About us - UniFrance

Our Mission

UniFrance is the organisation in charge of promoting French cinema throughout the world.

Created in 1949, in the form of an association under the law of 1901, UniFrance is administered by French state authorities, in particular the CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée). The association has nearly 1000 members: producers of feature films and shorts, exporters, sales agents, directors, actors, authors (screenwriters) and talent agents.

UniFrance in 6 points :

Unique expertise
International presence
Organisation of events
International box-office results
Key figures
UniFrance History

Unique expertise

Ever since its creation, UniFrance International has carried out studies of international markets and their evolution, and can thus offer today its truly unique expertise. 50 countries therefore appear in the crosshairs of the association which follows the careers of French feature films both in cinemas and on television, all year round. This follow-up (management of data and market analysis, production statistics, accompaniment and follow-up of film sales and distribution, knowledge of companies and their directors…) is the object of economic studies, made available to the members of the association and every partner of French cinema.

International presence

UniFrance accompanies French films on the international markets, from their sale to their distribution. UniFrance is present at every stage in the life of a French film abroad: from selection by a recognised festival or its screening in an international market, to its theatrical release in one or more foreign territories. UniFrance thus enhances the value of all recent French films.

Organisation of events

UniFrance holds events devoted to French cinema, where are combined, in one and the same space and over a limited time, the three fundamental objectives of promotion: action with regard to buyers, media, and the public.

International box-office results

UniFrance follows theatrical releases of films abroad.

With distributors, UniFrance carries out diversified actions in order to increase the distribution of French films on the principle world markets (organisation of travel for film crews, follow-up of relations with the press, widening of releases…).

With the CNC (Centre National de la Cinématographie), UniFrance manages the support commission for the release of French films abroad.

Key figures

Each year, French cinema in the world represents :

The second largest exporter of films.
2/3 of the production exported to at least 1 territory.
More than 1 new French film per day on cinema screens across the world.
40 French films per day broadcast by foreign televisions.
An audience of 65 million who watch French films each year on the average in cinemas.
350 million euros in receipts from cinemas abroad.
A strong cinema on its own territory (nearly 35%), a true exception in Europe.

UniFrance, for feature films, each year represents :

80 French film festivals held.
60 supported international feature-film festivals.
300 trips made by actors and directors.
A network of 800 distributors, TV buyers of French films, and festival programmers throughout the world, as well as 1200 foreign journalists.
2500 interviews made each year.
The box-office results for French films in cinemas in 50 countries, and on television on 200 channels in 30 countries.

And for shorts :

5000 expeditions of shorts in pre-selection to 100 foreign festivals.
500 films, that's to say 1300 prints, selected by 170 festivals in 45 countries.
100 prizes awarded to 70 films.
45 trips for directors and/or producers.
200 films screened by 17 short-film commissions.
60 selective grants and 45 automatic grants for subtitling.

UniFrance History

1949 : Creation of UniFrance (initialement dénommée "AFDEC" (Association Française de Diffusion et d'Expansion Cinématographique)

UniFrance presidents :

1949 : Georges Loureau-Dessus
1955 : Raoul Ploquin
1961 : Georges Loureau-Dessus
1965 : François de Chavanne
1966 : Francis Cosne
1969 : Georges Loureau-Dessus
1969 : Marcel Lathière
1970 : Gilbert de Goldschmidt
1973 : Raymond Danon
1975 : Georges Dancigers
1979 : Yves Rousset-Rouard
1981 : Adolphe Viezzi
1983 : Jacques Dorfmann
1986 : Gilbert de Goldschmidt
1988-2003 : Daniel Toscan du Plantier (deceased on 11/02/2003)
2003 : Margaret Menegoz
2009 : Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre
2012 : Jean-Paul Salomé
2017 : Serge Toubiana

Our Governing Bodies

UniFrance' policies are decided by its governing bodies, composed of industry professionals: the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and various Commissions.

UniFrance' committees and commissions :

Committees :

The Board of Directors
The Executive Committee

Commissions :

The Economic Commission
The Artistic Commission
The Feature-Film Producers' Commission
The Short-Film Producers and Exporters' Commission

Regulatory Authorities and the Board of Directors

UniFrance is administered by French state authorities, in particular the
CNC - Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée, which is in charge of the support policy for French cinema, under the authority of the Ministère de la Culture. The association operates on the basis of an annual budget presented by its Board of Directors to the CNC, which allocates funding to it. UniFrance' budget is supplemented by funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for operations jointly carried out, with diplomatic ties around the world and by its own resources (fees, partnerships…).

Presidency and the Executive Committee

UniFrance' President Serge Toubiana is assisted by a Board of Directors and Executive Committee, composed of four Vice-Presidents : Philippe Carcassonne, producer, François Samuelson, agent, Sabine Chemaly sales agent, Delphine Schmit, short film producer, as well as a General Secretary. The statutes were changed on 18 November 2008, the post of General Manager was created and was successively held by Régine Hatchondo (2008-2013) and Isabelle Giordano (2013-2019).

