Unifrance's annual Rendez-Vous, the largest market for French-language television, opens next week in Le Havre for the third consecutive year, bringing French distributors together with international buyers. Unlike many industry markets, the event pairs formal screenings and dealmaking with a shared social programme, a format organisers say helps it stand out as broadcasters and streamers face tighter travel and programming budgets and attend fewer events overall.

Around 135 buyers are expected, roughly in line with last year, drawn mainly from Europe but including first-time attendees from Brazil and South Korea, alongside broadcasters such as RAI, RTVE, ZDF, Sky Italia and HBO. The city and Normandy region have become closely involved, hosting an opening party at Le Havre's Museum of Modern Art with Mayor Édouard Philippe and a closing event at Montivilliers Abbey with regional president Hervé Morin. This year France's National Cinema Centre (CNC) will provide additional export data alongside the usual annual figures, which in recent years have highlighted France's strength in "cozy crime" dramas such as Astrid et Raphaëlle and High Intellectual Potential, even as the country's traditionally strong animation sector shows signs of change.