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At the panel titled "Focus France: Success Stories. The Legacy of Police Crime on French Television," held on Wedensday, June 18 at Conecta Fiction & Entertianment, some notable French Studios discussed about the success of French procedural and crime stories.  Moderated by Charline De Lepine, CEO & Executive Producer at Macondo, the discussion featured industry leaders Nadia Chevallard (SVP International Sales, Studio TF1), Jean-Michel Ciszwenski (Head of Special Operations, Fédération Studios), and Catherine Gaucher (Manager of international fiction coproductions & acquisitions, France Télévisions).

The conversation illuminated the reasons behind the enduring popularity and international success of French crime dramas. Jean-Michel Ciszwenski offered particularly insightful commentary on the genre's versatility and appeal. He highlighted "True Story" as a prime example of a successful collaboration with France Télévisions Centre, a series based on a real-life account of a serial rapist. This demonstrates a clear trend in French productions: drawing inspiration from real events to create compelling narratives.

Ciszwenski also touched upon the adaptation of established brands, citing a contemporary take on an Agatha Christie classic, showcasing the industry's ability to reimagine beloved stories for a modern audience. He emphasized the prevalence of "procedural, digital type of content" and mentioned other successful series like Logout, Follow, Samber.

When asked about the genre's inherent appeal, Ciszwenski offered a philosophical perspective. He stated that crime serves as a "test to open to something different" and an opportunity to "show a different type of universe." The universal familiarity with the concept of crime allows for broad adaptability, making it a "very basic concept" that can be tailored to "any type of situation." This inherent flexibility, he argued, is what makes crime so consistently interesting.

Ciszwenski further elaborated on this idea by teasing an upcoming show set in the world of aesthetic surgery, where a crime unfolds within that unique environment. This exemplifies his belief that "crime is always interesting to go anywhere we want," underscoring its capacity to explore diverse settings and themes. He concluded his insightful contribution by asserting that "crime is much more than just crime. Crime is a launch to society," a profound observation that resonated with the audience.