UniFrance' Commissions
Every 2 years the 4 Councils, representing UniFrance' members, elect representatives to sit on the following Commissions:

Artistic Commission
Feature Film Commission
Economic Commission
Short Film Commission

The Members of the Commissions, elected for two years, meet at least every two months, upon convocation by their President, or by his Deputy, or by authorisation of the General Director of the association, who sets the agenda for the meetings.
The Commissions review and submit recommendations and proposals regarding all matters concerning the association's activities and programme, either on their own initiative or at the behest of the President of the association or the Executive Committee.
It must be noted that the Presidents of these four Commissions meet as often as they deem fit to address specific subjects or actions to be undertaken in particular geographic areas.

For further information as to the structure and composition of UniFrance' governing bodies, you may download the association's statutes.

Committees

The Board of Directors

Composition of the Board of Directors
The association is administered by a Board of Directors composed of:

10 Members designated by their professional organisations,
12 Statutory Members,
23 Elected Members,
3 qualified key figures, including 2 nominated by the Minister of Culture and 1 nominated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
The Director General of the CNC who exercises the function of Government Commissioner with respect to the association,
The Financial Auditor of the CNC takes part, with a consultative voice, in the meetings of the Board of Directors and General Assemblies

Thus, 50 Members in all, with 48 having voting rights. The Members of the Board of Directors are appointed for a two-year term.

Operation of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors elects the association's President. It meets at least twice per year and each time that the request is so made by at last one-fourth of its Members. It approves the fundamental orientations of the association, and the means necessary to achieve them. It reviews the budget prepared by the Executive Committee prior to submitting it to the vote of the General Assembly. It discusses the recommendations and proposals of the Commissions, and sets the amount of annual membership fees.

Members of the Board of Directors

Serge Toubiana - President

Qualified key figures: Marianne Slot (Slot Machine), Marc Tessier (Film France), Hervé Michel (TV France International)

Members: Marie Masmonteil (SPI - Syndicat des Producteurs Indépendants), Radu Mihaileanu (ARP (Auteurs Réalisateurs Producteurs), Frédéric Brillion (UPC - Union des Producteurs de Cinéma), Sidonie Dumas (API - Association des Producteurs Indépendants), Élisabeth Tanner (SFAAL - Syndicat Français des Agents Artistiques et Littéraires), Bertrand Bonello (La SRF - Société des Réalisateurs de Films), Didier Huck (FICAM - Fédération des Industries du Cinéma, de l'Audiovisuel et du Multimédia), Catherine Alméras (SFA - Syndicat Français des Artistes Interprètes), personnalité à définir (ADEF - Association des Exportateurs de Films)

Statutory Members :

The Economic Commission: Anne Cherel (STUDIOCANAL), Kevin Deysson (EuropaCorp), Cécile Gaget (Gaumont), Marie-Laure Montironi (Pathé Films)

The Feature-Film Producers' Commission: Stéphane Célérier (Mars Films), Romuald Drault (EuropaCorp), Sidonie Dumas (Gaumont), Yann Zenou (Splendido (Quad))

The Artistic Commission: Léa Drucker, Franck Gastambide, Alex Lutz, Éric Toledano

Elected Members :

The Feature-Film Producers' Commission: Philippe Carcassonne (Ciné-@), Didar Domehri (Maneki Films), Sandrine Brauer (En Compagnie des Lamas), Judith Lou Lévy (Les Films du Bal), Toufik Ayadi (SRAB Films), Éric Jehelmann (Jerico Films), Carole Scotta (Haut et Court), Mathieu Verhaeghe (Atelier de Production)

The Artistic Commission: François Samuelson (Intertalent), Coralie Fargeat, Louis-Julien Petit, Rémi Bezançon, Nadié Koné (Cinéart), Eric Lavaine, Jean-Paul Salomé (Restons Groupés Productions)

The Economic Commission: Sabine Chemaly (TF1 Studio), Camille Néel (Le Pacte), Frédéric Corvez (UDI - Urban Distribution International), Nicolas Brigaud-Robert (Playtime), Andrei Kamarowsky (Indie Sales), Tanja Meissner (Memento Films International), Grégoire Melin (Kinology)

The Short Film Commission: Delphine Schmit (Perspective Films), Anaïs Bertrand (Insolence Productions)

The Executive Committee

Composition of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is composed of :

The President, elected among the 32 Representatives of the Feature-Film Producers' Commission
4 representatives of the feature-film producers, namely the Vice-President of the Association, President of the Feature-Film Producers' Commission, his Deputy, and 2 elected members of the Feature-Film Producers' Commission,
3 representatives of the Exporters ("Sales Agents"), namely the Vice-President of the association, the President of the Economic Commission, his Deputy, and 1 elected member of the Economic Commission
2 representatives of the Artists, namely the Vice-President of the association, the President of the Artistic Commission and his Deputy,
1 representative of the Short-Film Producers, namely the President of the Short-Film Producers and Distributors' Commission

In all, 11 members, among whom will be appointed, at the first meeting, the Treasurer and Secretary of the Association.

