France’s Far-Right Party Gains Historic Ground in European Vote; Prompts French President Emmanuel Macron to Call Early Parliamentary Elections

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Dominique Boutonnat, the president of the National Film Board, France’s most powerful film institution, has received a three-year prison sentence, including two suspended, over sexual assault charges. Boutonnat has stepped down from the CNC in the wake of the verdict on June 28 and is being replaced by Olivier Henrard, Variety has confirmed.

Sunny Side of the Doc, the world’s biggest documentary-focused marketplace in the world, wrapped its 35th edition Thursday, after gathering 2,100 participants over four days in La Rochelle, France.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Aiming to expand its footprint within the scripted space, Banijay Entertainment’s French label Screenline Productions has formed a creative partnership with the writers duo Matthieu Rumani and Nicolas Slomka. Screenline just collaborated with Rumani and Slomka on the series “Trash,” an upcoming Prime Videomini-series inspired by the real-life events of “Loft Story,” the French adaptation of “Big Brother” which marked the country’s first reality show of this kind in 2001.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Noaz Deshe‘s “Xoftex,” which has its world premiere July 1 in the Crystal Globe Competition of Karlovy Vary Film Festival, has debuted its trailer (below). MAD Solutions is attached as the film’s sales agent. “Xoftex” is Deshe’s second feature film.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Extinction,” the Malaysian-produced animation that is playing at the Shanghai International Film Festival, has struck its first international rights sales deals. The film was recently picked up by All Rights Entertainment, the Paris, Hong Kong and Los Angeles-based sales agency. All Rights has subsequently licensed the title to Magic Film for the CIS region, to Dazzler Media for the U.K., to Red Cape Distribution for Israel and to Bir Film for Turkey.

EXCLUSIVE: Israeli romcom drama series The Baker and the Beauty is being remade for France’s TF1, with French singer-songwriter Amir Haddad playing the lead in his debut TV role.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Trialed for alleged sexual assault on June 14, Dominique Boutonnat, the president of the National Film Board, France’s most powerful film institution, is facing a three-year suspended prison sentence. Boutonnat was indicted in February 2021 for the alleged sexual assault of his then 19-year-old godson in August 2020, during a vacation in Greece.

Michael Ouweleen, president of Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, a major force behind the rise of adult animation, has signalled at Annecy the company’s intention to ramp up its presence in Europe and international markets at large. “We very much want to see Adult Swim originals coming from anywhere in the world,” Ouweleen told Variety at the French festival. The stars are aligning for the overseas drive.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent The historic gains of the French far-right party Rassemblement National (National Rally, or RN) during the European elections on June 9 and French President Emmanuel Macron‘s shock decision to dissolve the National Assembly have not only propelled the country’s film and TV industry into a state of panic but are causing ripples across the economy. Boasting the second-biggest economy in Europe, France saw its stock exchange take a hit this week amid talks that Marine Le Pen‘s far-right party had a solid chance of performing strongly in the parliamentary elections set for June 30 and July 7.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Ankama, the French company behind the cult favorite adult animated feature “Mutafukaz” and video game franchises such as “Dofus” and “Wakfu,” has acquired a minority stake in Inthebox, a thriving Annecy-based animation studio. The alliance will allow Ankama to “fast-track its production pipeline and benefit from Inthebox’s expertise with different techniques, such as 3D animation,” Ankama’s co-founder Anthony Roux told Variety in a conversation with Inthebox’s co-founders Mathieu Marin and Madjid Chamekh (pictured).

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Françoise Hardy, a French singer, actor and model whose classical beauty and often melancholy music combined to transfix fans internationally in the 1960s and beyond, has died at age 80. Her son, Thomas Dutronc, also a musician, reported the death on his Instagram account, posting a baby photo of himself with his mother and writing: “Maman est partie.” Or, mom is gone.

It has been a high-profile 12 months for Mediawan Kids & Family thanks to subsidiary Method Animation’s involvement in the Ladybug & Cat Noir franchise, which has been enjoying box office success worldwide with a first feature film adaptation.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Eurozoom, a leading French distributor for Japanese animation, has forged a strategic partnership with major French animation producer Special Touch Studios, led by founder and CEO Sebastien Onomo. “We both share the same passion for animation and want to tell bold stories with a particular attention to professional diversity,” said Eurozoom’s CEO-Founder Amel Lacombe, who added that they were jointly working on a six-animation feature lineup. Leading the pack is “Melvile,” directed by Romain Renard and Fursy Teyssier.

Salma Hayek’s presence at major international events is indispensable, and she proved it once again during the state dinner organized by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron in honor of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to France.

French President Emmanuel Macron left his country reeling on Sunday after he dissolved parliament and called snap general elections in response to hefty gains by the far-right Rassemblement national (RN) party in European elections.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor The Warner Bros. Discovery sports portfolio has long been grounded in offerings from the major U.S. leagues.

Prince William 'stepped up' for King Charles at a poignant D-Day event on Thursday, after it was deemed "a step too far" for the King to attend amid his ongoing cancer treatment.

for an event commemorating D-Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. Their husbands, King Charles, 75, and President Macron, 46, were also present.

Prince William is set to step in for King Charles at a poignant D-Day event later today, after it was deemed "a step too far" for the monarch to attend amidst his ongoing cancer treatment.

lead the commemorative D-Day ceremony in honor of the 80th anniversary of the historic landings.The Prince of Wales, 41, touched down at Juno Beach in Normandy, France, Thursday morning where he met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.Normally, the King would be expected to attend the poignant events of the day, but as Charles is continuing his cancer treatment, his son — and the heir to the throne — is deputizing for him.Palace sources confirmed that Charles would be missing the international ceremony on the advice of doctors who are carefully monitoring his schedule.William is set to join forces with President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Omaha Beach event later in the day.Sources said that Charles is “delighted” that his son was able to step in for him on such an important occasion.“While His Majesty’s doctors are very encouraged with the progress made so far, the King is continuing with his treatment program — and thus we have to prioritize and protect his continued recovery,” an insider told the Mirror.“On that basis, each event/ day has to be carefully calibrated — and given the King’s other commitments on the day, it was advised that the international event later in the afternoon may be a step too far at this stage.”“He is of course delighted that the Prince of Wales will be attending to represent the nation,” the source added.Earlier Thursday, William attended the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the Juno Beach Center at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France.Proudly wearing five medals strapped to his chest, the future King delivered a poignant speech, saying he was “honored” to be there to pay respects to “the bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian