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Unifrance at Séries Mania 2026: 11th edition of "Coming Next from France" and spotlight on the French selection
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Unifrance will be present at the 17th Séries Mania, which will take place in Lille from March 20 to 27, 2026. The festival will offer audiences a selection of 51 series, including 42 new releases, from 16 countries, among which are 15 French series. The Series Mania Forum,the festival's industry sidebar, will take place from March 24 to 26. Last year, it brought together nearly 5,000 professionals from more than 70 countries across five continents. It's in this context that Unifrance will present the 11th edition of Coming Next from France on Tuesday, March 24, from 2pm to 3pm, in the Louis Pasteur auditorium.
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In a global audiovisual landscape undergoing major changes, Séries Mania has established itself as a key event for promoting audiovisual works and an essential meeting place for professionals in the sector. Despite a difficult context, the figures for French audiovisual program exports in 2024, compiled by the CNC and Unifrance, confirm the strength of French scripted programs, with €75.2 million in sales, making it the second-best year after 2022 (+0.9% compared to 2023). For the third consecutive year, dramatic works remain the leading export genre, accounting for 35.9% of total sales. Unifrance presents 6 new French series during Coming Next from France Coming Next from France will showcase 6 French series, available or soon to be available on the international market, to foreign decision-makers, buyers, and journalists. This event will be a unique opportunity for distributors, producers, and artists (when possible) to boost the international visibility of their programs. The series presented this year: - Country Spy (TF1, 6x52'), produced by DMLS Films (Banijay France), coproduced by TF1, and distributed by About Premium Content
- All Shapes of Us (TF1, 6x52'), produced by Habanita Federation, coproduced by TF1 and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, and distributed by Federation International
- Sorority (working title) (France Télévisions, 6x52'), produced by Lincoln TV, coproduced by France Télévisions, La Compagnie Cinématographique and Panache Productions, and distributed by France tv distribution
- The Nefertiti Case (ARTE / HBO Max , 4x45'), produced by Incognita and Tripode Productions, coproduced by Hélicotronc & distributed by Incognita distribution and Film & Picture
- Zodiac (TF1, 6x52'), produced by Felicità Films and Partita Films, and distributed by STUDIO TF1
- Alice (HBO Max / France Télévisions, 6x45'), produced by Wild Bunch, Ligne de Front, Palermo Production, Sphere Media and Panache Productions, and distributed by Wild Bunch TV
These 6 series demonstrate the vitality, boldness, and diversity of French scripted television works. They offer a wide range of writing styles, worlds, aesthetics, and genres (action, crime, drama, history, humor, light crime, romance, thriller, social commentary, young adult, etc.), and feature established actors and actresses as well as promising new faces. Each of these works delivers unique and innovative stories and offers a rich and relevant reflection of French society, both past and present.
 The Coming Next from France in 2025 at Séries Mania — Photo © Chloé Leclercq / Unifrance
Unifrance's presence at Séries Mania Forum As a partner of the Séries Mania Forum, Unifrance will host Welcome Drinks on March 23, a cocktail reception to kick off the professional meetings, bringing together a predominantly international audience. In collaboration with Wallonie-Bruxelles Images (WBI), Hub.Brussels, Sodec, and Québec créatif, Unifrance will also organize a lunch on Wednesday, March 25, dedicated to French-language co-productions between France, Belgium, and Quebec, with a view to promoting exchanges and opportunities for collaboration between producers. As is the case every year, the organization will be present in the Business Lounge, where it will provide its members with a space dedicated to their professional meetings. French productions well represented in the festival program French productions are a strong component, with 15 works selected in various strands of the festival: International Competition, French Competition, Short Format Competition, Special Screenings, and Out of Competition Screenings. Several leading figures from the French audiovisual industry will also sit on the festival’s juries. Comic-book author and illustrator Pénélope Bagieu will chair the International Panorama Jury, notably alongside comedian, actor, director and screenwriter Thomas Ngijol, who is among this year’s Unifrance 10 to Watch. The remaining members of the juries for the other sections will be announced shortly by Séries Mania. Throughout the festival, Unifrance will support this French presence by meeting with the artistic teams behind the selected series in order to promote their international reach.