Operation of the Executive Committee
The Members of the Executive Committee are elected for a term of two years. The Executive Committee meets at least four times per year upon convocation of its President, and if at least six of its members so request. It defines the fundamental orientations of the association and means necessary for their implementation. It acts as the interface between the Board of Directors and the Commissions: it studies and debates the priorities of the Director General and his team, and follows their application; it evaluates actions that have been carried out, prepares the activity programme and proposed budget, which shall be presented to the Board of Directors, and assists the President in his representative missions abroad.

Members of the Executive Committee

Serge Toubiana - President

Feature-film Producers: Philippe Carcassonne (Ciné-@), Didar Domehri (Maneki Films), Sandrine Brauer (En Compagnie des Lamas), Judith Lou Lévy (Les Films du Bal)

Economic Commission: Sabine Chemaly (TF1 Studio), Camille Néel (Le Pacte), Frédéric Corvez (UDI - Urban Distribution International)

Artistic Commission: François Samuelson (Intertalent), Coralie Fargeat, Louis-Julien Petit

President of the Short-Film Producers and Distributors' Commission: Delphine Schmit (Perspective Films)

Commissions

The Economic Commission

The Council of Exporters elects 20 representatives who comprise the Economic Commission, and who, in turn, elect during the same meeting, their President and his Deputy, as well as 5 Members. These 7 will sit on the Board of Directors. The President of the Commission is the Vice-President of UniFrance. During the same meeting, the Commission elects, from amongst its five representatives to the Board of Directors, another representative to the Executive Committee.
The Economic Commission is completed by the 4 statutory exporter members of the Board of Directors, which brings to 24 the number of the Commission's members.

Candidates for its posts of Commission representatives must respond to a certain number of eligibility criteria (it being understood that only those films having received production approval and the exploitation visa, and not being X-rated, can be taken into account in respecting these criteria), namely: Exporters having exported at least two feature film of French initiative, having received production approval and an exploitation visa (and not being X-rated) during the 12 months preceding the election in at least 6 major territories, such as defined under Article 5 (A), and this with the exclusion of sales mandates on the coproduction territory or territories.

Members of the Economic Commission

Sabine Chemaly (TF1 Studio) - President

Camille Néel (Le Pacte) - Deputy

Elected Representatives: Frédéric Corvez (UDI - Urban Distribution International), Nicolas Brigaud-Robert (Playtime), Andrei Kamarowsky (Orange Studio), Tanja Meissner (Memento Films International), Grégoire Melin (Kinology), Olivier Albou (Other Angle Pictures), Charlotte Boucon (SND Groupe M6), Ola Byszuk (mk2 films), Sarah Chazelle (Jour 2 fête), Yohann Comte (Charades), Laurent Danielou (Loco Films) membre à définir (Doc & Film International), Nicolas Eschbach (Indie Sales), Adeline Fontan Tessaur (Elle Driver), Clémentine Hugot (The Bureau Sales), Loïc Magneron (Wide), Agathe Mauruc (Pyramide International), Dimitri Stephanides (WTFilms)

Statutory Members: Anne Cherel (STUDIOCANAL), Kevin Deysson (EuropaCorp), Cécile Gaget (Gaumont), Marie-Laure Montironi (Pathé Films)

The Artistic Commission

Every two years, the members of the Feature-Film Directors, Actors, Screenwriters, and Talent Agents' Council elect 20 representatives to form the Artistic Commission, who elect, during the same meeting, their President and his Deputy, as well as 5 Members (these 7 representatives shall sit on the Board of Directors). The President of the Artistic Commission is also a Vice-President of UniFrance, and, along with his Deputy, sits on the Executive Committee.

Candidates for these positions as Committee representatives must comply with a number of conditions of eligibility (it being understood that only those films having received production approval and an exploitation visa, and not being X-rated, may be taken into account to respect these criteria), namely:

Directors having made at least one feature film over the four calendar years preceding the election.
Actors having played the lead role in at least one feature film or a supporting role in at least two feature films over the three calendar years preceding the election.
Writers having collaborated on a feature film produced over the three calendar years preceding the election.
Talent Agents, whether individuals or legal entities, working in the film industry and holders of an talent agent's licence, issued by the Labour Ministry that has been valid for at least five years.

In all, 11 members, among whom will be appointed, at the first meeting, the Treasurer and Secretary of the Association.

