Gilles PélissonOn June 18, elections will be held for all of Unifrance’s governing bodies, which will shape the organization’s leadership for the next three years. As we prepare to renew all of our committees, I would like to reiterate, with deep conviction, just how invaluable the involvement of professionals and artists alongside Unifrance is. A big thanks to all of you—both long-standing and new members—for your active participation in our organization’s activities. 

 

As you know, Unifrance’s calendar throughout the year is packed with committee meetings, executive committee meetings, board meetings, and, of course, the general assembly. The team tackles both this important work—ensuring the smooth functioning of governance—and all the initiatives designed to serve our members, all at your disposal. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Unifrance employees for their daily energy and commitment to promoting French creativity.

 

Encouraging exchange and encounters, fostering cultural openness and dialogue, and refreshing our narratives, our depictions of living together, and our cultural icons: these ambitions form the very foundation of France's cultural model and, by extension, of Unifrance’s mission. Bringing the two sectors together was an essential way to showcase the diversity of creators, works, and perspectives on the world to an international audience, thereby strengthening France’s soft power.

 

In an increasingly polarized and fractured environment, Unifrance must strive to present a united front by pooling resources and organizing joint events. The organization must also continually adapt its specific initiatives to support the position of the film and audiovisual industries in fragile international markets, drawing on enhanced market intelligence and research capabilities. In this tense period marked by a profound reconfiguration of the audiovisual landscape—with the rise and even dominance of streaming platforms—Unifrance must navigate these changes in close collaboration with its members.

 

And precisely because we firmly believe in our mission, our values, and the strength of our unity—and to give our teams the resources they need to carry out their work to the best of their ability—Unifrance launched a project in 2025 that will come to fruition in early 2027: bringing everyone together under one roof at Unifrance’s headquarters, whose building the organization has just acquired, thanks in particular to the support of the CNC. This initiative is a commitment to the long-term sustainability of Unifrance and a reaffirmation of its crucial role in promoting French works; a consolidation in the truest sense to prepare for and safeguard the future of the organization to which we—and all of you—are so deeply committed.

 

We would like to thank the CNC for its unwavering commitment, and in particular its President, who spares no effort—both in France and internationally—to defend our system of support for creative production, which has been called into question by some. We also extend our gratitude to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, as well as to Procirep, the organization’s key partners, and finally to our patrons and partners in the private sector.

 

Together with all the organization’s employees, and alongside Daniela Elstner and the entire management team, I am determined to continue our noble mission of supporting the arts around the world for the next three years.

 

Our collective commitment is vital for democracy, in the cultural debates unfolding in France and across Europe. There is no doubt that, in this period of uncertainty, we will need, more than ever, to continue joining forces—all of our forces.

 

Thank you for supporting Unifrance!

 

Gilles Pélisson, President of Unifrance