All the French works selected at Séries Mania 2026
International Competition - Paolo (France, HBO Max, 7x52'), produced by Mintee Studio
French Competition - Camarades (France, ARTE, 8x30'), produced by Agat Films, coproduced by Sunday Afternoon and ARTE, and distributed by Playtime
- Eldorado (France / Belgium, ARTE / RTBF, 6x45'), produced by TOP - The Originals Productions and Beside Productions, and coproduced by ARTE and RTBF
- Unchained (France, France Télévisions, 6x52'), produced by Tetra Media Fiction, and distributed by France tv distribution
- L'Été 36 (France / Belgium, TF1 / Netflix / RTL / RTS, 6x52'), produced by Quad Drama, coproduced by Panache Productions, La Compagnie Cinématographique and TF1, and distributed by STUDIO TF1
- All Shapes of Us (France, TF1, 6x52'), produced by Habanita Federation, coproduced by TF1 and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, and distributed by STUDIO TF1
- Privilèges (France, HBO Max, 6x52'), produced by Zazi Films , and distributed by Warner Bros.
Short Format Competition - La Dernière Heure (France, ARTE, 6x10'), produced by Escales Production and Interscoop, and distributed by Ampersand Fiction
- Happiness (France, ARTE, 15x5'), produced by La Onda Productions, and coproduced by ARTE
Out of Competition — Special Screenings - Etty (France / Germany / The Netherlands, ARTE, 6x45'), produced by Les Films du Poisson, Komplizen Film, Topkapi Films and Quiddity Films, coproduced by ARTE, and distributed by STUDIO TF1
- Lucky Luke (France, Disney+ / France Télévisions, 8x35'), produced by Federation Studios, coproduced by Un Pour Tous Productions, and distributed by Federation International
- Recalé (France, Netflix, 8x30'), produced by Itinéraire Productions
Out of Competition Screenings A session dedicated to Ankama Animations' new productions will be held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the French audiovisual production, publishing, and distribution company. - Morshiken (France, 13x10')
- Wakfu (France, 6x22')
- Welsh & Shedar (France / Japan, 12x26')
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Unifrance announces the dates for the 2026 Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre — 32nd edition
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Unifrance is pleased to announce the dates for the 32nd Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre the world's largest market dedicated to French audiovisual programmes, which will be held for the third consecutive year on the Normandy coast from 7 to 10 September 2026.
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 For the record, and in a few figures, the 2025 Rendez-vous d'Unifrance au Havre 2025 brought together:
- 150 audiovisual buyers from 40 countries
- 51 audiovisual distribution companies
- More than 500 programmes available in the Screening Room dedicated to the event
- Screenings, conferences, cocktail parties and dinners
Rediscover the highlights of the 2025 Rendez-vous d'Unifrance au Havre in this video: 
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The French Film Festival in Japan, organized by Unifrance, returns for its 33rd edition
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A promo video, introduced by Gilles Pélisson and Daniela Elstner (respectively President and CEO of Unifrance), has been created to reveal the highlights of this edition. In it, the official Japanese ambassador, actress Yuumi Kawai (seen in Renoir, in Competition at Cannes 2025), is introduced, and the selection is shown in detail in images. Discover it below. ⬇️  The festival will take place at two venues in the Shibuya district, Bunkamura Le Cinéma Shibuya Miyashita and Euro Live, in the presence of a sterling French delegation: Stéphane Demoustier, Olivier Marguerit (composer), Robin Campillo, Rebecca Zlotowski, Olivier Assayas, Ken Scott, Guillaume Senez, Charlène Favier, Sylvain Chomet, Anaïs Petit, Lisa Azuelos, Valentine Cadic, Sophie Marceau, Thaïs Alessandrin, and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. Q&A sessions will follow the screenings.
The selection - A Private Life by Rebecca Zlotowski (opening film)
- A Missing Part by Guillaume Senez
- Once Upon My Mother by Ken Scott
- The Wizard of the Kremlin by Olivier Assayas
- LOL 2.0: Anne's Golden Hour by Lisa Azuelos
- That Summer in Paris by Valentine Cadic
- It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi
- Enzo by Robin Campillo
- A Magnificent Life by Sylvain Chomet
- The Great Arch by Stéphane Demoustier
- Oxana by Charlène Favier
- The Young Mothers' Home by Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (closing film)
The festival's official website
Related event "Olivier Assayas 2026 – Cinema in the Present"
In partnership with the Institut Français in Japan – Espaces Images, a retrospective from March 18 to April 5, 2026, featuring a dozen major works and an exceptional masterclass with Olivier Assayas. Talk Elle, Sunday, March 22, in the presence of Valentine Cadic, Charlène Favier, Miwa Nishikawa, and Miyuki Fukuma.
Faces of French Cinema exhibition
Echoing the festival, this photographic exhibition will be held at the Galerie Boutique agnès b. from February 21 to April 5, 2026, offering an exploration of the history of the festival in Japan through the eyes and iconic faces immortalized by photographers Marie Rouge, Laura Stevens, and Philippe R. Doumic.
