Sarasota, Yokohama, Acapulco. These names come up again and again when we talk about Daniel Toscan du Plantier’s achievements at Unifrance.
Those who are well acquainted with our association will know just how highly valued these special shared moments are for each of the films presented at these festivals and for the international image of French cinema in general. For those who follow these events from a greater distance, because their films have not yet been presented, or because they feel that such events may go against their ethical principles, to whom such events amount to little more than glitter and bright lights, are obviously more difficult to convince. Daniel Toscan du Plantier was unflaggingly devoted to doing just that, along with us.
But Unifrance today is so much more than this showcase, and indeed what Daniel was most proud of was all the rest. Such as the painstaking daily work of building French films’ market share, little by little, in all territories across the world. 55 million spectators worldwide saw French films in 2002. With great enthusiasm, Daniel Toscan du Plantier predicted results for the near future more and more concentrated in the international arena than the domestic market, reflecting the current situation for Hollywood movies. And he was spot on, it won’t be long before we get there.
As well as an unconventional ambassador for French cinema, Daniel was the indefatigable captain of our small team, and he spurred us on, each in our particular role, to do our utmost. Now, of course, we will continue to do so. We will continue to accompany the commercial release of every film on the international circuit, we will continue to work side by side with all actors, producers, sales agents and distributors. We will continue to go out and meet with new audiences, particularly in the East, where the potential is considerable. We will continue to do so passionately, because one cannot bring films to the world without a passion for the cinema and for those who create it. We will carry on our work because Unifrance is an eminently useful tool envied by all the other national industries of the world. And we must increase joint efforts in the future, to ensure that independent cinema survives, is distributed and, at any rate, that it tells the story of the individual and collective adventures of societies who strive to be free.
We will continue to fight so that your films have a life outside our borders. And since Unifrance belongs to all of us, we will be calling on you even more than we have in the past. We know that you’ll be there when we do.
Véronique Bouffard, General Manager of Unifrance
