potential, feasibility of the project, suitability of the residency and previous work.
The application materials and selection process are treated confidentially. Applicants unable to communicate internationally may have their application submitted by an authorized representative.