We are calling on European authorities to either block the deal or impose legally binding, enforceable remedies that protect cinemas, audiences, and cultural diversity.
Read our full Press Release (PDF)
Why This Merger Matters?
Large-scale consolidation consistently produces the same outcome: higher prices, lower wages, reduced competition, less choice, and lower quality.
The 2019 Disney/Fox merger offers a clear precedent. Before the deal, the two studios released 26 films annually in wide theatrical distribution. Today, that number has dropped to 14—a 46% decline. There is every reason to expect a Paramount/Warner Bros. combination will follow the same pattern: fewer films, worse terms for negotiating partners, and severe competitive harm across the entire ecosystem.
Warner Bros. has been a vital source of mid-budget, director-driven films—exactly the titles that sustain arthouse programming and connect audiences to diverse perspectives. Beyond global releases, Warner finances and co-produces local-language films in key European markets including Germany, France, Poland, and Spain, at a scale no other studio matches.
A merged entity would also control one of the most significant film libraries in existence, including substantial European and local-language titles crucial for repertory programming.
What's at Stake?
"This deal would dramatically reshape the movie industry and pose an existential threat to arthouse cinemas across Europe. If cinemas are forced to close, European films lose yet more visibility—stories that already struggle to find an audience would disappear entirely. In neighbourhoods and rural areas, one of the last remaining collective spaces would be gone—living pillars of our democracy."
— Dr. Christian Bräuer, CICAE President
Promises Without Guarantees
Paramount has publicly committed to a minimum of 30 theatrical releases per year and a 45-day exclusivity window. But the history of media mergers is a history of promises made and broken. Without a robust, binding legal framework, CICAE remains deeply sceptical these commitments will be honoured.
What CICAE Demands
Should the European Commission approve this transaction, voluntary commitments will not suffice. We are calling for:
· A guaranteed minimum number of theatrical releases per year with defined production investment and marketing budget thresholds
· Meaningful theatrical release windows meeting or exceeding current European standards
· Guaranteed theatrical access to catalogue and repertoire titles, including European and local-language productions
· Maintained commitments to national production, local distribution, and diverse content across European markets
Our Commitment
"We remain committed to constructive engagement throughout this process. Europe's independent cinema ecosystem – its festivals, its arthouse theatres, its national film cultures – is not a relic. It’s a competitive advantage, and a model that the rest of the world looks to. CICAE and its members are ready to work with regulators, studios and all market participants to find solutions that allow the industry to evolve without sacrificing the diversity and independence that define European cinema, and that are an essential part of our cultural sovereignty.”."
— Dr. Christian Bräuer
For further questions please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / +49 (0)30 43 97 101 54
The CICAE (Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d'Art et d'Essai) is a non-profit association representing over 2,400 arthouse cinemas with more than 4,400 screens in 46 countries. Founded in 1955, CICAE promotes cultural diversity in cinema and advocates for independent exhibition at national and international levels.