Members of the Artistic Commission

François Samuelson (Intertalent) - President

Coralie Fargeat - Deputy

Elected Representatives: Louis-Julien Petit, Rémi Bezançon, Nadié Koné (Cinéart), Eric Lavaine, Jean-Paul Salomé (Restons Groupés Productions), Nathalie Baye, Emmanuelle Bercot, Julie Bertuccelli, Sandrine Dumas (Pio & Co), Fabienne Godet, Benoît Graffin, Thomas Lilti, Sébastien Marnier, Tonie Marshall (Tabo Tabo Films), Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar (Loma Nasha Films), Élisabeth Tanner (Time Art), Danièle Thompson, Rosalie Varda (Ciné-Tamaris)

Statutory Members: Léa Drucker, Franck Gastambide, Alex Lutz, Éric Toledano

The Feature-Film Producers' Commission

The Feature-Film Producers' Council elects every two years a Feature-Film Producers' Commission comprised of 32 representatives. At the same meeting, these representatives elect their President and his Deputy, as well as 5 Members: these 7 Individuals shall sit on the Board of Directors. The President of the Feature-Film Producers' Commission is equally one of UniFrance' Vice-Presidents. During this same meeting, the Commission elects, among its five representatives to the Board of Directors, the two other representatives to the Executive Committee. The Feature-Film Producers' Commission is completed by 4 producers, who are statutory members of the Board of Directors, thus bringing the total number of Commission members to 36.

Candidates for these positions of Commission members must comply with a number of eligibility conditions and criteria, including having produced or co-produced at least one feature film over the three calendar years preceding the election (it being understood that only those films having been granted production approval and an exploitation visa, and not being X-rated, may be considered with respect to these criteria).

Members of the Feature-Film Producers' Commission

Philippe Carcassonne (Ciné-@) - President

Didar Domehri (Maneki Films) - Deputy

Elected Representatives: Sandrine Brauer (En Compagnie des Lamas), Judith Lou Lévy (Les Films du Bal), Toufik Ayadi (SRAB Films), Éric Jehelmann (Jerico Films), Carole Scotta (Haut et Court), Mathieu Verhaeghe (Atelier de Production), Éric Altmayer (Mandarin Production ), Philip Boëffard (Nord-Ouest Films) Caroline Bonmarchand (Avenue B Productions), Frédéric Brillion (Epithète Films), Bénédicte Couvreur (Hold Up Films), Marc-Benoît Créancier (Easy Tiger), Yves Darondeau (Bonne Pioche Cinéma), Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre (Mact Productions), Jean des Forêts (Petit Film), Ron Dyens (Sacrebleu Productions), Bertrand Faivre (Le Bureau), Michaël Gentile (The Film), Frédéric Jouve (Les Films Velvet), Laurence Lascary (DACP), Isabelle Madelaine (Dharamsala), Marie Masmonteil (Elzévir Films), Bruno Nahon (Unité de Production), Stéphane Parthenay (Pyramide Productions), Sylvie Pialat (Les Films du Worso), Antoine Rein (Karé Productions), Xavier Rigault (2.4.7. Films (247 Films)), Gilles Sacuto (TS Productions), Valérie Schermann (Prima Linea Productions), Anne-Dominique Toussaint (Les Films des Tournelles)

Statutory Members: Stéphane Célérier (Mars Films), Romuald Drault (EuropaCorp), Sidonie Dumas (Gaumont), Yann Zenou (Splendido (Quad))

The Short-Film Producers and Distributors' Commission

The Short-Film Producers and Distributors' Commission is elected every two years during the first six months of the year following the Ordinary General Assembly of the concerned year.

The Short-Film Producers and Distributors' Council elects 12 representatives to form the Short Film Commission. They elect in turn, during the same meeting, their President and Vice-President, and the latter may be a distributor. The President and Vice-President sit on the Board of Directors. The President of the Commission also sits on the Executive Committee.

In addition to granting subtitling aid, the Commission reviews and submits recommendations relative to any of the association's actions and its short-film programme. Proceedings of all meetings of the Commission are recorded in the minutes.

Members of the Short Film Commission:

Delphine Schmit (Perspective Films) - President

Anaïs Bertrand (Insolence Productions) - Vice President

Elected Representatives : Olivier Chabalier (GASP!), Mathilde Delaunay (Ecce Films), Nelson Ghrénassia (Yukunkun Productions), Khir-Din Grid (Nouvelle Toile), Luce Grosjean (Miyu Distribution), Oriane Hurard (Les Produits Frais), Alexandre Lança, Sylvain Pioutaz, Nidia Santiago (Ikki Films), Annabel Sebag (Autour de Minuit)

Deputy Members: Lorenzo Bianchi (Société Acéphale), Florence Keller (L'Agence du court métrage), Marthe Lamy (Apaches Films), Laura Townsend (La Ruche Productions)

Offices Abroad

UniFrance is also active in a number of territories in which the association has offices serving as an intermediary for promoting French cinema and providing a base for initiatives specific to the particular country.

