The 31st Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre has completed its first three days, marked by a record-breaking export report, major deals, and a full schedule of business. The event, which will run through the end of the week, has solidified its position as a key gathering for international buyers and French content distributors.

The proceedings began on Monday evening with an opening ceremony at the MuMa – Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux. The reception was attended by key figures including Le Havre Mayor Édouard Philippe and Unifrance President Gilles Pélisson. Pélisson formally welcomed attendees, underscoring the event’s importance. ‘The Rendez-Vous is a vital meeting point for the international television and film industries’ he stated. Meanwhile, Mayor Philippe highlighted the significance of the MuMa, describing the museum as a symbol of the city’s resilience. ‘The MuMa stands as a symbol of our city’s resilience and a beacon of cultural excellence’.

On Tuesday, the market officially opened at the Carré des Docks, with Unifrance and the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) presenting their annual report on French audiovisual program exports. The report revealed a record-setting year, with total export value reaching an all-time high of €401.2 million in 2024.

‘Despite a challenging international climate, the strength of French content is evident, with total exports reaching a record high’, said a spokesperson for the CNC. The report indicated that this performance was largely due to a significant rebound in foreign pre-financing, including co-production contributions that grew by nearly 60% and pre-sales that more than doubled.

Yesterday, despite rain across Le Havre, the business schedule continued unabated. Distributors and producers emphasized the growing importance of international co-productions in today’s market. According to one industry executive, the shift has become a strategic necessity. ‘International partnerships have become a necessity rather than an option for competing globally’, most of the exec noted during morning discussions.

The evening’s events concluded with a cocktail reception at the Palais Bénédictine in Fécamp, hosted by Hervé Morin, President of the Normandy Region. The historic venue provided a unique backdrop for networking, with Mr. Morin inviting attendees to consider the region for future projects. ‘Normandy is a wonderful destination for productions due to its spectacular landscapes, cultural heritage, and incentives’.

In terms of deals and market debuts, the event saw several significant deals and program debuts. In a key deal announced on Tuesday, Federation International sold Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s latest documentary, Nature – The Call for Reconciliation, to Germany’s ZDF and the Czech Republic’s Ceska TV. On the film's timely message, the creator commented on the urgency of climate issues. ‘I think we’re losing the fight against climate change today’, he said. ‘I see every day how complicated it is to do without fossil fuels in our lives’.

Additionally, the ecological thriller After Us, co-produced with Germany's ZDF, made its market debut. The series follows angry young activists who kidnap the children of corporate leaders to force a change in environmental policy. ‘We wanted to say with this series that, in our opinion, it’s a problem of today’, said creator Louis Aubert.

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