The Institut français is developing a non-commercial distribution program for French cinema through its IFcinéma distribution platform.

IFcinéma offers a catalog of French films and a catalog of films from the Cinémathèque Afrique for the organization of non-commercial public screenings abroad. This programming and distribution support activity is aimed at the network of French cultural establishments abroad (cultural departments of French embassies and consulates, French institutes, Alliances Françaises), its partners (festivals, media libraries, cinemas, film clubs, etc.) and teachers. Digitized cinemas in the cultural network also benefit from enhanced support.

In addition to this range of films, the Institut français promotes French sectors of excellence such as animation, documentaries, series and short films, thanks to strong partnerships with the AFCA (Association française du cinéma d'animation), La Fête du court métrage, le Mois du film documentaire, Cinéma du Réel, ACID (Association du cinéma indépendant pour sa diffusion), Séries Mania, the Festival Premiers plans d'Angers, etc.

The French Instittu deploys its expertise to the cultural network and supports it financially through the PICC (cultural and creative industries program): some thirty positions are aided each year to set up programs that help structure CCIs in the film and audiovisual sector: co-production meetings, creative workshops (documentary, animation), mobility of professionals in prescriber markets.

La Fabrique Cinéma is a program created by the Institut français in partnership with France Médias Monde and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie to promote the emergence of young filmmakers from developing and emerging countries on the international market.

Designed in close collaboration with the Cannes Film Festival and its Marché du Film, each year La Fabrique Cinéma selects ten 1st or 2nd feature film projects to present and introduce them in a privileged way to the industry and its decision-makers during the Cannes Film Festival. Thanks to La Fabrique Cinéma, the Institut français positions itself as a discoverer of international talent and promotes pluralism of thought and artistic expression.

La Fabrique Cinéma is hosted on the Cinémas du monde Pavilion, set up by the Institut français, and which provides a genuine platform for meetings between French and international professionals during the Cannes Film Market, around a rich program of round tables, masterclasses, workshops and professional meetings,

In this continuity, the Institut français also participates in the management of the co-production support fund l'Aide aux cinémas du monde, alongside the CNC.

The Cinémathèque Afrique, now part of the Institut français, is one of the largest collections of African films in the world, with over 1,700 works covering all genres and coming from 45 countries. Founded in 1961, it has accompanied the emergence of French-speaking African cinema by supporting the production and distribution of pioneering films, while preserving invaluable archives such as correspondence, posters and shooting photos. This collection, with its rich cultural, historical and political heritage, continues to expand with the acquisition of contemporary works. The Institut français ensures its non-commercial distribution worldwide via the IFcinéma platform and partnerships with festivals, universities and film schools.

With a view to renewal, the FEF Création 2 project - exceptional funding from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs - supports an ambitious plan to modernize the Cinémathèque Afrique: restoration of some 20 films, digitization of 600 titles, multilingual subtitling, digital accessibility and promotion of African heritage are at the heart of this program, which also aims to strengthen cultural ties between France and the African continent.

The FEF has made it possible to launch several major initiatives: a podcast in collaboration with RFI entitled "Cinéastes d'Afriques", devoted to the great figures of African cinema; a critical corpus supervised by an emeritus researcher, shedding scientific light on the works in the collection; a program christened "Archives Vivantes", inviting artists to revisit these films through original creations, thus establishing a dialogue between heritage and contemporary creation.

Since 2018, the French Institute has partnered with the Goethe-Institut and Cineuropa to implement the European Film Festival program, funded by the European Union. Its aim is to support the organization of European film festivals around the world (of which the posts are very often partners), by providing European Union Delegations with films subtitled in several languages, financial support and accompanying webinars. Over a hundred film festivals are organized each year, attracting an average of 300,000 spectators.