As French production continues to grow across all major genres, the 30th edition of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous market makes its debut in Le Havre, welcoming international buyers from around the world.
Last year, Rendez-Vous was attended by some 200 international buyers from 40 countries, along with 58 French sales companies, and organizers expect similar numbers for this edition.
Talk to diverse About this year's event, Unifrance President, Gilles Belisson, and CEO In this episode, director Daniela Elstner offers her insights into the latest trends, the important role that Rendez-Vous plays in the industry, and the growing international reach of French programming, from high-end drama to animation and documentaries.
While global broadcasters are starting to pull back on original production, French productions continue to grow in all major areas, Belisson points out.
“French production has been growing steadily over the past few years, especially when it comes to fantasy. Animation has always been very strong, and this will continue. French animation was even present at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris with Minions! As for documentaries, they entice buyers from all over the world and form an important part of the programming shown during the Rendez-Vous. This great diversity of French programming enables sales not only for broadcasters but also for broadcasters of all genres.”
The EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive is making “different streaming providers look for European content,” adds Bellison. The directive requires streaming providers in member states to offer a 30% share of European content. “We will likely see the consequences in the future, although it is too early to draw any conclusions.”
Unifrance will announce the exact industry figures for 2023 during the Rendez-Vous.
French TVs
Highlights of this year’s market include France Télévisions’ “Zorro,” starring Jean Dujardin; Federation Studios’ “Ça, c’est Paris,” about a theater director who seeks to revive his famous cabaret; Mediawan’s detective show “Tom and Lola,” About Premium Content’s mystery drama “Eclipse,” and ARTE Distribution’s animated documentary series “Legends of Paris: The Story of the 19th Century Art Scene.”
These shows reflect the continuing appeal of television for filmmakers and actors and its potential for high-quality content.
“After observing this trend for some time, Unifrance merged the two existing associations – television and cinema – three years ago,” notes Elstner. “This allows us to be stronger as we can offer a comprehensive promotion to all our members. We can fully take into account the needs of French talent, but also international distributors and producers.
“In this way, we have expanded the promotional aspects of the programmes at the Rendez-Vous: adding a celebratory screening with the director, screenwriter and actors present and working with our various social media to make the programmes present differently: “Ca, c'est Paris” will be our celebratory screening, and “Zorro” will be presented on the closing night. This type of promotional work continues throughout the year. At the end of October this year, for the first time, Unifrance will organise special events around World Animation Day. MyFrenchAnimationDays (MyFAD) will highlight French animated series and films, and the animated documentary series “Les Myces de Paris” will be part of it.”
Rendez-Vous also helps French content creators find new buyers and new markets.
“Last year was my first time at the Rendez-Vous,” says Belisson. “I noticed the great opportunity the event offers to all attendees. For an international distributor, spending four days in a kind of bubble with buyers focused on French shows brings new contacts and opportunities. In traditional markets, you don’t always have time to talk to everyone. Also, during the Rendez-Vous, buyers exchange with each other. If they like a show, they may tell a buyer from another country to show it. This word of mouth is crucial and brings new opportunities for French productions.”
The market is expanding despite recent challenges, Elstner says.
“For the Rendez-Vous Unifrance Le Havre, we invite buyers from all over the world. As with every market organization, we are dealing with new questions after the pandemic: travel restrictions for environmental reasons, for example. The fact that we are closer to Paris, and easily accessible by local train, was part of the decision-making process to move from Biarritz to Le Havre. We have new buyers attending the show, particularly from the United States and Asia.”
“Our biggest markets have traditionally been in Europe,” adds Belisson. “The US has become an important partner, especially in the fantasy space. Rendez-Vous brings together buyers from all the important pay-TV and free-to-air broadcasters in Europe. This year, we are very pleased to host some new companies from Latin America and Asia.”
“University is offering a new venue for the 2024 edition of the Rendez-Vous, thanks to the great support of the city of Le Havre and the Normandy region. There will be a different venue for each evening. We hope this will also mean new opportunities for the different French programmes,” notes Belisson.
This year's event will see around 40 regions represented and around 200 buyers – the same as last year.
“We are facing new challenges, and this is our first edition in Le Havre,” says Elstner. “But with more than 1,000 programmes on offer, we are confident that buyers will cherish their experience.”
