Export figures for French audiovisual programs in 2022 were announced on Monday, September 4, at the opening of the 29th Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Biarritz, pointing to a record year for sales. Against this favorable export backdrop, the Rendez-Vous enabled some 200 international buyers from over 40 countries, some of whom had traveled from as far afield as Japan and Ivory Coast, to discover the programs presented by 58 audiovisual distribution companies.
A market that sets the tone for the international audiovisual season, the Rendez-Vous offered buyers and Unifrance members the opportunity to meet in working conditions conducive to the discovery of French audiovisual creation and in-depth program discussions. In terms of buyers, 16.5% of companies attending the Rendez-Vous were doing so for the first time. As a result, attendance at the event is on the rise, becoming a catalyst for new collaborations.
The 29th Rendez-Vous were organized around a series of highlights, focusing on key programs at themed lunches and dinners, as well as at the gala evening, a renewed 2022 initiative. These convivial moments in the presence of the artistic teams stimulated the curiosity of buyers for the works, and more generally enabled participants to share emotions collectively, to the benefit of the expansion of French creations internationally.
Increasing involvement of artists
Creator Noé Debré as well as actors Xavier Lacaille and Liz Kingsman were present, accompanied by the teams of France tv distribution to present the third season of the Parliament series. The teams were delighted with the opportunity to meet international buyers.
"I feel extraordinarily lucky to have had the opportunity to present Parliament to buyers from all over the world. We always hope to see our creations travel, and Unifrance gives us the means to do so."
Noé Debré, creator of Parliament
"France tv distribution is a long-standing partner of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous, which we particularly like. It's an ideal moment, therefore, to present Season 3 of our Parliament series with a screening of previously unseen episodes and a gala dinner presented in the company of the artistic team: packed with laughs and setting a good mood for everyone."
Catherine Bernard, DGA of France tv distribution
Xavier Lacaille, Liz Kingsman, Noé Debré, Sened Dhab, Julia Schulte, Daniela Elstner, Catherine Bernard, and Gilles Pélisson
© Agence Photomobile
Dolores Redondo, author of the novel Todo esto te daré, from which the series All This I Will Give to You is adapted, and Bruno Solo, who plays one of the main roles, were also on hand to present the series, distributed internationally by Film & Picture. Nicolas Deveaux, the creator and director of the Athleticus series, was also in Biarritz for the evening organized by Xilam Animation around its collection of sports-related programs. And director Benjamin Clavel came to represent his documentary The Matrix: Generation, sold by The Party Film Sales, at the closing evening of the Rendez-Vous.
A few facts and figures
By the end of the event, more than 1,130 different contents had been viewed in the event's Screening Room, generating 3,650 program views, or more than 485 hours of viewing, an increase on 2022.
The top five works viewed
Top five fictional works:
- Follow by Louis Farge, distributed by Federation Studios
- The Plague by Antoine Garceau, distributed by Oble
- All This I Will Give to You by Nicolas Guicheteau, distributed by Film & Picture
- Vigilantes by Julien Seri, distributed by Federation Studios
- Conviction by Danielle Arbid and Keren Ben Rafael, distributed by STUDIOCANAL, ex aequo vwith LT-21 by Mélisa Godet, distributed by Have A Good One (HAGO)
Top five documentaries:
- The Matrix: Generation by Benjamin Clavel, distributed by The Party Film Sales
- Automobiles, the electric shock by Thomas Lafarge, distributed by GAD
- Culture(s) animale(s) (Decoding Animal Culture) by Alexandra Ternant and Hervé Glabeck, distributed by Terranoa
- Off The Road—Greece, produced by TV ONLY and distributed by Only Distrib
- Paris, Capital of Gastronomy : from the Middle Ages to today by Sallah Edine Ben Jamaa and Olivier Durie, distributed by Only Distrib
Top five animated works:
- Mystery Lane by Victor Moulin and Cédric Lachenaud, distributed by Hari International
- Athleticus—Season 4 by Nicolas Deveaux, distributed by Xilam Animation
- It's My Body! by Ovidie and Josselin Ronse, distributed by MIAM ! Distribution
- Billy the Cowboy Hamster by Antoine Rota, distributed by dandelooo
- Runes by Jean-Louis Vandestoc, distributed by Prime Entertainment Group
Follow the highlights of these Rendez-Vous on Unifrance's networks
As part of its strategy to boost its own content, and taking advantage of the strong involvement of French artists, Unifrance teams have put a series of video clips online on its channels and social networks. These include a video of the press conference on French audiovisual export figures for 2022.
--> All the videos are available on Unifrance's YouTube channel.
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