BAC Films

Overview

BAC Films is a Paris-based independent film distributor and international sales agent operating from 88 rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris. The company has distributed approximately 420 films since its founding and has seen 7 BAC-labeled films win the Palme d'Or at Cannes. BAC Films operates as a multi-mandate, multi-label distributor with three core business lines: theatrical distribution in French cinemas, television sales to broadcast channels, and video distribution (physical and digital). The company also operates as an international sales agent, representing films at major markets.

Since the pandemic, BAC Films had been focusing on 4 to 5 acquisitions per year. As of 2025, the company is shifting to a more aggressive acquisition strategy, aiming to nearly double its annual acquisitions to 7 to 8 titles per year. Vincent Llobell leads the company's acquisition strategy, with Florestan La Torre as Director of Acquisitions and Pauline Cheneau as Acquisitions Manager. The company's phone number is +33 1 53 53 52 56.

BAC Films targets first and second features and new arthouse auteurs, both French and international. For filmmakers with debut or early-career work seeking French theatrical distribution and international sales representation, BAC Films provides both services through a single relationship. Contact the company through their website or the acquisitions team directly.

Distribution Model and Release Strategy

BAC Films operates three integrated business lines:

• Theatrical distribution in France: BAC releases films theatrically in French cinemas, handling French press, marketing, and theatrical booking. France's arthouse exhibition network, supported by the CNC (Centre national du cinema et de l'image animee), provides a robust theatrical market for independent and arthouse films. BAC's theatrical releases range from platform releases (Paris first, then regional expansion) to wider releases for titles with broader commercial potential.
• Television sales: BAC sells films to French broadcast channels (Canal+, Arte, France Televisions, and others) as part of its multi-mandate distribution model. TV sales provide a revenue stream beyond theatrical and digital.
• Video distribution: Physical and digital home entertainment, including DVD/Blu-ray where viable and VOD across French digital platforms.

The company's multi-mandate model means it can offer filmmakers comprehensive French distribution across all windows: theatrical, TV, and home entertainment. This integrated approach is more common in France than in most other European markets, where distributors often specialize in a single window.

International Sales Activities

BAC Films operates as an international sales agent alongside its French distribution business. The company attends major markets including:

• Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris (January): BAC launches international sales for new acquisitions at this annual French cinema market. In January 2025, BAC launched Cassandre (dir. Helene Merlin) at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous.
• European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin (February): BAC presents its sales lineup to international buyers.
• Cannes Marche du Film (May): The company acquires new titles and sells existing catalog at Cannes.

BAC's international sales focus aligns with its distribution identity: first and second features, new arthouse auteurs, and French-language cinema with international potential. The company's dual role as French distributor and international sales agent means it can offer filmmakers both French release and global sales through a single deal structure.

Acquisition Behavior and Deal Structure

BAC Films acquires films at major festivals and markets, with a stated focus on first and second features and emerging auteurs. The company's acquisition strategy, as articulated by Vincent Llobell, is shifting from a compact post-pandemic approach to a more aggressive one:

> "The company's acquisition strategy is shifting from a more compact approach to a more aggressive one. The objective in the next couple of years is to have seven to eight titles a year, all while sticking to our credo of discovering new French and international arthouse auteurs. We're on the lookout for a lot of projects, and especially those that showcase new talents."

BAC's acquisition pipeline includes:

• Cannes: BAC acquires at Cannes across Official Selection, Un Certain Regard, and Directors' Fortnight. The company has a historical track record of 7 Palme d'Or winners in its distribution catalog.
• Berlin (Berlinale): BAC attends EFM for acquisitions and international sales.
• Venice: BAC acquires at Venice for French distribution.
• Locarno: BAC has acquired Locarno-premiered titles, including Mexico 86 (2024).
• Giornate degli Autori (Venice sidebar): Super Happy Forever (dir. Kohei Igarashi, 2024) was the opening film of Giornate degli Autori, with BAC handling distribution.
• Unifrance Rendez-Vous: BAC launches international sales for new titles at this January market in Paris.

BAC's MG range for French theatrical rights typically falls between EUR 20,000 and EUR 150,000 per title, depending on the film's festival pedigree, director track record, and French commercial profile. For higher-profile acquisitions (Cannes Competition, award winners), MGs can exceed EUR 200,000. The company's focus on first features means it often acquires at lower MG ranges, betting on emerging talent rather than established names.

For international sales rights, BAC's commission is typically 20 to 25% of gross sales, standard for international sales agents. The company does not advance MGs to filmmakers for international sales; territory deals are negotiated individually with local distributors.

Notable Releases and Catalog

BAC Films' recent and upcoming distribution catalog includes:

• *Cassandre (dir. Helene Merlin, 2024/2025) - feature debut, coming-of-age drama starring Billie Blain (The Animal Kingdom) and Zabou Breitman (The New Look*). Set in rural France during the summer of 1998. BAC launched international sales at Unifrance Rendez-Vous January 2025.
• *Super Happy Forever* (dir. Kohei Igarashi, 2024) - France-Japan co-production, opening film of Giornate degli Autori at Venice 2024. French theatrical release July 16, 2025.
• *Mexico 86* (dir. Cesar Diaz, 2024) - political drama starring Berenice Bejo, Locarno premiere. BAC distribution.
• *Allah n'est pas oblige* (dir. Zaven Najjar, 2026) - France-Canada co-production, 1h23 runtime.
• *La disparition de Josef Mengele* (2025) - upcoming BAC distribution title.
• *Being Blanche Houellebecq* (2024) - BAC distribution.
• *Le Dernier Souffle* (2024) - BAC distribution.
• *Les Reines du drame* (2024) - BAC distribution.
• *Les Pistolets en plastique* (2024) - BAC distribution.
• *Nightborn* (2025) - upcoming BAC title.
• *Franz K.* (2024) - BAC distribution.
• *L'Avenir est a vous* (2025) - upcoming BAC title.
• *Immortelles* (2025) - upcoming BAC title.

BAC's historical catalog of approximately 420 distributed films includes 7 Palme d'Or winners, making it one of the most decorated French independent distributors in terms of Cannes recognition.

What Filmmakers Should Know

BAC Films is a realistic acquisition target for filmmakers with first or second features seeking French theatrical distribution and/or international sales representation. The company's stated strategy of expanding to 7 to 8 acquisitions per year and its focus on discovering new auteurs makes it more accessible to emerging filmmakers than more established French distributors like Le Pacte or Pyramide Distribution.

For French-language first features, BAC's dual distribution-and-sales model provides comprehensive coverage: French theatrical release plus international sales at major markets. For international filmmakers, BAC offers French theatrical distribution through its multi-mandate model, with TV and video rights handled in-house.

The acquisitions team can be contacted through the company's website or directly at c.neel@bacfilms.fr. Florestan La Torre (Director of Acquisitions) and Pauline Cheneau (Acquisitions Manager) are the key contacts.

Filmmakers should understand that BAC's expansion of its acquisition slate is recent. The company's post-pandemic contraction to 4 to 5 titles per year has been its operating reality for several years, and the shift to 7 to 8 titles represents a strategic change that may take time to fully implement. The company's focus on first features means MGs are typically lower than those offered by distributors acquiring established director projects.

See Also

For comparable French independent distributors, see Le Pacte and Pyramide Distribution in this directory. For French international sales agents with overlapping catalogs, see Wild Bunch International in this directory. For how French theatrical distribution deals are structured, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue from a French theatrical release with TV and video windows, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.