Issue 2
The French Film World You
Didn't Know You Could Access
THE FRENCH FILM WORLD YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD ACCESS
By Susie Hollands
I never expected film to become part of my Paris life, but sometimes the most meaningful opportunities arrive through friendship rather than strategy.
About fifteen years ago, I met Bruno Toussaint - a film producer and educator who's spent his career helping people understand not just how films get made, but how they get financed. Bruno studied at San Diego State but he's thoroughly French, married to a lovely American woman named Letitia who's lived in France for decades. What started as friendship evolved into an education I didn't know I needed.
Bruno began coaching me in film production, and in 2021, he brought me to the Cannes Film Festival - not as a tourist, but as someone learning the actual business of film. It's become an annual ritual now, and what I've discovered is that there's a version of the film world that's surprisingly accessible if you know where the doors are.
Let me tell you about what's possible - and why this might matter if you've ever been curious about film investment or simply want to understand how this world actually works.
THE BUSINESS OF FILM (WITHOUT THE HOLLYWOOD NONSENSE)
Bruno teaches filmic storytelling and sound design at the Sorbonne and another school called ESRA. He lectures internationally - UK, US, Asia - and he's published several books. But what makes him valuable beyond his credentials is that he understands both the creative and financial sides equally well.
France has a particular relationship with cinema that goes beyond what you find in other countries. Film started here. The cultural investment in supporting filmmakers - especially emerging voices - creates opportunities that simply don't exist in more purely commercial systems.
What Bruno showed me is that getting involved in film production doesn't require Hollywood connections or moving to Los Angeles. European film financing operates differently, with structures that allow individual investors to participate meaningfully in projects they believe in.
WHAT ACCESS ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE
I'm currently working with a client who's exploring film investment as part of her retirement planning. Bruno is coaching her on how the industry works, what to look for in projects, how to evaluate directors and producers. This isn't theoretical - he's helping her understand the practical reality of being involved from the ground up.
There are several film projects we're aware of right now - productions in development that need financing. Investment typically starts around €100,000 to be meaningful, which positions you as a genuine participant rather than a passive contributor.
What you receive for that investment goes beyond potential financial returns. You can be involved in the actual production - visiting sets, meeting the creative team, understanding how a film moves from concept to completion. You attend festivals when the film launches. You're introduced to the broader network of filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals who might become collaborators on future projects.
For those who value meaningful experiences over purely financial transactions, this is compelling. You're supporting artists who genuinely need backing to realize their vision, and you're gaining access to a world that typically feels closed to outsiders.
THE PROJECTS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT
Let me give you specifics on what's currently available, because I think it helps to understand the range:
One project is a French production about the First World War - historically grounded, working with serious filmmakers who understand the period and have a vision for bringing it to contemporary audiences.
Another is called "House of Stairs," adapted from a well-known 1970s novel. Think along the lines of "Stranger Things" - it's focused on teenagers, has that blend of suspense and coming-of-age themes that translates internationally. The source material has built-in recognition, which matters for both artistic and commercial viability.
There are others in various stages of development. Bruno and I can introduce you directly to the filmmakers if something catches your interest. You'd meet the directors, see their previous work, understand their approach before making any commitment.
THE CANNES EXPERIENCE (IF YOU'RE CURIOUS)
Beyond investment, there's also the possibility of simply attending Cannes properly - not as a tourist standing behind barriers, but with actual accreditation that gets you into screenings, opening nights, and industry events.
We can help arrange this - getting the necessary invitations, securing villa or yacht rentals if you want the full experience, navigating the festival logistics. Cannes happens mid-May, which is when the summer season truly begins on the Côte d'Azur. You time it right, and you catch both the festival and the Monaco Grand Prix in the same trip.
It's genuinely exciting to be there during that period, and if you're considering deeper involvement in film, experiencing Cannes from the inside rather than the periphery gives you a much clearer sense of whether this world appeals to you.
A PERSONAL NOTE
What I love about this aspect of my Paris life is how it's opened up something I never expected to access. Film has always mattered to me - after music, it's probably my most cherished medium. But I assumed the industry was impenetrable unless you were in it professionally from the beginning.
Bruno showed me that's not true. There are genuine entry points for people who care about cinema and want to support filmmakers, and the French system in particular creates space for this kind of participation.
If you've been curious about film investment, or if you simply want to understand this world better, I'm happy to continue the conversation. Bruno is available for introductions, and we can arrange meetings with specific projects if something I've mentioned resonates.
Sometimes the most interesting parts of living abroad are the doors that open through friendship and curiosity rather than strategic planning. This has been one of those doors for me.
Feel free to reply if any of this has caught your attention.
P.S. If you're interested in attending Cannes in 2026 - whether casually or with serious intent to explore film investment - now's the time to start planning. Accreditation and accommodation both require advance arrangement, and we can help coordinate everything.
With warmth,
Susie Hollands
Founder, VINGT Paris & Twenty1