Working With French Channels & Platforms

• This course has closed.

COURSE AND ONE-TO-ONE PROGRAMME

Overview

In December 2022, a historic Agreement was signed between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the French Republic on Cinematographic Co-Production. We were subsequently approached by Chrystel Poncet, a Canal + Veteran and consultant in Animation Content, to organise a two-day programme aimed at Irish producers, to help them understand the French Industry and look at possible avenues to co-produce Animation with partners from France.

We believe this programme will be of great benefit to our members and to the working relations between French and Irish Animation Studios.

This programme has been organised by Animation Ireland and Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet with the support of Coimisiún na Meán and Windmill Lane Studios.

What will this course cover?

DAY 1

• 9.00 AM Welcome & registrations
• 9.30 AM Workshop
• 11.00 AM Pause (coffee time)
• 11.15 AM Workshop
• 12.30 Noon Lunchtime
• 2.00 PM Workshop
• 3.30 PM Pause (coffee time)
• 3.45 PM Workshop
• 5.00 PM End

MORNING 

General information: the specificity of the French system 

• – investment obligations of channels (principles and amounts) 
• – national funds (CNC and its mechanisms, Regions, tax credit) 

1. Presentation of the French channels 

TF1, France Télévisions (France 3, France 5, Okoo, France Tv Slash), M6-Lagardère (Gulli, Canal j, Tiji), Canal + (Canal + Family, Piwi +, TéléTOON +), Arte, the AB channels (Mangas, Sciences et Vie Jr), TV5 Monde and the French Platforms (TFou Max, Gulli Max, My Canal, Bayam, M6 Replay, OCS, Ciné+Famiz, Benshi, ADN) 

Local US channels (Warner, Disney, Nickelodeon) and US platforms (Netflix, HBO Max, Disney +, Paramount +, Amazon, Crunchyroll) 

• Editorial line / Targets 
• Presentations of their emblematic programs (via website and extracts) Needs 
• Budget 
• Key people: who they are and how to approach them 
• Keeping up to date: main Newsletters

AFTERNOON

2. How to work with a French channel

– Co-production: where/when/how identify compatible French producers

• Examples of financing plans
• Professional association
• Markets

– Pre-sales

• What to expect from a sale: rights, territories, exclusivity, prices (linear and non-
• linear)
• Focus on French distributors
• Focus on licensing and merchandising agents
• Dubbing (principle and price)

3. The specificity of TV Specials = TV and Cinema programs

• – Co-producing channels
• – Cinema distributors
• – The financing plan
• – The window of rights

DAY 2

• 9.00 AM Welcome & registrations
• 9.30 AM Workshop
• 11.00 AM Pause (coffee time)
• 11.15 AM Workshop
• 12.30 Noon Lunchtime
• 2.00 PM One-to-One Sessions, Networking and tour of the studios
• 5.40 PM End

MORNING 

4. In meetings : The Material / The Pitch 

• – Before the meeting: how to get it 
• – The material to produce + the key points of an effective pitch bible – What the buyer wants to hear 
• – The follow-up 

+ a selection of case studies (companies/studios to be confirmed) 

AFTERNOON 

5. One to one meetings : case study of projects from Ireland producers (analysis and coaching) 

The one-to-one sessions will be a simulation of pitching to distributors/French channels: Chrystel will play the part of the buyer/funder and will give some brief feedback and advice about the participants’ project. She will offer some analysis and coaching in terms of content and key players to approach. She will not, however, look at any financial or legal matters related to the projects.

Please note that Chrystel will only be able to facilitate 6 one-to-one sessions of 30 min each.

Chrystel’s field of expertise (editorial and business affair) is more marked on the side of the key players, the contents, the coaching and she will not be able to go into details on purely financial or legal questions. She also may modify the program slightly to fit the event.

Learning outcomes

The two-day programme aims to provide Irish producers with an understanding of the French animation industry and explore avenues for co-producing animation with French partners. The first day includes workshops on the French system of investment obligations, national funds, French channels, and platforms.

The afternoon session covers how to work with French channels, pre-sales, French distributors, licensing, merchandising agents, and dubbing.

The second day includes a workshop on how to pitch effectively to buyers and a one-to-one simulation session for Irish producers to pitch their projects to a French buyer/funder for analysis, coaching, and feedback.

Participant profile

This course is aimed at professionals and freelancers in the Animation industry with a current, valid address in the Republic of Ireland. Ideally, producers with a project in development that they would like to present to buyers/distributors at markets or to potential co-producers.

Tutor

With 28 years’ experience in international youth/teen/family content, Chrystel’s newest venture is MaGic C which was launched in 2019 with the desire to offer innovative programs and widen the scope of content available. What is the MaGic C? Chrystel of course but also: Creativity / Collaboration / Connection/Coproduction/Consulting/Content /Vitamin C! / C U soon! And of course Children! MaGic C also advises broadcasters/SVoD services and Governmental bodies in the deployment of their projects, offering creative solutions in the areas of editorial content, marketing, acquisitions/sales and business strategy. Clients include: the Bayard Group, the City of Marseille, Parmi les Lucioles Films, Hue Dada, Solidanim, Cartoon.

Chrystel has participated in the creation of SudAnim, the non profit organization of animation and video game professionals in the South Region of which she is General Secretary (www.sudanim.fr). She was also instrumental in bringing Cartoon Next to Marseille.

Chrystel is currently working as creative producer with several production partners that share her vision:

• Andarta Pictures with “Ewilan’s Quest” (France Tv) and “Baïdir”
• Maybe Movies for all their series, including “Calamity” and “Zombillenium”
• Millimages with “Virtual Past” (Canal +)
• Les Films du Tambour de Soie with “Tiki, a Polynesian legend” (France Tv)

Her first role in executive production is on “Wild, the series ” adapted from a famous French podcast, with Cocoribou Films. Chrystel is a regular attendee at major international market events and participates in festivals as a jury member and panelist.

Venue/location

Windmill Lane, 29 Herbert St, Dublin, D02 NH02

Costs/fee

Workshop €90

Workshop + One to One €125

Dates and times of the course

May 9th & 10th

Application process

Please note that if successful, the course fee is €90 but if you indicate an interest in a 1 to 1 when applying and you secure a slot, the total fee will be €125 and we will contact you about this separately.

Please click the “Apply” button below before Friday April 28th at 12pm to apply for a place on this course.