Elstner's nomination was proposed by Serge Toubiana, president of Unifrance—France's film promotion agency dedicated to supporting the export of French films—and approved unanimously by UniFrance's executive committee on Monday, July 8, 2019.
Born in Germany and a graduate of the Université Paris VII with a master's degree in Modern Literature, Daniela Elstner began her career in the French film industry at Unifrance in 1996. In October 1998 she joined Les Films du Losange, where she set up the production company's international sales department, alongside Margaret Menegoz. During her ten years with the company, Elstner expanded its operations in international sales and coproductions, and increased the number of film selections at festivals as well as films directed by leading names in the industry, such as Éric Rohmer, Barbet Schroeder, Jacques Rivette, and Michael Haneke, to name but a few.
In 2008, Elstner moved to Doc & Film International as managing director and shareholder. Under her leadership, the film and television distribution company broadened its scope to include drama feature films and documentaries, building up a catalogue of over 800 films that are sold all around the world and have won acclaim from international critics and festivals (winning the Lion d'Or and two Golden Bear Awards). Productions distributed in international markets by Doc & Film under Elstner's direction include the films by Chantal Akerman, Jacques Doillon, Nicolas Philibert, and Bruno Dumont.
Daniela Elstner has also served as president of the French Film Exporters' Association (ADEF) since 2015, which has played a crucial role in the government's implementation of a system of loans for sales companies (FARAP) and the Film Export Support Fund, which represent a significant milestone for the sector as a whole. She also holds the position of treasurer for the European sales agent organization Europa International and the Union of French Audiovisual Distributors (SEDPA).
Serge Toubiana stated, in response to Elstner's appointment, "I am overjoyed that Daniela Elstner, a major figure in the export of French cinema, who is recognized throughout the profession for her knowledge of the sector and for her international network, has agreed to join UniFrance as our executive director. With her arrival, and with all of the teams at UniFrance, the association is giving itself the means to effectively respond to the challenges facing French cinema in many territories and to defend the interests of films, artists, producers, and all our association's members in an industry that is undergoing great change and is more competitive than ever."
