GREC

What GREC does

GREC (Groupe de Recherches et d'Essais Cinématographiques) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1969 and headquartered at 14 rue Alexandre Parodi, 75010 Paris. Its core function is producing first short films for emerging filmmakers, with a stated focus on singular and innovative works. Since inception, GREC has produced over 1,200 first short films and now operates a portfolio of competitive programs including Sélection sur scénario, GREC Rush, Résidence Horizon(s), the Série courte 5x2 short-series competition, and the Prix GREC-France Télévisions/Dakar Court, alongside workshop-residency training programs (Un Joli Mai, Perfectionnement de l'écriture, Expérimenter la mise en scène) and the Master 1-level DU CREATACC diploma co-produced with IUT de Corse. The organization's distribution and outreach footprint spans partner cinemas (Cinémathèque française, Nouvel Odéon, Cinémathèque de Grenoble), broadcasts on France 2 and France 3 (Histoires courtes, Libre Court), SVOD platforms (MUBI, Tënk, Briefcinema), and festival circuits including Clermont-Ferrand and Cannes.

Name

GREC

Legal name

GREC - Groupe de Recherches et d'Essais Cinématographiques

Website

https://grec-info.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GREC is a French non-profit founded in 1969 that produces first short films for emerging filmmakers, running competitive selection programs, workshop-residencies, and the Master 1-level DU CREATACC diploma. It serves emerging directors across France and Senegal through 1,200+ produced films and a network of 35+ institutional partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production and Filmmaker Development Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADAAAC

Co-Production & Treaty Structuring

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Film Development & Financing

Keywords

• Short film production
• Filmmaker development programs
• Screenplay workshops
• Film residency programs
• Emerging directors support

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and institutional subsidies: Primary funding from French government bodies including CNC (Centre National du Cinéma), Ministry of Culture, and regional councils. These public subsidies support film production and training programs.
2. Training program fees: Workshop and residence programs charge participation fees (3300-4030 EUR) with partial or full funding available through professional development organisms like Afdas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GREC produces first short films through a portfolio of competitive selection programs, residencies, and workshop-residencies aimed at emerging filmmakers. It also delivers a university diploma (DU CREATACC, Master 1 level) in Writing, Production, and Direction in partnership with IUT de Corse, and distributes finished films via an online viewing platform, broadcast partnerships, and festival circuits. The operation is a non-profit association funded primarily by French public institutions (CNC, Ministry of Culture, regional councils) and supported by France Télévisions and other cultural partners.

Product overview

GREC (Groupe de Recherches et d'Essais Cinématographiques) is a film production and support organization that operates as a unified portfolio of programs and services for emerging filmmakers. The core offering is short film production, supplemented by competitive selection programs (Sélection sur scénario, GREC Rush), residency programs (Résidence Horizon(s), Ateliers-Résidences), and specialized initiatives like the Série courte 5x2 competition and Prix GREC-France Télévisions/Dakar Court. Educational offerings include the Diplôme Universitaire CREATACC in partnership with IUT de Corse. Distribution is supported through Films en ligne (online viewing platform) and the Scénariothèque (screenplay library). The organization also produces curated collections like La Première image and L'Animal with the Cnap. Since 1969, GREC has produced over 1200 first short films, making it a comprehensive ecosystem for first-time filmmakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GREC Production Core short film production service producing first short films with emphasis on singular and innovative character; since 1969 has produced over 1,200 first short films for emerging filmmakers.
• Sélection sur scénario Screenplay selection program accepting first film projects through competitive application with sessions throughout the year; for emerging filmmakers without a produced first short.
• GREC Rush Selection program for projects based on existing images, allowing filmmakers to develop films from pre-existing visual material.
• Résidence Horizon(s) Residency program hosted at the Musée national de l'histoire de l'immigration supporting filmmakers in residence.
• Série courte 5x2 Short series competition accepting 5-episode x 2-minute series projects, produced in partnership with Cinémathèque de Grenoble and France Télévisions.
• Prix GREC-France Télévisions / Dakar Court Prize for best fiction project in partnership with Festival Dakar Court and France Télévisions, including a writing workshop for Senegalese filmmakers.
• Diplôme Universitaire CREATACC University degree (Master 1 level) in Writing, Production, and Direction offered in partnership with IUT de Corse, co-produced by GREC; student films are co-produced with support from the Collectivité de Corse.
• Ateliers-Résidences Workshop-residency training programs including Perfectionnement de l'écriture (screenplay development), Un Joli Mai (editing writing), and Expérimenter la mise en scène (filmmaking experimentation) for emerging filmmakers; fees 3,300–4,030 EUR, with funding available through Afdas, Pôle Emploi, Fongécif, and regional councils.
• Films en ligne Online viewing platform offering over 100 short films available for free viewing, including series and individual works.
• Collections (La Première image, L'Animal) Curated collections of short films including La Première image (2014-15) and L'Animal (2018-19), created through joint commission by GREC and Cnap featuring artists, filmmakers, and visual artists.
• Scénariothèque Screenplay library containing scenarios of GREC short films for reference and research, accompanied by interviews.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1200 first short films produced since 1969