New York

Contact : Adeline Monzier

Since 1972, UniFrance New York office has been responsible for the promotion of French cinema in the USA. Our mission is to provide financial and logistical assistance to distributors and festivals that present recent French films to American audiences, thus strengthening cultural and commercial links between the French and American movie industries.

South Korea / Japan / South-East Asia

5-dong 305-ho, 14 Bibonggil, Gugi-dong, Jongno-gu
서울특별시 종로구 비봉길 14, 5동 305호 (현대구기빌라)
Seoul 03007
South Korea
Contact : Jérémy Segay
Tél : (+82) 10 2620 6783

UniFrance South Korea / Japan / South-East Asia office is responsible for the promotion of French cinema in South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Burma. The office provides financial and logistical assistance to distributors and festivals which present recent French films to local audiences in these countries, thus strengthening cultural and commercial ties between the French and Asian movie industries.

Beijing

1-602 Hua Qiao Cun
24 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Beijing, 100004
Contact : Isabelle Glachant
Tel : (+86) 13 6010 892 14

Since 2005, UniFrance Beijing office has been responsible for the promotion of French cinema. Our mission is to provide financial and logistical assistance to distributors and festivals that present recent French films to Chinese audiences, thus strengthening cultural and commercial links between the French and Chinese movie industries. The Beijing office is responsible for China, Hong Kong et Taïwan.

Our services

All the services, support schemes and contacts provided by UniFrance to movie industry professionals.

Professionals in France:

Producers of feature films
Sales agents
Feature-film directors
Directors or Producers of Short films
Talent Agents
Actors
Journalists (France)

Professionals outside of France:

Distributors or Buyers
Director of an international feature film festival
Director of an International Short Film Festival
Foreign Journalists

Professionals in France

Producers of feature films

In daily contact with directors, sales agents, and foreign professionals, the Producer and Exporter Relations Office is available to offer you expert knowledge of local markets, their players and development, as well as international French cinema events throughout the year.

If you are a producer :

Contact : Markets and Surveys Department

If you decide to join UniFrance, in the college of feature film producers, you will be able to access our online services. Via secured access, you will be able to notably:

Box office: Access box office details and TV broadcasts of your films
Box office: Access summaries of box office results and TV broadcasts by geographic region
Box office: Access the "dashboard" (including data for the current year)
Box office: Access the most recent economic reports, country by country
Box office: Navigation and presentation of optimized files
Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access our downloadable documents (market studies, reports, publications, catalogues, etc.)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Sales agents

The project leaders of the Markets and Surveys Service are the key contacts for the distributors of your films abroad. Each of them, in their respective countries, follows daily development of international markets, with particular focus on the performance of French films in these markets, from the time of their acquisition to their theatrical release, as well as broadcast on television.

Data collected by the Markets and Surveys Department provides the information for our website's International Film Statistics and TV Broadcast Information section (film releases abroad, international box-office results for French films, presentation of markets, TV broadcasts, directories of movie professionals, etc.).

Representatives of the Markets and Surveys team are also present at the major film markets (Berlin, AFM, Cannes, Hong Kong) alongside sales agents, and monitor the organization of events dedicated to French cinema in all countries they are specialized in.

The department also processes applications for travel expenses for artists accompanying theatrical releases, and if the artists cannot travel abroad, contributes to travel expenses for journalists visiting Paris for interviews. UniFrance thus facilitates the organization of some 100 preview screenings each year, and 150 trips made by directors.

If you are a sales agent :

Contact : Markets and Surveys Department

If you decide to join UniFrance, in the college of sales agents, you will be able to access our online services. Via secured access, you will be able to notably:

Box office: Access box office details and TV broadcasts of your films
Box office: Access summaries of box office results and TV broadcasts by geographic region
Box office: Access the "dashboard" (including data for the current year)
Box office: Access the most recent economic reports, country by country
Box office: Navigation and presentation of optimized files
Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access our downloadable documents (market studies, reports, publications, catalogues, etc.)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Feature-film directors

The team at the Festival and Talent Relations office maintains close contact with the heads of the major international film festivals (numbering around 40), whom they receive in Paris to view French films in UniFrance' screening theatre. This department plays the role of mediator between French film rights holders, producers, sales agents, and film festival directors. Once selections have been finalized, the department organizes travel for directors to these festivals, and facilitates their trips at the time of the release of their films. For "Category A" film festivals, Unifrance provides a contribution of a fixed amount for the subtitling of French films in competition, and hires local press attachés.

If you are a director :

Contact : Festivals and Artist Relations Department

If you decide to join UniFrance, in the college of directors, actors, authors and sales agents, you will be able to access our online services. Via secured access, you will be able to notably:

Box office: Access the most recent economic reports, country by country
Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access our downloadable documents (market studies, reports, publications, catalogues, etc.)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Directors or Producers of Short films

If you are a short film director or producer, your contact is the: Short Film Department.

