The Festival de la fiction 2024: Discover the highlights of the Festival
Held in La Rochelle, the premier audiovisual event in France and Europe, and the first to recognize fiction as a major creative genre, the Festival de la Fiction has been showcasing works for more than 25 years.
The Festival de la Fiction offers the opportunity each year to discover nearly 60 series and TV films presented in official competitions (French, European, and International Francophone), out of competition, and in special screenings.
This 26th edition is chaired by Thierry Godard, who became well-known through the successful series Engrenages and Un Village Français. More recently, he has appeared in series like Oussekine, Germinal, and Cœurs Noirs.
The Festival de la Fiction de La Rochelle 2024
At the heart of creativity and francophone excellence
I am thrilled to cover the Festival de la Fiction de La Rochelle for the first time, from September 10 to 15.
This festival has become an essential event in the world of audiovisual creation.
In 2024, the festival promises to be more vibrant and committed than ever, under the banner of francophonie, inclusion, and innovation.
A festival of increasing creativity
The Festival de la Fiction de La Rochelle, the only festival in France entirely dedicated to creation, has become a vital institution in the industry.
With Stéphane Strano, the festival’s president since 2015, absent due to health reasons, Sophie Révil, producer and interim president for the 2024 edition, is taking the helm this year.
“Thanks to the dynamism and talent of its president Stéphane Strano, its director Pauline Herthault, and its head of programming, Lara Granat, The Festival de la Fiction has experienced absolutely spectacular growth,” she emphasized.
With 2,900 professionals and 15,000 spectators last year, the festival reaffirms its importance in promoting high-quality fiction.
This year’s festival embraces the values of this past summer’s Olympic Games, where athletes shone with their openness and excellence.
This unifying spirit drives the festival, which is preparing to welcome a new edition focused on francophonie.
Francophonie at the heart of the 2024 edition
The defense and promotion of the French language are central to the festival’s mission. For the first time, the festival will be an official partner of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie, which will take place in Paris in October.
An exceptional Café de la Fiction will also be organized by the festival at the Gaieté Lyrique in October.
“To create, innovate, and succeed in French” has always been at the core of the festival’s mission, establishing it as a key witness and actor in the dynamism of the francophonie.
La Rochelle will host various events to showcase francophone creation, with prestigious guests such as André Béraud from Radio-Canada, Jean-Paul Philippot from RTBF, and Indra Sierra, a Belgian director awarded last year.
Carole Villevet, head of the Europe and International Francophone Committee, the Grand Political Debate, and the Francophone Creation Meetings, will present a more francophone-focused competition than ever, featuring works from Quebec, Senegal, and other francophone countries.
She also highlighted current trends, notably the growing role of streaming platforms, but especially the high quality of series from French and European public channels, and the return of lightness in post-COVID series.
New features of the 2024 edition
The 2024 edition of the Festival de la Fiction de La Rochelle introduces three new elements to enhance the experience for attendees.
Public Awards in partnership with Télé Loisirs will reward three new prizes, the best series, the best TV film, and the best actors, further emphasizing the festival’s commitment to promoting works that resonate with the public.
Foreign Press Prize : A new Jury of Foreign Journalists, composed of Stefania Carini (journalist and Italian author), Noemi Jadouille (Belgian journalist), and Joao Antunes (Portuguese journalist), will award the Foreign Press Prize in partnership with Unifrance, adding an international dimension to the recognition of French works.
Cafés de la Fiction, informal meetings between producers and broadcasters, will be expanded, fostering exchanges and collaborations in a relaxed atmosphere. These cafés, now a central part of the festival, allow professionals to connect and discuss new projects.
Finally, this year’s master of ceremonies will be Antonia de Rendinger, a comedian with a mischievous elegance and rock ‘n’ roll flair, bringing a bold touch to the event.
Max & Disney+ events
This year, two major events will stand out at the 2024 edition of the festival, with the participation of the streaming platforms Max and Disney+.
For the first time, Disney+ will open the festival on Tuesday, September 10, with the screening of the series Les Enfants sont Rois. This series is an adaptation of the novel by Delphine de Vigan and will be attended by the actors Doria Tillier, Géraldine Nakache, and Oussama Kheddam.
The new platform Max will present the world premiere of its first French fiction series Une Amie Dévouée.
