Marseille is positioning itself as a major hub for French filmmaking through a €35 million project to transform a disused sugar factory into a sprawling cinema city.
Micke Ristorcelli unveiled plans on Friday, November 13, 2026, for the future site at the former Saint-Louis sugar factory in the city’s 15th arrondissement. The initiative aims to open by 2029 or 2030, according to reporting by Actu.fr.
Ristorcelli, the director of Studios Méditerranée who recently took charge of Provence Studios in Martigues, grew up in the nearby La Savine neighborhood. He wants the development to spur local growth, stating that he intends to “develop cinema and do good for the northern districts,” as reported by Actu.fr.
Heavy demolition and cleaning work began over a year ago across the 36,000-square-meter site and will continue until mid-2027. Despite the ongoing construction, the location has already hosted productions including the first two seasons of Netflix’s Pax Massilia, an upcoming TF1 series starring Arnaud Ducret, and feature films like The Amateur starring Rami Malek.
Once structural work finishes, the development will establish a localized ecosystem for film crews. Renaud Tarrazi, the lead architect on the project, explained that the goal is to transform the industrial site into a dedicated cinema hub.
“The idea is to do everything we don’t have to do in Martigues,” Ristorcelli told Actu.fr.
The facility will divide into three main sections, with half of the total surface area dedicated to national and international productions. This zone will feature two 700-square-meter soundstages, permanent sets, and dedicated spaces for wardrobe, makeup, and dressing rooms.
A standout feature of the production space will be a re-engineered aquatic basin allowing for both surface and underwater filming. Such dedicated facilities currently exist in Europe only in Malta and Belgium, with the Belgian basin recently utilized for maritime sequences in The Count of Monte Cristo starring Pierre Niney.
The second part of the complex will welcome the general public with a museum tracing the history of southern French cinema, featuring props such as the vehicle from the Taxi film franchise. Visitors will also have access to a panoramic top-floor restaurant overlooking the sea.
The final component of the site is designated for educational institutions, including dedicated student studio spaces. Stéphane Torres, director of the Atelier de l’Image et du Son school located in the 8th arrondissement, said that “making students work in studios is magical,” according to Actu.fr.
Financing the project relies on a mix of private equity and public funds, with €16 million coming from private equity, €12 million from loans, and €7 million requested from France 2030, an investment plan launched by Emmanuel Macron.
Ristorcelli said that confirmation from Matignon for the public funds is expected before the spring of 2027. He added that an unfavorable decision would require scaling down the project or seeking alternative financing sources.