 Air France contest Air France is giving away two round-trip tickets in economy class from Japan to Paris. One audience member, chosen at random from among those who put in an Audience Award vote, will win a round-trip ticket for themselves and a companion of their choice (departing from Japan, from the same city, and bound for Paris).
Film and Audiovisual Market Following the festival, Unifrance is organizing the French Film and Audiovisual Market in Tokyo on March 23 and 24 at Shibuya Scramble Hall, in the heart of the Shibuya district. Around fifty Japanese buyers – as well as Korean buyers, for the audiovisual side – will be present to meet with French sellers exhibiting at the market. An opening cocktail party for the market will be held on Monday, March 23 at the Torque restaurant.
The companies present Audiovisual - About Premium Content
- Ampersand
- Arte Distribution
- CPB
- Federation International
- France tv distribution
- HARI
- Millimages
- NORMAAL
Film - Be For Films
- Best Friend Forever (BFF)
- Charades
- Gaumont
- Ginger & Fed
- Global Constellation
- Goodfellas
- Goodfellas Animation
- Indie Sales
- Kinology
- Le Pacte
- Logical Pictures international
- Losange Films
- Lucky Number
- mk2 films
- SND - Groupe M6
- STUDIO TF1
- The Pool Films
- Urban Sales
The French Film Festival in Japan is organized in collaboration with the Ambassade de France in Japan and the Institut Français in Japan. It benefits from the valuable support of d'agnès b., Tokyu Hotels & Resorts, CNC, PROCIREP, Sacem / Copie privée, Bunkamura, Eurospace, Shibuya MICE Association, Shibuya City Tourism Association, TitraFilm, and the City of Shibuya. Unifrance also thanks the patrons of the Unifrance Endowment Fund: Accor (Grand Patron), BNP Paribas (Patron), and Maison Pommery & Associés (Patron).
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French cinema honored at the 76th Berlinale
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French films and co-productions at the 76th Berlinale - Golden Bear: Yellow Letters by Ilker Çatak • French production company Haut et Court
- Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize: Salvation by Emin Alper • French production companies TS Productions, Meltem Films, and Gloria Films Production
- Golden Bear for Best Short Film: Someday A Child by Marie-Rose Osta • French production company Les Flaneurs Films
- Prize of the Guild of German Arthouse Cinemas in Competition: Yellow Letters by Ilker Çatak
- GWFF Best First Feature Award: Chronicles From the Siege by Abdallah Al-Khatib • French production companies Evidence Film & 2 Princes Film
- FIPRESCI Prize - Competition: Soumsoum, The Night of the Stars by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun • French production company Pili Films
- FIPRESCI Prize - Panorama: Narciso by Marcelo Martinessi • French production company La Fabrica Nocturna Cinéma
- Generation 14plus: Crystal Bear for the Best Film and Grand Prix of the International Jury for Best Film: Chicas tristes by Fernanda Tovar • French production company Promenades Films
- GWFF - Special Mention: Forêt ivre by Manon Coubia • French production company Aurora Films
- Panorama Audience Award - Prize Winner Documentary (Second Place): The Other Side of the Sun by Tawfik Sabouni • French production company Habilis Productions
- Teddy Award for Best Short Film): Taxi Moto by Gaël Kamilindi • French production company Saule Productions
- Special Teddy Award: Céline Sciamma
 Marie-Rose Osta, director and producer of Someday A Child, Golden Bear for Best Short Film The full awards list can be found here.
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French short films tour the world: February 2026
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We throw the spotlight on French short films that traveled in February to three international festivals supported by Unifrance.
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🏆 Awards for French short films 🏆 ➡️ At the Berlinale, two French works received awards: - The Golden Bear for a Short Film went to Someday A Child by Marie-Rose Osta.
- The Teddy Award for a Short Film went to Taxi Moto by Gaël Kamilindi.
➡️ In Brussels, Anima, devoted to animation films, honored five French works: - The Grand Prix Anima for Best International Short Film was awarded to To the Woods by Agnès Patron.
- The Award for Best Short Film for Children went to Éric Montchaud's J'ai trouvé une boîte.
- Autokar by Sylwia Szkiłądź received the Best Belgian Short Film Award.
- La Petite Reine blanche by Mathieu Georis and Théo Hanosset, was awarded the Grand Prix for Best Short Film of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.
- The Best Animation Award was given to The Great Dreamscape by Rémi Durin.
