Held annually, Le Rendez-Vous Unifrance has consolidated its role as a strategic marketplace and networking platform, bringing together international buyers, journalists, distributors, talents and creatives to showcase the vitality, diversity and export strength of French audiovisual production.
Despite a still-fragile global audiovisual ecosystem, French content continues to demonstrate remarkable international resilience. In 2025, France confirmed its position as the leading non-English-speaking European country for audiovisual exports, ranking among the top nations worldwide for international circulation across cinemas, linear television and SVOD platforms. French productions accounted for 6.9% of foreign initial broadcasts on international TV channels, placing France third overall after the US and the UK, and first among non-English-speaking territories. On SVOD platforms, nearly 3,000 French titles were released internationally in 2025, including more than 400 series, with fiction remaining the dominant genre. This strong export performance is increasingly driven by premium drama, light crime series, high-end adaptations and distinctive auteur-led projects.
On the occasion of the event, FormatBiz took part in the official press junket sessions held from January 17 to 19, meeting in person with actors, writers, directors and producers behind some of the most successful and anticipated French series currently travelling the world.
From long-running international hits to ambitious new dramas and literary adaptations, the selected titles offered a comprehensive snapshot of France’s current scripted and documentary output.
Below is an overview of the key series and programmes presented during the press meetings.
Astrid et Raphaëlle / Bright Minds – Season 6
One of France’s strongest international drama exports of the past decade, Astrid et Raphaëlle continues its global success with a sixth season. Mixing crime investigation with character-driven storytelling, the series centres on the unlikely partnership between Astrid, a brilliant archivist on the autism spectrum, and Raphaëlle, a seasoned police commander. Formatbiz met the main actress Sara Mortensen and Benoit Michel (see the full video interview on instagram).
Winner of the Unifrance TV Export Award 2025, the series is now sold in more than 100 territories, confirming its exceptional cross-cultural appeal.
Erica – Season 2
Based on the bestselling novels by Camilla Läckberg, Erica blends Nordic noir atmospheres with French storytelling sensibilities. The second season deepens its psychological and emotional layers while expanding the crime narrative. Formatbiz met Julie de Bona and Grégory Fitoussi, the main protagonists (see the video interview on Instagram).
Already sold across Europe and North America—and notably adapted locally in Italy for Mediaset—the series exemplifies the growing trend of transnational literary IP adaptation.
Montmartre
Set in late 19th-century Paris, Montmartre is an ambitious historical drama that combines family mystery, social struggle and the vibrant world of early cabaret culture. Formatbiz met the main actress Alice Dufour playing the role of Céleste (see the video interview on Instagram).
Through the journey of a young cancan dancer searching for her lost siblings, the series explores class, identity and female emancipation in Belle Époque France.
Privilèges
An HBO Original, Privilèges offers a dark, contemporary thriller set behind the scenes of a luxury Parisian palace hotel. At its core is a power struggle between ambition, social reinvention and moral compromise. Formatbiz met Manon Bresh and Melvil Poupaud.
Les Saisons / Seasons
Directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Nicolas Maury, Les Saisons is an intimate, long-term love story spanning more than thirty years. Beginning in the summer of 1991, the series traces the emotional evolution of its characters across decades, blending romance, nostalgia and generational change. Formatbiz met Lucas Bravo (Emily in Paris), Abraham Wapler, Stéphane Caillard and Nicolas Maury, writer and actor (Call my agent).
Surface
Adapted from the bestselling novel by Olivier Norek, Surface is a tense psychological thriller following a Paris police captain reassigned to a small town after a traumatic injury. When a decades-old disappearance resurfaces, the investigation becomes deeply personal.
Documentaries Spotlight
Chauvet, Humanity’s First Masterpiece
A visually striking documentary exploring the Chauvet Cave, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Combining science, history and cutting-edge research, the film reflects France’s continued strength in high-end factual storytelling.
Bruce Lee: Enter the Dragon
More than a biography, this documentary recontextualises Bruce Lee’s cultural and political impact, examining race, representation and power dynamics in global cinema. A timely and internationally resonant title, already sold across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
