Emmanuel Macron calls for global protection of creative industries

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a ‘new multilateralism’ to protect the global creative industries, including film, television, and gaming. Speaking at the Lumière Summit, co-organized with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Macron emphasized the need for international cooperation to safeguard artistic expression and cultural heritage.

During his address at the Fondation Maeght in Saint Paul de Vence, Macron warned of the threats posed by social media platforms and the ‘endless scroll’ of digital content. He noted a paradox in the modern era: while society consumes more images than ever, the constant flow of content designed for instant reactions risks ‘digesting’ attention and undermining deep creativity.

Macron described attention as an ‘economic resource’ and argued that the rapid changes in how moving images are consumed require a global coalition of nations to ensure the long-term viability of cinema and storytelling.