Paris buildings bid for film stardom

The Interior Ministry in France has drawn up a list of some of the most beautiful or atmospheric buildings in and around Paris for directors who wish to film in the City of Lights.

Stéphane Froidure/Ministère de la Défense

At a time of tight budgets, officials are waking up to the commercial potential of the many architectural treasures in the capital.

84 sites, including ministries, court buildings and even military premises owned by the state are featured in a catalogue created by the Paris region’s film authority.

The buildings can be hired out at rates ranging from 500 to 5000 per day, and the revenue will be used for the upkeep of the buildings, which is often costly.

Paris is already the world's most filmed city and has been slow actively to sell itself to film directors despite its long cinema tradition. 

Two weeks ago, a huge film-making complex including studios and post-production facilities, a project driven by French film director Luc Besson, was finally opened just outside Paris.