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1969The CNC has supported GREC since its creation in 1969, providing primary institutional funding and validation for the organization's film production and training activities.
• SacemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSacem provides specific grants for original music creation in short films and supports the Frontières residence at the Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration.
• France 2 / France TélévisionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrance 2 is partner of the 5x2/short series competition and the GREC/France TV award at Dakar Court Festival. Pre-purchases winning projects; films broadcast on Histoires courtes and Libre Court programs.
• Cinémathèque françaisemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual white card (carte blanche) for GREC within the 'Aujourd'hui le cinéma' program at the Cinémathèque française.
• Musée de l'histoire de l'immigrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership includes the FRONTIÈRES call for projects for young director residences, valorization of GREC films in the museum's media library, and regular programming of short films.
• Collectivité de CorsemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the CREATACC University Diploma (co-produced with IUT de Corse) and the workshop-residence for short film script development in Porto-Vecchio.
• Région Île-de-FrancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports GREC's overall activities including the 'Un joli mai' workshop (writing short films from images and/or sounds) and the online registration platform.
• Agence du court métragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMost GREC films are part of the Agence du court métrage catalog, which promotes and facilitates short film distribution in France.
• Unifrance FilmsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnifrance promotes French cinema worldwide. Many GREC films are registered and referenced on their platform.
• Cinémathèque de GrenoblemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual 5x2/short series competition within the Festival du film court en plein air de Grenoble, with pre-purchase from France Télévisions.
• Cnap (Centre national des arts plastiques)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated two collections of 10 short films: 'La première image' (2014-15) and 'L'Animal' (2018-19), as a joint commission by Cnap and GREC to artists, filmmakers, and visual artists.
• PériphériemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Un Joli Mai' workshop (writing short films at the editing stage) and the Frontières residence at the Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration.
• Le Fresnoy - Studio National des Arts ContemporainsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3 GREC films per year benefit from mixing time at the Fresnoy's auditorium. Annual encounter with students and screening of GREC films.
• Fondation Audiens GénérationsminorOthersAwarded the Prix d'Excellence to GREC in 2017 for supporting directors and their first films.
• La FémisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual invitation for GREC to present its programs to Production department students.
• Université Paris 8minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual invitation for GREC to meet cinema students. GREC offers a script rewriting internship to the Serge Daney Prize winner.
• IUT de CorsecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2010, co-proposes the CREATACC university diploma (Master 1 level) in Writing, Production, Direction. Student films are co-produced by GREC and IUT with Collectivité de Corse support.
• TënkmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDocumentary VOD platform where GREC films are regularly broadcast, including special programming for the 50th anniversary.
• MUBImajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSVOD platform (200+ countries) featuring approximately 20 GREC films in its catalog.
• BriefcinemamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGREC films are regularly broadcast on Briefcinema, the VOD platform of the Agence du court métrage.
• Fête du court métragemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual participation with screenings-meetings. Several GREC films are part of the official catalog and IN program of the Fête.
• Institut françaismajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn 2019, created a special program for GREC's 50th anniversary for international diffusion through their networks abroad.
• Ministère de la CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner of the workshop-residence for short film script development in Porto-Vecchio, along with the Ministry of Overseas.
• CINEMAREKK / Festival Dakar CourtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2020, established a writing workshop for 6 Senegalese directors and the Prix Meilleur Projet de Fiction GREC/France Télévisions, in partnership with France Télévisions and Institut français du Sénégal.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Shorts International: Global short-film distribution company operating short-film channels on theatrical and streaming platforms. Comparable as a broader short-film distribution incumbent, though commercial rather than non-profit in model.

Regional players

• INSAS: Belgian national film school training directors, producers, and screenwriters. Comparable as a French-language European film school supporting emerging filmmaking talent, though Belgium-based rather than French.
• BFI Short Film Fund: UK's BFI short film funding program supporting emerging British filmmakers. Comparable as a national short-film funding body supporting first films, though serving a UK rather than French audience.

Emerging players

• TorinoFilmLab: Italy-based international film lab supporting emerging directors and producers through development workshops and co-production funding. Comparable as an international peer in early-stage filmmaker development and training.

Direct peers

• Cinémathèque française: Major French film archive and exhibition venue; GREC partner providing annual carte blanche programming. Comparable as a French film institution focused on heritage, exhibition, and emerging-filmmaker visibility.
• Le Groupe Ouest: Brittany-based residency and script-development organization for European filmmakers. Directly comparable as a French script-development and residency program targeting emerging European directors.
• Agence du court métrage: French association promoting short film distribution; GREC partner distributing most of GREC's catalog via Brefcinema. Directly comparable as a French short-film distribution and promotion organization.
• CEEA - Conservatoire européen d'écriture audiovisuelle: European screenwriting school offering professional training programs. Comparable to GREC's screenwriting workshops (Perfectionnement de l'écriture) in training emerging screenwriters for film and TV.
• La Fémis: France's premier national film school, training emerging filmmakers through formal degree programs. Directly comparable as a feeder/pipeline institution for new French directors; GREC partners with La Fémis annually for student outreach.
• CinéFabrique: Lyon-based film school training emerging filmmakers in production, screenwriting, and directing. Comparable to GREC as a French regional training and development hub for first-time filmmakers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/grec_info
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grec-groupe-de-recherches-et-d-essais-cin%C3%A9matographiques

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GREC