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Pitching French Films to India: A Sales Agent’s Practical Playbook from Unifrance

UUnknown

2026-02-16

10 min read

A practical playbook for French sales agents: adapt titles, marketing, localisation and pricing to win Indian deals post‑Rendez‑Vous 2026.

Hook: Why your French film won’t sell itself in India — and what to do about it

At Unifrance’s 28th Rendez‑Vous in Paris (January 2026) more than 40 French sales companies presented lineups to 400 buyers from 40 territories. Indian buyers were in the room, reaction data flowed back, and the message was clear: French films can find an eager audience in India — but only if sales agents adapt titles, packaging and pricing to local realities. If you’re a French sales agent wondering how to convert festival buzz into Indian distribution deals, this playbook gives you a concrete, field‑tested path to follow.

Executive takeaway — the play in one paragraph

Make your film legible, localised and commercially contextualised. That means: adapt the title and one‑line hook for regional buyers, present sharp localised marketing materials (multi‑language key art, region‑specific trailers, sample subtitles and a dubbed scene), price with flexible windows and revenue share options, and use fast, personalised follow‑ups after market screenings. These moves — informed by Rendez‑Vous buyer feedback and 2026 market trends — increase conversion rates with Indian broadcasters, OTT platforms and theatrical/curatorial partners.

Why 2026 is a pivot year for French films in India

Several developments in late 2025 and early 2026 changed the game for international sales to India:

Streaming platforms in India consolidated and diversified their international acquisitions teams, demanding sharper local fit from non‑Indian content.
Regional language uptake grew: audiences in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam markets now regularly consume subtitled/dubbed international films, not only Bollywood or Hollywood.
AI tools for translation and subtitle generation matured, shortening localisation lead times while raising expectations on quality and cultural nuance.
Exhibitors and curated cinemas (including festival programmers like MAMI and IFFI) are actively seeking festival‑premiered French titles that can anchor themed seasons.

These trends amplify the opportunity — and the need for targeted sales strategies.

What Indian buyers told us at Rendez‑Vous — distilled buyer insights

Clarity beats mystique: Buyers prefer a clear, compelling hook over arty ambiguity when it comes to programming or acquisition decisions.
Runtime matters: Indian theatrical buyers favour films under 120 minutes for wider commercial play; OTT may accept longer runtimes if the film has a strong episodic feel or star appeal.
Local language options are pivotal: A single English subtitle file is often insufficient — buyers want sample Hindi dubbing or at least Hindi subtitles, and signals of regional language readiness boost interest.
Star value and theme portability: Sales to India spike when films have a relatable emotional or social theme (family drama, social justice, comedy) or a lead with cross‑border recognition.
Flexible windowing & pricing: Buyers expect multiple commercial models (MG, revenue share, hybrid) rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all price tag.

Actionable Playbook — Step‑by‑step for sales agents

1. Rework the title and one‑line hook for India

Before sending screeners or pitches, prepare a tailored title and a punchy one‑line that shifts emphasis to local resonance. Examples:

Original: "Une Maison à Perdre" — India title: "House of Secrets" (shorter, genre signals a mystery/drama).
Original: "Les Années Douces" — India title: "A Mother's Promise" (highlights relational theme useful for family‑oriented programmers).

Include both the original title and the India variant in all materials so legal/marketing teams can cross‑reference.

2. Produce India‑ready marketing materials

Don’t rely on global assets alone. Buyers at Rendez‑Vous responded positively when sales agents showed regionally tailored posters, trailers and social cards. Prepare a pack that includes:

Two poster variants: one international art poster and one bold, colour‑forward poster that reads at thumbnail size.
Three trailer edits: 90s festival cut, 60s OTT promo and 30s social cut optimised for mobile viewing (prepare these edits with structured metadata and discoverability in mind; consider structured data for video and live assets so platforms can show the right badge or thumbnail).
Key stills with localized captions and cast bios with contextual notes on why the film matters to Indian viewers.
One dubbing sample (60–90s) into Hindi and/or a major regional language, produced to broadcast quality — even a high‑quality ADR sample impresses buyers.

3. Localisation checklist — subtitles, dubbing and cultural notes

Quality speaks louder than cost‑savings. Use professional translators with cultural expertise — AI can help draft but human review is mandatory. Your localisation pack should include:

Time‑coded subtitle files: SRT (English, Hindi) and VTT for OTT ingestion.
Closed captions with SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing).
One 60–90s dubbed extract with native voice talent and appropriate cultural tonality.
A short "localisation memo" explaining untranslatable cultural references and suggesting optional edits for Indian releases (e.g., changing a credit frame or adding explanatory wording in festival materials). Consider storing that memo as a sharable doc (compare tools for public docs when you need a quick, editable supplier-facing page).

4. Packaging that answers buyer objections before they ask

Make it easy for Indian buyers to greenlight. Include a one‑page business case tailored to India:

Target audience segmentation (urban multiplex, metro OTT viewers, curated cinema, regional language pockets).
Comparable titles and their India performance (box office/streaming viewership where available).
Suggested release windows and marketing hooks (e.g., tie‑ins with festivals like MAMI or niche film weeks).
Monetisation options with projected revenue ranges under different models.

Tip: attach a compact one‑page business case (PDF/one‑pager) alongside your screener so buyers can forward a single file internally.

5. Pricing strategy — flexible, evidence‑based and tiered

Rendez‑Vous buyers want options. Offer a clear matrix of commercial proposals rather than one fee. Structure your pricing play like this:

Option A — Minimum Guarantee (MG): Higher MG for theatrical + exclusive OTT window. Suitable for films with festival acclaim and marketable hooks.
Option B — Hybrid MG + Revenue Share: Lower MG with 50/50 streaming revenue share after recoupment for titles lacking strong box‑office certainty.
Option C — Non‑Exclusive OTT License: Lower flat fee for AVOD platforms or aggregators that need catalogue depth.
Option D — Festival & Theatrical Only: Shorter exclusive theatrical window followed by SVOD/AVOD options, attractive to curators and art‑house chains.

