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Lights, Camera, Action!

Cannes among some of the most filmed parts of France

featured in News & reviews Author Pam Williamson, Cannes Editor Updated

The region known as PACA, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, is one of the most filmed parts of France...making up around 20% of all filming done in the country.

And it is not hard to see why! From the beautiful and quaint villages of Provence, the vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, to the majestic mountains of the Alps, and of the course some of the most stunning coastline that France has to offer. The glamour of Cannes and the French Riviera, the history and bustling cities of Nice and Marseille and the romantic settings of Antibes and St Tropez have brought film directors from around the globe to this region.

The existing studios, 'Belle de Mai' in Marseille offer four sound stages, with an additional 10 sound stages available in Nice at the 'Studios Riviera'. But 40 year old logistics entrepreneur Olivier Marchetti has now decided to add the collection. He has reformed a former warehouse into a new studio - 'Provence Studios'. The new facility will incorporate a 280,000-square-foot covered area, 32,000 square feet of office space and 54 acres of backlot.

Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp has rented Provence Studios for its TF1 series “No Limit” and has been shooting the third season there since March.

Additional regional funding has been provided by the Bouches-du-Rhône economy development agency, Provence Promotion, the town of Martigues and the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce. This will boost the private investment made by Marchetti himself.

It is hoped that the new studio will encourage international productions to the area, reinforcing the studio facilities as a complement to the excellent locations available for shooting.