UniFrance shares the conclusions of its "New Realities for Film" discussion series and launches a new series of online talks focusing on French talents
In the Spring and early Summer 2020, UniFrance led a weekly series of international discussions about the new reality for film in the light of the covid-19 crisis. The objective was to gather key industry players from all over the world to tackle the challenges and opportunities caused by the pandemics and its economic and cultural aftermath. The series was moderated by UK film expert Michael Gubbins who drafted a short report with key questions, conclusions and proposals. (download in PDF format below)
What we’ve learned throughout these discussions is that the crisis isn’t over yet but it has already brought a fundamental review of the film industry as we know it. It is hard to say at this point if the worst is behind us or if it’s yet to come. What is clear though is that the crisis has shown the resilience of the independent film industry which has found innovative ways to survive and make the most out of this situation. The lack of studio films on international markets has also created new opportunities for French and European films in several countries. The challenging part now is to move from the tactics of survival and innovation into a strategy for growth, to seize these market opportunities for French films and to create a new ecosystem which combines the online strengths demonstrated during lockdown with the cinema and festival experience.
If this crisis has impacted the value chain of the film industry, it also has had a lasting effect on its practices, its art and its culture, especially in the light of a renewed momentum around diversity and inclusion. This is why UniFrance has decided to launch a new series of online talks dedicated to artists in the fall and winter 2020/2021, with a focus on the new realities for directors, screenwriters and talents and the latest trends in French most recent film releases and festival selections. Upcoming discussions will reflect on UniFrance's "10 to Watch" during the Busan Film Festival, the interconnected art forms of cinema and literature, the key role of documentaries in the current international context, the challenges of going from short to feature and the revival of genre cinema among the new generation of French auteurs.
Watch the panel series "New Realities for Film" :
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLINQuAfvtgNHUiUGCm_tgKKVAVfURQypM
