The 31st Unifrance Rendez-Vous, the world’s largest market dedicated to French audiovisual programs, is set to take place from September 1 to 5 in Le Havre. This year, the event will welcome nearly 150 buyers from 40 countries who will have the opportunity to discover over 500 audiovisual programs presented by 51 French distributors.
The event’s global reach is confirmed by the presence of delegations from all continents. While a large European delegation will be in attendance, buyers are also expected from the Middle East, Africa, North and South America, and Asia. Notably, the Rendez-Vous will welcome several first-time participants, including Quintus Studios (Germany), Televize Noe (Czech Republic), and Central Cooperation International Co Ltd (China). Longstanding partners such as RTS (Switzerland), ZDF (Germany), and the Markíza group (Slovakia) will also return.
Conferences, screenings, and awards
The event will feature a morning of conferences on Tuesday, September 2. Unifrance President Gilles Pélisson and Executive Director Daniela Elstner will open the morning, followed by a presentation on data and digital distribution by Pélisson and Médiamétrie CEO Yannick Carriou. A second conference will reveal the 2024 export figures for French audiovisual programs, co-presented by the CNC and Unifrance.
The market will formally open for meetings on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 2, at Carré des Docks. This year’s gala reception will honor the fiction series Vendetta, a Corsican family saga distributed by France tv distribution. The event will feature a screening of the first episode and a dinner with key cast members Thierry Neuvic and Vahina Giocante. The closing night on Thursday will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the beloved family series Barbapapa en famille!, distributed by FESTIVAAL Distribution.
Throughout the event, attendees will also get a sneak peek at several upcoming productions through exclusive screenings:
- The documentary Nature: The Call for Reconciliation (105′), directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and distributed by Federation International.
- The scripted drama series After Us (6×45′), starring Natacha Lindinger and François Berléand, and distributed by Mediawan Rights.
- Season 2 of the scripted drama series Escort Boys (6×45′), distributed by Wild Bunch TV.
The video library will open on Tuesday, September 2, with a morning dedicated exclusively to buyers, allowing them to view over 500 French programs. Each company has also highlighted a flagship program in the Screening Room, offering privileged visibility.