✈️ Participants who received travel funding ✈️ Alpha Diallo accompanied his film Souls of Fouta to the Berlinale in Germany. He shared his enthusiasm with us: "I return very satisfied from the Berlinale for the world premiere of my short film The Souls of Fouta. I was especially amazed by the organization where each screening (five in total) took place in magnificent venues, with alert audiences and Q&As after each session. The organizers really made me and my team feel welcomed, and ensured that each screening was a magical moment, giving the film team a real opportunity to explain how the film was made, from the script writing to the end of post-production. Also, it allowed me to meet actors from both short and feature films through various festival events. A real boost for the next stage of my career. I was also able to participate in an international competition and thus meet other directors from around the world. A great opportunity to also see how projects are developed depending on the country of production." 
🔹 All the selections 🔹 The month of February was marked by a rich selection of French short films programmed in three partner festivals.
🇳🇱  In the Netherlands, the International Film Festival Rotterdam presented 10 French short films. Tiger Awards Competition - I am a River by Heidi Piiroinen
- Cul-de-sac! by Clyde Gates and Gabriel Sanson
- Home Is Where the Heart Is by Timothée Engasser
- The Tragic Movement of the Spheres by Simon Rieth
- Like Moths to Light by Gala Hernández López
Shorts and medium-length features - Tamashi by Ashima Shiraishi and Jess X. Snow
- Red Bolero by Ángela Molina
- Branches from Concrete by Zhou Zhenyu
- La Smorfia by Jean-Claude Ruggirello
- Suddenly Summer by Axelle Vinassac
🇩🇪  In Germany, at the Berlinale, five French shorts were presented. Berlinale Shorts - Kontrewers by Zuza Banasińska
- Les Juifs riches by Yolande Zauberman
- Souls of Fouta by Alpha Diallo
- Taxi Moto by Gaël Kamilindi
- Someday A Child by Marie-Rose Osta
🇧🇪  In Belgium, Anima was notable for a strong French presence, with 43 short films selected. International Competition - To the Woods by Agnès Patron
- Sulaimani by Vinnie Ann Bose
- S the Wolf by Sameh Alaa
- Life With an Idiot by Theodore Ushev
- Kosmogonia by Karolina Chabier
- God is Shy by Jocelyn Charles
Short Film Programs for Children - Cloud Fish by Noé Garcia
- J'ai trouvé une boîte by Éric Montchaud
- The Legend of the Hummingbird by Morgan Devos
- The Day I Licked a Pebble by Flavie Eliézer, Chloé Bernuchon, Goli Atefi, Maud Kolasa, Nathan Jauze, and Marie Pijollet
- Polo sans bobo by Sophie Castaignede
- Tumbleweed by Johanna Bouaouiche, Louis Creuzet, Marie Hareux, Wilson Hinh, Arthus Mariet, and Masha Moran
National Competition - Autokar by Sylwia Szkiłądź
- My Name is Lilith by Leo Luna Robert-Tourneur
- Like a Beast by Bruno Tondeur
- La Petite Reine blanche by Mathieu Georisand Théo Hanosset
Student Short Films in International Competition - Niccolò by Clémentine Di Prizio, David Florian, Axelle Granet, Sirui Liu, Hugo Michalet, and Njolai Pachomius
- Gauze by Noran Fikri Alezabi, Nicholas Arujah, Xinyue Ma, Yulin Yue, and Xiaonan Zhou
- Zootrope by Léna Martinez
- Tête de linotte by Paul Charff
- The Rossini Garden by William Burger, Siméon Jacob, Odelia Laine, Garance Mondamert, Tara Rewal, Mathilde Vergereau, and Arthur Wong
Animated Night - A Little More Action by Alexis Beaumont
- Carcassonne-Acapulco by Marjorie Caup and Olivier Héraud
- Craque ganache by Etienne Bonnet
- The Seniors by Axelle Fuset, Boris Boidron, Fanny Ghesquiere, Lucile Brunet, Jérémy La, Lauren Félines, Maëlys Guillemoteau, and Manuel Mabayog
- Mise en culture, récolte et dispersion des épines by Jeanne Girard
- Mon algorithme à moi by Balázs Turai and Benjamin Efrati
- Not the TV by Diego De Faria
Real-life Stories - L'Horizon du bout du nez by Etienne Bonnet
- Un septembre en 2001 by Thomas Heath
- Sixty-Seven Milliseconds by fleuryfontaine, Galdric Fleury, and Antoine Fontaine
New Talents - Les Dernières Braises by Léa Pulini
- L'Oeuf noir by Ousmane Cissé
- Look, Said the Dog by Matis Inserra
Horror Show - Gone Wrong by Anne-Linh Jérôme, Ambre Butel, Roman Saunier, Maxime Arnould, Juliette Houël, Adrian Villeda, Alisson Colombe, and Ylan Dinguidar
- The Fall by Maxime Tevissen, Tom Alcamo, Hugo Hannache, Dylan Cam, Alexandre Velves, Titouan Kervajan, and Yaëlle Alberti
Girls, Girls, Girls - In the shade of the sheets by Lina Saïdani
- Du monde au balcon by Elya Ehni
- Water Girl by Sandra Desmazières
- Long Distance by Iulia Voitova
RVB.JPEG - Ordinary Life by Yoriko Mizushiri
- Um by Nieto
Queer Stories - The Highnesses of Angoulême by Géraldine Leglise, Léa Reyes-Lovio, Pierre Bourhis, and Charlène Debat
