Ex-TF1 Boss Gilles Pélisson Talks New Role Promoting French Film & TV As President Of Unifrance – Paris Rendez-vous
19.01.2024 - 13:01
/ deadline.com
Former TF1 Group CEO and chairman Gilles Pélisson has gone through a baptism of fire this week in his new role of president at French film and TV promotional body Unifrance as he attends his first edition of its annual Paris Rendez-vous.
In its 26th year, the event has long been a must-attend event for cinema buyers looking for French films. More than 420 cinema buyers from 50 countries are attending this edition as 40 film sales companies unveil their French slates for 2024.
Since 2022, the event also features a TV market and screening program following Unifrance’s merger with TV France International in 2021.
Close to 50 French audiovisual distribution companies have been presenting animation, documentary, and fiction to some 100 European buyers for the third year.
Appointed in July, Pélisson took over from film critic and former French Cinematheque head Serge Toubiana as Unifrance’s first president hailing from the audiovisual world.
Deadline sat down with Pélisson and Unifrance driving force, managing director Daniela Elstner at the Paris Rendez-vous to talk about his arrival and international challenges and ambitions for French cinema in 2024.
DEADLINE: Gilles, you’re the first figure from the audiovisual world to take up the role of Unifrance president. What drew you to the role?
GILLES PÉLISSON: I’ve had two professional lives. One in the tourism world, where I was the chairman and CEO of Accor hotels. This led me to travel all around the world and learn about new cultures as well as the way in which people look at the French.
I then worked for Disney [as CEO of Disneyland Paris] which led me into the creative world and connected me with movies and television. At TF1, I was involved in producing movies and