The 30th edition of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous concluded on a high note in Le Havre, last September, according to Sarah Hemar, Audiovisual Director. Despite the logistical challenges of relocating the event from Biarritz, the event it exceeded expectations by blending business with cultural enrichment.
Themed events on the final day, such as the lunch hosted by About Premium Content featuring The Eclipse and the screening of the new Zorro series, were major highlights that reinforced the strength of French productions in global markets.
‘The relocation to Le Havre offered attendees a chance to discover the richness of northern France, with events like the regional celebration at Deauville’s Les Franciscaines cultural center’, Hemar told Prensario. She described the market’s success, noting, ‘we are very happy with the market… the event had a real ‘wow effect’. Hemar also mentioned that the event drew around 400 industry participants, ‘cementing Le Havre as a strategic location for future editions’.
Industry Feedback
The event allowed for meaningful exchanges, as said several attendees. Melissa Vega, Distribution Director at Folivari International, highlighted the importance of the Rendez-Vous: ‘It’s a spectacular window for exporters. Before MIPCOM and MIPJunior, this market provides a unique space for early deals’. Despite regional difficulties, Vega expressed excitement about confirmed sales, such as Portugal’s acquisition of the animated series Samuel.
Doris Vogelmann from VME Media also appreciated the event’s value for her channels: ‘The French have very good animations… visually, they are jewels’, she said, expressing her interest in acquiring more pre-school content, as well as animal documentaries and research series.
On the European front, Ines Pedoth from ORF2 WELTjournal in Austria valued the direct networking opportunities but remarked, ‘What I miss is in the evening, two or three places where you could meet in a bar’.
Meanwhile, Hyeo Jin Moon, Sales and Acquisitions Manager at Dandeloo, observed a trend toward purchasing documentaries. ‘Distributing animation is becoming more challenging due to declining birth rates and changing consumption habits. However, the timing of this event before MIPCOM allows for early glimpses into industry deals’.
Other buyers, such as Dominique Lombardi from RSI Radiotelevisione Svizzera, shared similar sentiments. Lombardi appreciated the structure of the event, using it primarily for screenings: ‘We always buy a lot of French documentaries’, she noted.
