Daniela ElstnerThe start of the 2026 season, which promised to be busy—as is usually the case at this time of year—is once again living up to expectations for professionals in the film and audiovisual industries around the world. For Unifrance, the schedule is punctuated by the festivals at the end of the summer and the strong showing of French films at Locarno, the Venice Film Festival—which is currently in full swing—as well as, very soon, in Toronto and San Sebastián. 

 

For now, our efforts are primarily focused on Le Havre, with our flagship event dedicated to the audiovisual industry. 

 

More than 250 professionals gather together for three days in Normandy to discover the best of French television production and discuss the works presented across all genres—fiction, animation, and documentary. On this occasion, the CNC will announce the international revenue figures for audiovisual works in 2025, while Unifrance—in a first for this event—will unveil its report on the presence of French audiovisual works on screens around the world.

 

Following Noé Debré in 2024 and Fanny Herrero in 2025, Jeremy Zag—creator and producer of, among other projects, the animated series Miraculous and its feature film adaptation—will receive the 2026 Deadline TV Disruptor’s Award. This award, presented by Deadline in partnership with Unifrance, honors the most innovative and daring artists and will be presented on September 9 during the now highly anticipated gala hosted by the Région Normandie.

 

We thank the Région Normandie and the city of Le Havre, as well as all our partners, for their crucial support, which plays a direct role in making this Unifrance Rendez-Vous a success. 

 

At a time when the global audiovisual market is under significant strain, opportunities for meeting and dialogue take on a whole new dimension. Of course, in Le Havre, the goal is to view programs, discuss them, and ideally purchase them for broadcast around the world. But this event must also serve as an opportunity for all industry professionals—buyers, private and public broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international distributors—to ask the right questions in order to build a shared future. To enable artists to create, strong ties are needed between those who can finance their work. This requirement applies to institutions, of course, but also involves professionals who bear the responsibility of finding the resources necessary to foster the creativity of tomorrow.

 

The Lumière Summit, initiated by the President of the French Republic alongside the President of the Republic of South Korea—and in which Unifrance is pleased to participate—is part of this same necessary ambition: to foster dialogue and exchange so that we may reflect together on areas of focus that will enable us to continue ensuring the independence of culture for the benefit of all.

 

This dialogue is fundamental in the turbulent times we are facing, particularly in light of the intense political and ideological pressures shaking Europe and the world. It is imperative that we take this time for collective reflection, which is so precious amid the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Future generations must be able to continue discovering these works and benefiting from their emotional and emancipatory power. There is no doubt that France—which knows how to create, produce, and sell works in all genres and formats—has a leading role to play in initiating and sustaining this “common front.”

 

Daniela Elstner, Executive Director of Unifrance