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Appel à candidatures / Prix du Distributeur de court-métrage 2026
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Un appel à candidature a été lancé auprès des sociétés de distribution de court-métrage ayant un minimum de 10 courts français à leur catalogue, pour qu’elles présentent dans un bref dossier écrit (10 à 15 pages) l’historique de leur société ainsi qu’une à trois études de cas de films français distribués à l’international sur l’année 2025. Ces études de cas viseront à présenter les stratégies mises en place, les moyens déployés sur l’année, la ligne éditoriale et tout élément souhaité par les sociétés. Chaque candidat sera ensuite reçu pour un entretien de 30 minutes avec le jury, fin avril. Le Prix du Distributeur de court-métrage sera ensuite remis à l’occasion du Festival de Cannes, lors de la remise des Prix Unifrance. Le Prix du Distributeur de court-métrage est doté par Unifrance de 3000 euros et d'une carte blanche par La Fête du court métrage.
Le jury est composé de trois professionnels : - Melen Bouëtard-Peltier, ventes TV et Inflight à The Party Film Sales
- Cécile Cadoux, responsable de la programmation au Festival du Film de Belfort - Entrevues
- Marine Gaillard, chargée de diffusion au Pôle Cinéma et Série à l’Institut français
Le planning : - Appel à candidatures le 3 mars 2026
Dossiers à envoyer à courtmetrage@unifrance.org - Clôture de la réception des dossiers le vendredi 10 avril 2026
- Entretiens avec le jury fin avril
- Remise du Prix lors du Festival de Cannes
Pour toute question - Votre contact chez Unifrance : Laurence Reymond laurence.reymond@unifrance.org
- Votre contact chez La Fête du Court Métrage : Mathilde Sotoca coordination@lafeteducourt.com
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International box office results
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International press roundup
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International press roundup: February 2026
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What does the international press have to say about French films and audiovisual works? Here is a broad overview of the articles we've collected for the month of February 2026.
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On the audiovisual front The Montmartre series will be broadcast in the United States by MHz, Deadline announced.
➡️ Read the article online 
The Daily Television reported on the Coming Next from France initiative that Unifrance will present at the upcoming Séries Mania.
➡️ Read the article online
Drama Quarterly focused on the series Il était une fois, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Franck Tilliez, and published an Interview with the series' producer, Malika Abdellaoui.
➡️ Read the article online
And Animation Magazine announced that the series Ewilan's Quest has broken records on Yokoo, France Télévisions' streaming platform aimed at younger viewers.
➡️ Read the article online
France tv distribution presented the series Sorority at the London TV Screenings we could read in Señal News.
➡️ Read the article online 
On the festivals and awards front Cinecittà News gave us a taster of the Rendez-vous – Nuovo cinema francese in Rome with the announcement of the opening film.
➡️ Read the article online  From Australia, the Region Canberra announced "the nation's biggest film festival," the 37th The Alliance Française French Film Festival
➡️ Read the article online
German magazine The Spot Media & films informed us that Daniela Elstner, Executive Director of Unifrance, was elevated to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor.
➡️ Read the article online
And in Spain, Kinótico reported on the films awarded at the César 2026.
➡️Read the article online 
And in foreign movie theaters… "Albert Camus' daughter was satisfied with my film adaptation," François Ozon declared to the Croatian weekly Nacional, for the release of his film The Stranger.
➡️ Read the article online
In Italy, My Movies highlited At Work, Valérie Donzelli's film out on release in the country at the beginning of March.
➡️ Read the article online  "This film gave me a feeling of freedom," Amélie Bonnin told the Polish Press Agency on the occasion of the release of Leave One Day in Poland.
➡️ Read the article online
"David Lynch is the only psychoanalyst I need," Rebecca Zlotowski stated in an interview published in the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter for the release of A Private Life.
➡️ Read the article online
We end with the release in Spain of the film Orwell: 2+2=5 and the glowing review published El País, "a captivating and terrifying documentary."
➡️ Read the article online 
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