In a significant step for the Paraguayan film industry, the governments of Paraguay and France signed a historic bilateral agreement. This signing creates a formal framework for joint cinematic productions. The agreement, signed during the Cannes Film Festival, one of the world’s premier film events, marks Paraguay’s first international treaty in the audiovisual sector.
While the official ceremony emphasized the role of institutions such as the Paraguayan National Audiovisual Institute (INAP) and France’s National Center for Cinema and the Animated Image (CNC), the real impact of this agreement lies in the opportunities it unlocks for filmmakers, producers, and creative professionals in Paraguay.
A game-changing opportunity
With the treaty in place, Paraguayan projects co-produced with French partners will now be recognized as national films in both countries. This means access to public funding, distribution support, and eligibility for prestigious festivals and awards in both territories.
For Paraguayan filmmakers, often operating with limited resources, this is a game-changing opportunity to scale their ideas, reach wider audiences, and elevate production values through international collaboration. Paraguay’s interest and dedication to films recently showed at Cine de Barrio.
Film co-production agreement opens doors
Beyond financing, the film co-production agreement also opens doors for knowledge exchange, technical training, and cross-border artistic partnerships. It positions Paraguay within the broader ecosystem of international cinema, while amplifying underrepresented voices from the Global South.
The next step falls to INAP, which will implement the agreement and define the mechanisms through which local creators can apply, pitch projects, and find co-production partners. Calls for submissions and orientation events are expected later this year.
This agreement signals a turning point for Paraguay’s cultural diplomacy. It places Paraguayan cinema on the global stage not just as a participant, but as a valued collaborator with stories worth telling, and the talent to tell them well. For an industry long hungry for visibility and structural support, this could be the beginning of a more connected, confident, and sustainable future for Paraguayan film.
For more information and updates on Paraguay’s National Audiovisual Institute, follow INAP on Instagram.
