France’s Film and TV Market, Unifrance Rendez-Vous, Expands Its Paris Showcase With Over 80 Screenings and 500 International Buyers

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Following a 2024 box office that nearly set a record for French movies’ market share, the French film and TV promotional organization Unifrance is broadening its “Rendez-Vous With French Cinema” event. This mini-market invites local sales agents and approximately 500 international buyers from around 40 countries to attend.

This year, the 27th Paris Rendez-Vous, focusing on French films and television content, is happening at a fresh venue – the Pullman Paris Montparnasse. The stunning new location offers breathtaking views of the City of Lights. This change will facilitate French film and TV production companies to be centralized in one place, thereby fostering business transactions and deal-making activities.

Three years following our merger with TV France International, it’s wonderful to observe everyone united under a single brand and in a distinctive location. This environment fosters an energetic vibe, as stated by Daniela Elstner, Unifrance’s managing director who previously headed Doc & Film International based in Paris before joining the organization.

Initially designed to facilitate meetings between sales agents and top distributors prior to the European Film Market, the showcase has since grown to include press conferences featuring French talent showcasing their work, screenings of French TV shows, and a full-day conference dedicated to export. Known as The Rendez-Vous, this platform is increasingly essential for French sales agents in light of traditional markets facing challenges. For example, the American Film Market (AFM) has seen a decline in popularity since its move to Las Vegas, while MipTV in Cannes has been canceled and will be relocated to London this year.

The Rendez-Vous started as a way for sales agents to meet with top distributors before the European Film Market. It now includes press conferences, TV screenings, and a conference about exporting. As some big markets struggle, the Rendez-Vous is becoming more important because the AFM moved to Las Vegas and MipTV in Cannes was canceled and will move to London this year.

Elstner observes that an increasing number of buyers are attending the Unifrance Rendez-Vous, and sales companies are arranging meetings at their offices. Additionally, producers are holding conferences and events alongside our market. He emphasizes that being in Paris offers numerous benefits! Elstner also mentions that the effects of MipTV’s absence will become noticeable approximately six months from now.

The Paris Rendez-Vous now regularly includes a significant portion dedicated to the lively event known as the “junket,” attracting more and more French artists who are eager to engage with foreign media personnel.

This year at Rendez-Vous, we’re planning approximately 1,000 interviews. They’ve become a crucial aspect for everyone involved, not only sales agents and distributors, but also artists, their representatives, and producers. These discussions about their films and TV series with international journalists are highly valued,” Elstner emphasizes.

Over the past few years, Unifrance has initiated the “10 to Watch” series, a platform for showcasing promising French artists. Additionally, they introduced the French Cinema Award, which recognizes actors, directors, and producers who have boosted the international reputation of French cinema. This year, the award is being bestowed upon Rebecca Zlotowski, an acclaimed filmmaker known for “Other People’s Children,” whose latest production in Paris, titled “Vie Privée,” features Jodie Foster.

The Rendez-Vous begins on Monday, showcasing various panels that emphasize French films and television productions, and it continues on Tuesday with the red-carpet premiere of “The Musicians,” Gregory Magne’s (“Perfumes”) touching movie featuring Valérie Donzelli (“Declaration of War”) and Frédéric Pierrot (“Polisse”). This will be followed by a networking event where approximately 800 professionals will gather.

2024 saw France leading the European cinema market with impressive earnings of approximately €1.36 billion ($1.41 billion) and a staggering 181.3 million tickets sold. Unlike other European countries which experienced a decline in ticket sales, France displayed remarkable post-COVID recovery signs. It even surpassed a 15-year record by capturing a 44.4% market share for domestic films. Among these were the top two movies of 2024: “A Little Something Extra,” directed and starring comedian Artus, featuring a cast of non-professional actors with disabilities; and “The Count of Monte-Cristo,” an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel, helmed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, who also directed “The Three Musketeers.

2024 saw French cinema captivating theater-goers, including the younger generation, who repeatedly watched films such as ‘A Little Something Extra,’ ‘The Count of Monte-Cristo,’ and ‘Beating Hearts (Love Ouf)’ among others. Some even sought out French art-house productions like ‘The Story of Souleymane’ and ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig.’ According to Elstner, this popularity, along with the innovative Olympic Games ceremonies, emphasizes the importance of culture in France and adds to its allure as a creative haven for artists, creators, and distributors. It sets an optimistic tone for a year that otherwise might seem somewhat gloomy.

At the Unifrance Rendez-Vous event, a total of 83 films will be shown to potential buyers. Among these, 52 movies, which include “The Musicians,” are set to debut as market premieres worldwide.

The co-managing director of Unifrance, Gilles Renouard, points out that the extensive array of film showcases this year is indicative of the broad scope of French movie production in 2024. He notes that there was a revival in diversity and quantity within French filmmaking, returning to production levels seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed an intriguing evolution in comedy films – we’re moving away from purely humorous productions and leaning more towards heartfelt comedies that emphasize themes like acceptance and inclusivity. Movies such as Lola Doillon’s “Different,” Élise Otzenberger’s “Call of Water,” and Judith Davis’s “Hello Madness” are great examples, all gracing the screens at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous this year. It seems that the theme of inclusiveness was so profoundly woven into these screenings that it ended up being a central focus, almost unintentionally.

Similar to Elstner’s views, Renouard expresses that the thriving success of French films within their home market has fostered optimism across the local film industry. This positivity has been advantageous for both production and distribution businesses. Despite a few companies shutting down post-pandemic, Renouard acknowledges the robustness of the French sales sector, as new entities are joining the competitive landscape.

Despite French films not achieving the same global success in 2024 as anticipated, Renouard expresses optimism that the negative trend may be reversed in 2025. He believes that international movie theaters might take a longer time to completely bounce back from the pandemic, which could potentially lead to a recovery in the film industry.

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2025-01-13 17:47