Laurene Voilliot: "We have to find a way to reinvent ourselves"

French distributor Only Distrib is putting the spotlight on science and environmental content, with new projects that expand the distributor’s catalog. Among the highlights is “Daily Science”, a 13x52’ series currently in production and expected to be completed by the end of the year. “It’s all about explaining phenomena from daily life through the lens of science,” explained Laurene Voilliot, Head of Sales & Acquisitions at Only Distrib. The show will cover subjects such as food, health, and new technologies. The company is also presenting newly acquired wildlife blue-chip documentaries, alongside environmental titles that remain a staple in its catalog.

Looking ahead to MIPCOM, Voilliot noted that Only Distrib is negotiating with several producers and hopes to add further new titles by October. Beyond its traditional lines, the distributor introduced society-focused and kids content to its offer. “It has been well received because we added this new topic society in our catalogue, but it was still society linked to our other thematics. People understood why we were presenting that new content, and we are bound to add new films and series in this area,” she said. 

On the distribution front, the company has closed several recent deals, including agreements in France with the new broadcasters T18 and Novo 19. Additional sales include collaborations with RTS and SRF in Switzerland, SBS in Australia, TVP in Poland and HRT in Croatia.

While acknowledging the challenges facing the industry, Voilliot stressed the importance of adaptation. “This is a challenging period, I’m not going to lie. The business is difficult at any stage of the industry, whether you are in broadcasting, production or in distribution. Budgets are being cut, teams are being reduced, slots are canceled. We have to find a way to reinvent ourselves and really pinpoint what are the topics of interest for broadcasters and put our efforts into it.” As a result, Only Distrib has adapted its acquisition strategy to put the emphasis on science, whether hard science or popular science and environment which includes elements of travel and discovery.

Despite tighter budgets and increasingly selective acquisitions from buyers, Voilliot remains confident in the resilience of the genre. “There will always be a need for documentaries. Buyers require higher quality and in-depth investigations, which challenges us to be more inquiring with what we suggest to them.” she concluded.