Through their quality, dynamism and diversity, French short films continually contribute to the growth and renewal of our movie industry. Working in close cooperation with producers elected to our governing bodies, we make every effort to ensure that these films gain exposure with audiences and professionals worldwide, and to promote and share the talents of the filmmakers of tomorrow.

Download our Presentation Brochure for an overview of the major services provided to short film sector members of UniFrance.

If you are a short film director or producer :

Contact : Short Film Department

If you decide to become a member of UniFrance in the Short Film Producers' and Distributors' Council, you will have access to our online services via a secure platform. These services include:

Box office: Access box office details and TV broadcasts of your films
Box office: Access summaries of box office results and TV broadcasts by geographic region
Box office: Access the most recent economic reports, country by country
Box office: Navigation and presentation of optimized files
Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access our downloadable documents (market studies, reports, publications, catalogues, etc.)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Talent Agents

The Festival and Talent Relations Office keeps you up to date on UniFrance' activities and travel of artists abroad. If one of your artists is contacted by an international festival or foreign distributor, the Festival and Talent Relations Office can take over and follow-up travel arrangements.

If you are a talent agent:

Contact : Festivals and Artist Relations Department

If you decide to join UniFrance, in the college of directors, actors, authors and talent agents, you will be able to access our online services. Via secured access, you will be able to notably:

Box office: Access box office details and TV broadcasts of your films
Box office: Access summaries of box office results and TV broadcasts by geographic region
Box office: Access the most recent economic reports, country by country
Box office: Navigation and presentation of optimized files
Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update staff details at your talent agency
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access our downloadable documents (market studies, reports, publications, catalogues, etc.)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Actors

The Festival and Talent Relations Office provides day-to-day management of relations with feature-film actors. It regularly informs you about UniFrance' actions and organizes your trips abroad when your film has been selected in certain festivals (international and French films), as well as their theatrical releases in agreement with the festivals and local distributors. In liaison with UniFrance' Communications Department, it handles, in certain cases, your meetings with the international press.

If you are an actor in a feature film selected by a festival in UniFrance' annual program:

Contact : Festivals and Artist Relations Department

If you decide to join UniFrance, in the college of directors, actors, authors and talent agents, you will be able to access privileged on-line services. Via secured access, you will be able to notably:

Box office: Access the most recent economic reports, country by country
Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access our downloadable documents (market studies, reports, publications, catalogues, etc.)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Journalists (France)

You're a journalist, you need information about the current events concerning French cinema abroad (festival selections, box-office of theatrical releases, filmographies, photos…), you wish to cover a UniFrance event or organize an interview with an artist or professional in the French movie industry, or wish to take part in one of our press junkets or one of UniFrance' events?

Contact : Communications Department

Professional space for "journalists" on www.unifrance.org:
Dear journalists (France): ask for your professional access codes which will enable you to connect on unifrance.org. You will be able to notably:

Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Professionals outside of France

Distributors or Buyers

The members of the Markets and Surveys team are available on a daily basis to facilitate your research and relations with French film rights holders. If you wish to invite French artists to attend previews in your country, UniFrance can assist with travel expenses. If you wish to send journalists to France to conduct interviews, UniFrance can also provide assistance, both on an organizational level and by partially covering resulting professional expenses, with prior approval of your proposal by UniFrance.

If you are a distributor or buyer of French films :

Contact : Markets and Surveys Department

Professional space for "foreign distributors, cinema, television or VOD buyers" on www.unifrance.org:
Dear distributors and buyers: ask for your professional access codes which will enable you to connect on unifrance.org. You will be able to notably:

Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Director of an international feature film festival

The Festival and Talent Relations Office works with some 40 international film festivals. For those festivals included in the Unifrance program, the Office can assist you at every stage: greeting you in Paris and organizing your viewing schedule of French films in the Unifrance's screening room, organizing the travel of artists appearing in selected films, and coordinating artistic delegations during the festival.

If you are an international film festival director:

Contact : Festivals and Artist Relations Department

Professional "Festival" space on www.unifrance.org:
Dear directors of festivals or international events: ask for your professional access codes which will enable you to connect on unifrance.org. You will be able to notably:

Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Director of an International Short Film Festival

The Short Film Department is the privileged interface between more than 100 international festivals and French short films. This department assists with relations between festival programmers and French film rights holders, organizes the transport of videocassettes and prints, and oversees travel arrangements for film directors. Unifrance's Short Film Department finances each year the subtitling, in function of established rates with a fixed ceiling, of some 100 French short films, either selectively (as decided by the Short Film Committee at the first screening), or automatically (five selections at foreign film festivals). The department publishes a compilation of several of these shorts (Short Cuts and two DVDs per year), a guide to foreign festivals abroad supported by Unifrance, and a directory of buyers and distributors of French short films worldwide for Unifrance member producers and directors.