This series stars Laure Calamy and was written by Noé Debré. It is an adaptation of the novel La Mythomane du Bataclan by Alexandre Kauffmann. This event, scheduled for Thursday, is highly anticipated and highlights Max’s ambition to establish itself in the streaming market with original and high-quality content.
Scandinavian series in the spotlight
The European competition will this year spotlight the creativity of Scandinavian series, a field that continues to surprise with its diversity and innovation.
Among the six European series in competition, three come from Scandinavia:
- Behind Every Man (Denmark): This series plunges viewers into an intense confrontation between a chef and his second in the kitchen of a grand restaurant. The story promises a deep exploration of power dynamics and rivalry.
- Golden Years (Norway): A comedy that explores the life of an idealistic mother in the 1980s who decides to live in a cooperative housing community. This retro look at the quest for meaning and community is refreshing.
- Pressure Point (Sweden): Based on a true story from the 1990s, this series examines theatrical work as a means of reintegration for long-term inmates. This intense drama features captivating performances and a deeply emotional script.
A prestigious jury and exciting competitions
Thierry Godard, accompanied by a jury including Sonia Roland, Caroline Franc, Stéphanie Pillonga, Jérémy Nadeau, Bastien Burger, and Pauline Gigax, will evaluate the 23 French works in competition.
The international francophone jury, consisting of Indra Sierra, Sophie Deloche, and Yves Bigot, will review 8 francophone works and 6 European works.
Isabelle Dhombres and François Pélinard-Lambert, members of the official selection committee, expressed their enthusiasm for the works selected this year, highlighting the exceptional diversity and quality of the fictions.
They particularly emphasized the emergence of new talents, promising a refreshing renewal of actors and actresses.
More formats, more quality
Formats continue to diversify. Series are becoming shorter, both in terms of the number of episodes and their duration.
This trend is largely driven by the proliferation of European platforms, which are heavily investing in the genre.
However, it is worth noting that the most unique and original series this year come mainly from traditional channels, especially European public channels.
Among the five series selected in the international francophone competition, three are from Quebec:
- Fem: A societal series about a young man searching for his identity through music.
- Paris, Paris: A fantastical social comedy.
- Splendeur et Influence: A wildly satirical series that parodies reality TV.
Additionally, the festival will present the world premiere of Winter Palace, the first co-production between Netflix and Swiss public television, as well as a very authentic Senegalese series, Beauté Maudite, in both French and a local dialect.
Engaging debates
Debates will also be a highlight of this edition, with themes as pertinent as “What Hero for Our Society?”, “Public Audiovisual vs. Private Audiovisual: Sacred Union or Fierce Competition?”, moderated by Carole Villevet and François Pélinard-Lambert, and “How to Boost Francophone Co-production?”.
These discussions will bring together major audiovisual players to explore cooperation and competitiveness in the face of the growing power of American streaming platforms.
The importance of partners
Many partners support the festival. Among them, CNC, Sacem, TSF, and Unifrance play a crucial role in organizing events and supporting audiovisual creation.
Expected personalities and signing sessions
Here is an initial list of personalities confirmed for the festival:
Thierry Godard, Sonia Rolland, Géraldine Nakache, Doria Tillier, Laure Calamy, Camille Lou, Constance Labbé, Claire Romain, Alex Lutz, Dominique Besnehard, Noé Debré, Oussama Kheddam, Xavier Robic, Nicolas Gob, Julie Gayet, Cécile Bois, Odile Vuillemin, Hugo Becker, Pascal Elbé, Michael Youn, Christopher Thomson, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Guillaume Gouix, Blandine Bellavoir, Eye Haidara, Emilie Caen, Karole Rocher, Bruno Salomone, Olivier Rabourdin, Mouna Soualem, Tiphaine Daviot, Théo Marini-Costa, Julien Gaspar-Olivieri, Renaud Bertrand, Marc Fitoussi…
For the daily series present at meetings and signing sessions:
- Ici tout commence: Elsa Lunghini, Sabine Perraud, Lucien Belvès, Galaad Quenouillère.
- Demain nous appartient: Ingrid Chauvin, Luce Mouchel, Nelly Lawson, Mayel El Hajaoui.
- Plus belle la vie, encore plus belle: Anne Decis, Marie Hennerez, Johanna Boyer, Inaki Lartigue.
- Un si grand soleil: Marie-Gaëlle Cals, Lila Guiraud, Mélanie Maudran, Sylvain Boccara, Fabrice Deville, Moïse Santamaria.
