🎥 At Red Sea, France Makes Its Case for Cultural Sovereignty
This is your French update, live from Jeddah.
Tuesday December 2nd • RED SEA FILM FESTIVAL SPECIAL ISSUE
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LE BIG STORY 📰
Red Sea 2025: In Jeddah, the Future of the Industry Takes Centre Stage
At the Red Sea Souk, CNC president Gaëtan Bruel joined three industry figures to assess how to make creative industries more resilient — and to defend the French model.
UN CAFÉ WITH ☕️
Red Sea 2025: How Superbe Films Is Expanding Its International Footprint
At the Red Sea Souk, founder Guillaume Benski outlines a strategy built on cross-border financing, early-stage partnerships and a steadily widening European and Middle Eastern network.
TOGETHER WITH LES ARCS FILM FESTIVAL
The countdown is on! Les Arcs Industry Village — one of Europe’s essential hubs for independent film production and financing — returns from December 13–16.
For its 17th edition, the event gathers a bold line-up of projects from early development to post-production, an inspiring program of talks and workshops, with a usual spotlight on music for screen with the Music Village program. All set against the stunning backdrop of the Alps.
Discover the full conferences program and projects selection.
FROM THE SOUK 🇸🇦
At the Red Sea Film Festival, Gaëtan Bruel (CNC) Reacts to Netflix’s Takeover of Warner Bros.
At a Red Sea panel on the future of the industry, CNC president Gaëtan Bruel warned that Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. could further weaken theatrical exhibition.
Red Sea 2025: How to Understand What the Market Wants
At the Red Sea Souk, distributors and producers dissected what still sells in a landscape shaped by consolidation, algorithmic influence and fragmented audiences.
Red Sea 2025: Singapore’s Hazelnut Media Launches the Legendia Film Festival
A new travelling festival dedicated to restored films and cinema legends aims to blend memory, innovation and global cultural exchange.
IN OTHER NEWS 🗞️
Paramount Global has struck back in the escalating battle over Warner Bros. Discovery, fueling speculation around a potential merger that could reshape the U.S. media landscape.
The European Broadcasting Union has launched ELLES, a new animated anthology spotlighting women’s stories from across the continent, aimed at fostering inclusivity in public broadcasting.
TV5Monde’s leadership is tapping a new generation of global executives to reposition the network as a major player in Francophone streaming and cultural diplomacy.
A new industry report shows how generative AI is shaking up the business of dubbing, raising both opportunities for scale and concerns over artistic integrity.
French VFX studio The Yard is solidifying its status as a global powerhouse, with major U.S. productions now accounting for a significant portion of its slate.
AI startups, new investors and shifting valuations are reshaping Paris’ tech ecosystem, positioning the city as one of Europe’s most dynamic hubs for creative AI innovation.
Sunny Side of the Doc has suspended its 2026 edition in La Rochelle, citing financial pressures and the need to rethink its future strategy in a tightening documentary market.
Toon Box, Xilam’s new kids’ label, has launched its own digital platform to distribute short-form animation directly to global audiences.
Pathé has appointed Ben Browning as co-president of production, signaling a stronger international push for the storied French studio.