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As the new year begins, Unifrance, with the support of the MEAE, CN, opens 2025 with its flagship event, the Rendez-Vous in Paris. Gathering over 500 buyers from across Europe, the event offers an exclusive preview of 90 French films and audiovisual works. This year's edition, hosted entirely under one roof at the Pullman Montparnasse Hotel, reflects the commitment of the Accor Group and their unwavering support. Simultaneously, the Sofitel Arc de Triomphe Hotel will host over 100 international journalists, providing them access to the creative minds behind more than 120 projects.

The Rendez-Vous opens at the recently renovated Pathé Palace cinema, a masterpiece of design by Renzo Piano. Here, the audience will enjoy the premiere of Grégory Magne’s latest feature, The Musicians. This musical inauguration continues the celebratory note left by The Marching Band, which closed 2024 with resounding success.

While global box-office figures experienced a downturn in 2024, French cinema stood resilient. Films such as Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre De La Patellière’s The Count of Monte Cristo, Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, and Laurent Bru and Yannick Moulin’s The Jungle Bunch: World Tour captivated audiences worldwide. Germany reclaimed its status as the leading market for French titles, with The Marching Band securing a promising start to 2025.

The year was also adorned with accolades. Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez received four Golden Globes, adding to its growing collection. Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance further cemented French cinema’s global footprint, alongside standout productions like Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light and Gints Zilbalodis’ Flow. Documentaries such as Mati Diop’s Dahomey and a vibrant selection of short films also garnered international acclaim. Unifrance eagerly awaits the Oscars nominations, though delayed due to unforeseen circumstances in Los Angeles.

With 253 French titles featured at the top 10 international festivals in 2024, the influence of French cinema continues to expand. Looking ahead, Unifrance is set to enhance its presence at European festivals through the newly launched Club Unifrance, a network of dedicated partners.

Despite challenges in animation and documentary production, Unifrance is optimistic about 2025. The organization remains committed to supporting French audiovisual works, responding to the evolving needs of industry professionals. By bolstering market initiatives in key countries, Unifrance aims to amplify the global reach of French programs.

This weeklong gathering also unveils the 10 to Watch 2025, a cohort of emerging talents representing French cultural diversity. These individuals will be championed by Unifrance throughout the year. Additionally, the 15th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival launches with an esteemed jury, including Zar Amir, Viggo Mortensen, and Noémie Merlant.

Unifrance will also honor Rebecca Zlotowski with the prestigious French Cinema Award, recognizing her visionary artistry and dedication to international cinema.