Film show: ‘Lockdown: The Sequel’ tests patience of French cinemas

Libération is wondering if there are too many tourists in France and finally, famed French filmmaker Luc Besson releases his blockbuster "Valerian" here in France.

The house lights have dimmed once more but it's not because the film's about to start. Movie theatres in France had their hopes dashed when Covid-19 lockdown measures were extended as part of a second nationwide lockdown, meaning cinemas will remain shuttered until next year. Film producer Michèle Halberstadt, of ARP distribution, tells us more about how it affects her industry and describes the frustration of those who feel their sector has been ignored by the government.

French cinemas are once again welcoming moviegoers, with a backlog of 400 unreleased films threatening to saturate the market as the government announces a new round of rescue funding for cultural industries. Also, an African Finance Summit yields progress but leaves more to be done, and Joe Biden throws down the gauntlet to China's electric vehicle industry.

Disney's upcoming animated adventure film "Strange World" will go straight to Disney+ in France, while it will debut on the big screen elsewhere. The entertainment giant is protesting against the country's strict rules that require theatrically-released films to wait 17 months before going to streaming platforms. But first, European lawmakers take a step closer to meeting the bloc's target of making all new cars emissions-free by 2035, by endorsing a proposed ban on new fuel-powered cars.