Contact : Short Film Department

Directory: Access limited contact details of people listed in our professional directory
Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update contact details for your events
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Foreign Journalists

You're a journalist, you need information about French films (selections, awards, biographies, filmographies, figures, photos…), you need to organize an interview with a French artist or French movie industry professional, or wish to take part in one of our press junkets or any UniFrance event

Contact : Communications Department

Professional "journalists" space on www.unifrance.org:
Dear (international) journalists: ask for your professional access codes which will enable you to connect on unifrance.org. You will be able to notably:

Directory: Access public contact details for professionals listed in our industry directory
Directory: Update your company contact details
Directory: Update your correspondence details
For Professionals: Access HD media available on our website (photos, video images, movie posters)
For Professionals: Access the Short Film Gallery (short films)
Videos - View films accessible for public viewing (Short Film of the Month, etc.)

Our Publications

Studies/Reports produced by UniFrance Films

In addition to annual reports on film industry statistics around the world, UniFrance films also regularly produces thematic studies and reports on specific geographic areas.

View studies and reports produced

Our Newsletters

UniFrance has created an automatic email service to enable motion-picture professionals throughout the world to receive all the information there is to know about the life of French films worldwide, directly in their in-box.
This service, reserved, for some, to all professionals, and for others, solely Unifrance members and its international partners, can be activated in your "professional space."

For more information on this subject, please consult the sections, "How to Join Unifrance" and "Our Services for Professionals".

As of today, UniFrance thus makes available to professionals the following services:

Personalised weekly alerts
Monthly newsletter

Personalised weekly alerts

This service is reserved for Unifrance's members and its international partners (Internet users having access codes). For more information on this subject, please consult the section, "How to Join UniFrance".

The personalised weekly alert enables you to receive by email on a weekly basis all the news about all of your films: theatrical releases worldwide, follow-up of box-office results (number of admissions/receipts) per country, selections and prizes awarded by festivals and international markets, along with up-to-date news.

See an example Subscribe

Join UniFrance

UniFrance members are divided among four Councils, of which you may become a member, under certain conditions:

The councils and membership procedure:

Feature-Film Producers' Council
Short-Film Producers and Distributors' Council
Directors, Actors, Authors and Talent Agents' Council
Film Exporters' Council
Membership fees
Required information for joining

Feature-Film Producers' Council

All French feature-film production companies, authorised in accordance with the motion-picture industry code ("carte professionnelle" issued by the CNC), represented by one of their corporate officers ("mandataires sociaux") or duly appointed salaried employees.

Short-Film Producers and Distributors' Council

Producers of short films may become members if they have produced at least one (1) film over the past three calendar years, having been issued a an exploitation visa by the CNC (Centre National de la Cinématographie). Distributors of short films having sold at least six French films over the 18 months preceding the election.

Directors, Actors, Authors and Talent Agents' Council

The following may join: Directors having taken part in the making French films holding an exploitation visa; Actors and Authors (screenwriters) whose qualifications and professional activities are widely recognised in the creation of feature films, holding exploitation visas; as well as Talent Agents (whether natural persons or legal entities) working in the motion-picture industry, holding a talent agent's licence issued by the French Labour Ministry and which has been valid for at least 5 years.

Film Exporters' Council

All French film export companies, authorised in accordance with the motion-picture industry code ("carte professionnelle" issued by the CNC), represented by one of their corporate officers ("mandataires sociaux") or duly appointed salaried employees, provided that:

the exporter has, over the 12 months preceding his membership application, exported at least 2 feature films of French initiative, having been granted production approval and an exploitation visa (and not be X-rated).
the exporter has been granted a sales license for these films in 6 of the following 12 major territories (Benelux, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Quebec, Russia (former USSR), Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America), excluding sales licenses in the co-production territory or territories

This membership request, moreover, must be first validated by the Economic Commission in office.

Membership fees

1,590 € (tax included) for Feature Film Producers and Exporters (Sales Agents)
350 € (tax included) for Short Film Producers and Distributors, and Talent Agents (legal entities)
65 € (tax included) for Actors, Authors (screenwriters) and Directors

For further information about membership conditions and the role of UniFrance members, please download the Association's Statues:

The association's statutes (PDF)

To apply for UniFrance membership, please download the application form corresponding to your profile:

Membership application - Feature film producers (PDF)

Membership application - Short film producers or distributors (PDF)

Membership application - Feature film exporter (sales agent) (PDF)

Membership application - Actor, author (screenwriter), director (PDF)

Membership application - Talent agency (PDF)

Please print out this application form and return it to us duly completed, signed, and accompanied by your cheque, to:

UniFrance (to the attention of Constance Heurtault)
13, rue Henner
75009 Paris
France

Required information for joining

The information gathered is necessary for you to become a member. It will be data processed and transmitted to the secretary of the association. In application of Articles 39 and following of the Law of 6 January 1978 (modified), you are entitled to access your information and rectify it. If you wish to exercise this right and receive any information concerning yourself, please contact: Constance Heurtault.