In 2026, use recent viewership comparables and local market data to justify MGs. Buyers responded well when agents paired pricing matrices with recent market notes and local performance benchmarks.

6. Negotiation tips specific to India

Lead with flexibility — be open to mixed deals (MG + back‑end) especially for regional OTT platforms.
Be prepared to unbundle rights by language or platform (theatrical Hindi vs. OTT Tamil) — Indian distributors often acquire language‑specific rights.
Include clear terms on marketing contribution; many Indian buyers expect some co‑marketing support from rights holders.
Fast turnarounds matter: offer a short delivery timeline for localisation to close deals quickly (this is where a meeting automation workflow helps).

7. Post‑market sales cadence — convert interest into contracts

Follow up within 48 hours of a screening. Use a disciplined sequence:

Day 1: Thank you note + link to screened file + India one‑pager.
Day 3: Localised trailer + 60s dubbed sample.
Day 7: Offer of three commercial options and recommended release window.
Day 14: Personalized call to discuss objections or craft a bespoke package.

Automate reminders but keep messages personalised. Rendez‑Vous buyers reported higher responsiveness to agents who shared immediate, India‑tailored assets rather than generic follow‑ups — pairing this with a simple meeting ops flow can cut the time to contract.

Packaging examples and templates you can use

Pitch email template (short)

Subject: India‑ready: [Film Title] — 90s trailer, Hindi dub extract & pricing options

Hello [Buyer Name],

Thanks for joining our Rendez‑Vous screening. Attached is a 90s India‑cut trailer, a 60s Hindi‑dub extract and a one‑page India business case outlining three pricing options (MG, hybrid, non‑exclusive). Based on your slate, we believe [Film Title] fits [platform/chain] because [one sentence justification]. Can we schedule a 20‑minute call this week to explore terms? (If it helps, here’s a short checklist and a template for quick follow‑ups.)

Best,

[Agent Name] — [Company]

Localisation memo template (bullets)

Untranslatable idioms and suggested alternates
Potential cultural sensitivities and proposed captions
Recommended voice talent profile for Hindi and Tamil dubbing
Suggested festival windows and regional partners

Measurement: KPIs to track for India deals

Track the following to sharpen your approach over time:

Lead conversion rate (meetings → offers → deals) specifically for India.
Average time from first contact to contract.
Revenue per territory split by model (MG vs revenue share).
Viewership and retention metrics reported by OTT partners post‑release.
Cost and ROI of localisation (dubbing/subtitles/marketing assets).

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Pitfall: Sending only festival assets. Fix: Always include India‑cut trailer and dubbed sample.
Pitfall: One‑size pricing. Fix: Offer 3‑4 commercial packages and be ready to unbundle rights by language/platform.
Pitfall: Overreliance on AI subtitles without QC. Fix: Use AI for speed but employ human cultural reviewers and native speakers.
Pitfall: Late delivery of localisation. Fix: Have a localisation pre‑plan and budget to execute within 2–4 weeks post‑deal.

Case studies and quick wins from Rendez‑Vous (anecdotal)

At the 2026 Rendez‑Vous, a mid‑budget French drama with limited star power closed a deal with an Indian OTT after the sales agent supplied a Hindi dubbed scene and a compact India business case within 48 hours. Another sales agent pivoted a poetic title to a more explicit English/India variant and found immediate traction with festival programmers in Mumbai and Bengaluru — both offered short theatrical runs that created streaming demand later.

"Indian buyers rewarded clarity and speed — the titles and packages that did best were the ones that made it easiest to see how the film would perform locally." — Market observer summarising Rendez‑Vous feedback

Advanced strategies for 2026 and beyond

As acquisition patterns evolve, consider these advanced levers:

Data‑backed targeting: Use platform data (where available) to show comparable titles’ performance among Indian audiences when negotiating MGs.
Co‑commission opportunities: Approach Indian OTTs early with co‑commission or co‑distribution models, especially for cross‑cultural stories that can be adapted or localized — these deals require creative event and monetisation playbooks.
Hybrid festival strategies: Coordinate theatrical festival windows in India with OTT acquisition timelines to maximise visibility and price leverage.
AI‑assisted hyper‑localisation: Use AI to generate multiple subtitled/dubbed variants rapidly, then human‑refine the top versions for regional markets.

Final checklist before pitching any French film to India

India‑adapted title and one‑line hook
90s India‑cut trailer + 60s social edit
Sample Hindi/major regional dub (60–90s)
Time‑coded SRT (English, Hindi) and VTT files
One‑page India business case with pricing options
Fast delivery pledge for localisation and DCPs
Follow‑up cadence and scheduling availability for calls

Conclusion — why this approach works

Indian buyers at Rendez‑Vous were clear: they want international films that have been thoughtfully prepared for their market. Preparation reduces friction — it shortens negotiation time, increases buyer confidence and ultimately improves your pricing leverage. By combining creative localisation, tiered commercial models and fast, personalised follow‑ups, French sales agents can convert festival interest into sustainable distribution in one of the world's fastest‑growing content markets.

Call to action

If you’re preparing your slate for India after Rendez‑Vous, start with a single film: create the India pack (title variant, trailer, 60s dub, SRTs and one‑page business case) and test it with two buyers — one OTT and one festival/curator. Track responses, refine, and scale this template across your catalogue. Need a ready‑made India localisation checklist or a pitch email template you can adapt? Contact our editorial team at indiatodaynews.live for downloadable templates and a brief consultation on pricing strategy tailored to your film’s profile.

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