The wide range of films selected for the various Cannes strands once again demonstrated France's ability to embrace a diversity of stories and imaginations, and to be a first-rate partner for independent cinema worldwide. Our congratulations go out to the festival's many prize-winners, in particular of course to Jafar Panahi for the Palme d'Or awarded to It Was Just an Accident, a film produced by France and Luxembourg. And, of course, to Nadia Melliti for the magnificent award for Best Actress, bravo to Hafsia Herzi and the whole team behind the film The Little Sister.
France also works with artists from American cinema, as in the case of director Rebecca Zlotovski, who received our French Cinema Award earlier this year, casting the impressive Jodie Foster in the lead role of Vie privée. Similarly, Richard Linklater revisited one of the heritage treasures of French cinema with Nouvelle Vague. We wish these two works success on both sides of the ocean... and far beyond.
This year, the entire 10 to Watch 2025 selection was with us in Cannes. A busy schedule for our budding artists â punctuated by meetings with the French and international press, as well as with our two content creators, CĂ©cilia Jourdan and, this year for the first time, Victor Salmeron, who came to cover the festival for Unifrance. Meetings with international distributors, festival directors, and other artists also kept us busy over the two days, in addition to the walk up the red carpet. No doubt we'll be featuring our 10 to Watch again on our social networks, and elsewhere, between now and the end of the year!
Barely back from Cannes, Annecy invited us to another edition rich in encounters, discoveries, and promises of films and works â cinema, audiovisual, features, shorts, VR. A dense program and a successful festival, with a prize list highlighting French creativity and know-how. Congratulations in particular to the award-winning films Arco by Ugo Bienvenu, Little AmĂ©lie or the Character of Rain by Maylis-Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, and the short film The Night Boots by Pierre-Luc Granjon.
And while our eyes were riveted on the festival and its inspiring lake, Flow and its intrepid cat, braving all obstacles and spanning borders, continued their crazy world tour!
Over the next two weeks, the spotlight will be on documentaries. First, Unifrance will be present with a delegation of French professionals in Sheffield, then we'll be alongside you at the Sunny Side, with the first edition of WatchNext from France!
Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 2. For those of you who have not yet paid your membership fee, now is the time to take an active part in the organization's activities.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing on July 2, or even before at one of our many festivals!
Daniela Elstner
Executive Director of Unifrance