Our Database

UniFrance possesses an extremely complete database of French films (both features and shorts) and professionals working in the international motion-picture industry.
Its directory of professionals is a reference for professionals in the sector who use it on a daily basis in their work to find information about a particular film, company or person, according to their jobs or activity. Multiple on-line forms enable Internet users to carry out precise searches. To view the different searches, you need only navigate through the various menus of unifrance.org, each menu representing in itself a full-fledged website.

The database in just a few figures:

more than 100,000 persons
more than 10,000 companies
more than 15,000 feature films
more than 10,000 shorts
more than 300 festivals/events
more than 2.500 editions of festivals/events

A few details regarding our methodology and origin of our data:

Our international directory of professionals
Our "Feature Film" database
Our "Short Film" database
Our festivals, markets, and international events
Our international box-office results for French films
Unifrance respects CNIL Recommendations
Ownership of On-line Contents

Our international directory of professionals

Contact information for persons and companies in France included in Unifrance's directory is freely available to Internet users. On the contrary, users must be logged in to access international contact information (access codes supplied to our members).

Our "Feature Film" database

Feature films included in our Internet database are those having received the approval of the CNC (Centre national de la cinématographie), whether they are 100% French productions, or coproductions with minority or majority French participation. To announce your feature films (in preparation, shoots, postproduction…), contact: sarah.psimaras@unifrance.org

Our "Short Film" database

Short films included in our Internet database are those French Films (whether they are 100% French productions, or coproductions with minority or majority French participation) having been issued a CNC visa, or any other film without such a visa which has been selected in an event supported by Unifrance. Equally included are films from the GREC (Groupe de Recherches et d'Essais Cinématographiques), as well as film school productions (La Fémis, l'ENS Louis-Lumière). To publish or correct your short films' data, contact: christine.gendre@unifrance.org

Our festivals, markets, and international events

Only international events or events of international scope are referenced on this website (for example, Cannes), which are included in Unifrance's annual activity programme: international film markets in which Unifrance participates, international festivals followed by Unifrance, and events devoted to French films organised or supported by Unifrance.

Our international box-office results for French films

The complete box-office results for all French film, updated every week, are available on-line to UniFrance members with appropriate access (log-in) codes.

Applied sources and methods
Results indicated for feature films concern the number of cinema admissions and box-office reports abroad (that's to say outside of France). Therefore they do not include sales receipts for French exporters and/or producers. These results are not meant to be exhaustive, even if the association follows more than 50 countries representing 95% of the world's market. Unifrance selects only the most reliable sources in each country, which can be either statistics providers, official bodies, one of our offices abroad, or even the distributors themselves. UniFrance also tracks the careers of French films on television in more than 30 countries (240 channels). For more information on figures, contact: quentin.deleau@unifrance.org

UniFrance respects CNIL Recommendations

Database declared to the CNIL: 1405640

In conformity with the Law on Computer Data and Liberties ("Informatique et Libertés") n°78-17 of 6 January 1978 relative to computer data, files and liberties, any person may request information on all data concerning himself, as well as rectification or suppression of such information, by contacting the Multimedia Department of UniFrance (13, rue Henner, 75009 Paris, France)

Ownership of On-line Contents

Unifrance is the exclusive owner of all intellectual property rights to the structure and contents of its website, or has regularly acquired the rights enabling exploitation of the structure and contents of its website, without limitation.

Our Partners

By becoming a partner of UniFrance, your company will be associated with all the activities of our organisation: you will be present at the most prestigious cinema events, alongside professionals representing the French film industry (actors, directors, producers…). Your company image will therefore directly benefit from the same enthusiasm and dedication which movie audiences have for them.

Contacts with the authorities in each country are greatly facilitated by UniFrance's unique structure, as the only organisation in the French film industry that benefits from support from both the Ministry of Culture and Communication and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The world of cinema is a universe that reflects the values proper to each country. Renowned the world over, French productions are welcomed by high-level cultural, political, and economic leaders. By taking part in these meetings, your company will establish international contacts with top level decision-makers.

Your financial support of UniFrance can be considered as an act of cultural patronage. Like any act of patronage, this entitles your company to fiscal advantages. These chiefly involve a company tax reduction of up to 60% of the donation amount, with the upper limit of the donation amount serving as the basis for the calculation of tax reduction, currently set at 0.5% of the company's annual turnover. Surplus sums may be carried forward over 5 years.

UniFrance would like to express its sincere thanks to its partners who support the promotion of French cinema around the world.