2020 French Export Award Winners Revealed

TV France International has unveiled the winners of its 16th Export Awards at the Rendez-Vous Biarritz 2020 across animation, documentary and fiction.

“This year again we are happy to recognize three companies that have demonstrated the talent and diversity of distributors in this country,” said Sarah Hemar, executive director, and Hervé Michel, president of TV France International. “These Export Awards give us the opportunity to highlight the remarkable work carried out by the distributors we support at TV France on a daily basis.

“It is also an occasion for us to remind you of the growing attractiveness of our French audiovisual productions which are traveling to even more different territories. In 2019, they generation financial flows of more than €325.3 million, up 18 percent in relation to 2018, at its third-highest level in the last 25 years, with historic sales records in animation and documentaries.”

The Export Award for animation went to Mediatoon Distribution for The Fox-Badger Family. Jérôme Alby, CEO of Mediatoon Distribution, said: “What a joy to see that the togetherness (of the Famille Blaireau Renard) exports so well. We are particularly happy and proud to receive this award. Congratulations to the Mediatoon teams. We would like to include Ève Tharlet and Brigitte Luciani, who wrote the original book, as well as France Télévisions, les éditions Dargaud, and the teams from Dargaud Media, Ellipsanime and Philm CGI. A massive thank you to all our partner broadcasters, rights holders and publishers, as well as the invaluable support of TVFI. Long live French creation! Long live exports!”

The documentary Export Award was presented to The Party Film Sales (ex. Doc & Film International) for Cinema Through the Eye of Magnum. Estelle De Araujo, head of TV sales at The Party Film Sales, said: “This adventure was very unique. Photography documentaries are not the easiest to export but here, with a close and trustful relationship with the production team, we manage a long term business strategy. And thanks to the trust of our clients and festivals, we have been able to multiply the possibilities between TV and an important network of VOD partners. So thanks a million! You all made
this film become a reference when we talk about photography or cinema documentaries!”

Federation Entertainment won the fiction Export Award for The Bureau. Monica Levy and Jean-Michel Ciszewski, co-directors of international sales at Federation Entertainment, said: “Proud and happy! To receive this award and distribute this phenomenal series. Five seasons, 50 episodes, an unprecedented success with international audiences, the market and critics. Le Bureau des Légendes is the series that has all the superlatives and earns respect wherever it goes. The incredible talent behind this cult series combined with the sales efforts made this award possible.”