Following a record-setting streaming launch on public platform France.tv in August 2026, documentary banner Seventine—the factual production and distribution arm of Sixtine Studio—is rolling out its debut feature, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc: La Course de leur vie (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc: The Race of Their Lives), across international markets.
Here, Seventine Head Julie Tolza details the project’s journey, international pre-sales, and the evolving dynamics of global documentary distribution.
Q: Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc: La Course de leur vie is the first documentary produced by Seventine. How did this project come together?
Julie Tolza: It’s really our first baby, entered into development right as we launched the company in 2024. The UTMB Group had wanted a definitive documentary about the race for years and granted us total access, allowing us to build a rich narrative framework. In total, it took a little over two years of work—shooting during the 2025 edition and delivering the film just before summer 2026. France Télévisions deployed a digital-first strategy launching late August, where it set a historic record for a documentary premiere on France.tv.
Q: Was an international strategy embedded into the project from day one?
Julie Tolza: Absolutely. Today, securing international co-financing is essential to pulling off an ambitious project, both in early development and for finished sales. We secured early pre-buys from RTBF in Belgium, RTS in Switzerland, TVP in Poland, and Radio-Canada Explora. We are currently in active discussions for additional territories and are finalizing an agreement with SBS in Australia.
Q: Which territories represent your primary growth targets for upcoming sales?
Julie Tolza: Europe remains our main market, so there are still key territories to unlock, including Italy, Spain, and the Nordics. Having already secured North America and Australia, we are focusing on Asia, with Japan standing out as a vital strategic partner.
Q: How did you adapt a film originally designed for France Télévisions to fit global broadcast requirements?
Julie Tolza: The original cut produced for France Télévisions runs 90 minutes. For international distribution, we produced a streamlined 52-minute English-language version, which aligns much better with global programming slots. We also carefully selected character arcs that resonate beyond a purely French perspective. The race’s growing global media profile this year provided significant momentum that we were able to capitalize on.
Q: French international sales have slowed in recent years. How do you view current market shifts?
Julie Tolza: The global bottlenecks closely mirror what we are experiencing domestically in France. Public broadcasters are facing funding reductions and becoming risk-averse, while commercial networks are hit by advertisers shifting budgets toward platforms like YouTube. As a result, all major players face tight budget constraints. Decision-making cycles have lengthened considerably, and up-front development investments are drying up. Broadcasters now prefer to wait for fully finished, highly polished films before committing. We are all navigating these same market headwinds.