Robert Redford's Sundance Channel and French public broadcaster La Sept-Arte are linking up to create a cable and satellite movie channel in France.

La Sept-Arte, the French end of French-German cultural channel Arte, was already developing a channel, dedicated to independent film from all over the world, before approaching the Sundance group for creative and financial help. Helen Mochiri, who is heading La Sept-Arte's project tentatively entitled Cinemas Du Monde, said she soon found that the two groups have similar agendas.

'Robert Redford wanted to develop the Sundance Channel concept outside of the US - through the creation of a different and multi-cultural film channel - along with partners close to his own point of view,' Mochiri said. 'Consequently he welcomed our partnership proposal very warmly.'

The proposed joint venture channel will schedule both classic and new feature films, short films and film-themed documentaries in their original language with subtitles. Details concerning the partnership and the channel are to be announced within months.