French Audiovisual Exports Rise 18 Percent

Revenues from the export of French content rose by 18 percent in 2019 to reach €325.3 million ($384.6 million).

The figures were released as part of the 26th edition of Rendez-Vous Bi@rritz by the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) and TV France International.

Last year, sales of French audiovisual program abroad gained 12.8 percent to €195.6 million ($231.2 million), while presales were up 7.6 percent and co-pros 44 percent.

Animation dominated at 40 percent of sales, rising 12.1 percent to €77.4 million ($91.5 million). Docs were up 44 percent to €44 million ($52 million), a new record for the sector. Drama slipped by 6 percent to €46.4 million ($54.8 million) but remains the second-biggest genre for exports from France.

“We can but be satisfied by these results which put us back on the track to growth and confirm out empirical observation of an increased appetite around the world for French programs,” said Hervé Michel, the president of TV France International. “At a time when consumption of content is stronger than ever everywhere, and on all devices, the audiovisual—if we need reminding—is a major asset in soft power and international competition.”

“Even though 2019 was a good year for exports of our productions, the pandemic hit the whole industry very hard,” added Dominique Boutonnat, president of the CNC. “We have taken exceptional emergency measures to help the sector and support our sales companies. The time has now come to get things started again, and exports and international activity are essential elements of this. Our objective is to strengthen the place of French works in all markets and on all platforms.”