At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Pavillon Afriques once again established itself as a key meeting point for professionals in African and diasporic cinema. Among the prominent figures driving this international momentum is Franciane Abassan, a leading force in the renewal of the audiovisual landscape. As a producer, sales agent, consultant, and mentor, she represents a new generation of professionals committed to building a more inclusive, ambitious, and interconnected film industry.
An Unconventional Path, a Clear Calling
A graduate of a business school, Franciane Abassan began her career in finance in 1998 as a treasurer for a major French bank. However, her passion for storytelling and visual media soon took precedence. A discovery internship at AB Productions, focusing on youth programming, followed by an eye-opening visit to the BBC studios in London, marked the beginning of her professional shift. She then joined Doc&Co, a Paris-based company specializing in documentary distribution, before becoming a partner at Qwest Media in 2009—a French production and distribution company she co-founded with three associates.
Qwest Media quickly gained international recognition, notably through its first client in India, UTV, which acquired IPTV rights for French and European programs. Franciane established herself as a sales agent, representing award-winning documentaries (such as Kinyarwanda, a Sundance winner), children’s content, and feature films at major international markets.
IWARA and the Ambition of African Animation
In 2021, Franciane launched IWARA, a Côte d’Ivoire-based company dedicated to producing children’s films and training African talents in 2D/3D animation. Deeply convinced that African animation is a goldmine of creativity, she has devoted significant energy to its development.
She has been actively involved in mentoring and creatively developing animation studios and young creators across the continent. Notable initiatives include the Lina & Adam pilot project supported by the AFD in 2020 in Morocco (Langages du Sud), a 2023 mentorship program in Tunisia (Minassa), and in 2024, a hands-on producer mentorship initiative with BOOS’T ANIM in Abidjan for first-time short film directors.
A Leading Voice at Pavillon Afriques
With 17 Cannes editions under her belt, Franciane knows the Croisette like the back of her hand. Yet, it is at Pavillon Afriques where she finds the synergy that matches her vision: a space for deep dialogue, project building, and the celebration of diverse creative voices.
On May 16, 2025, she moderated one of the Pavilion’s most impactful panels:
“The Boom of African Animation: Challenges and Opportunities – How Studios, Creators, and Producers Are Navigating the Growing Demand for Animated Content”
Panelists: Abel Kouamé, Amath Ndiaye
Moderator: Franciane Abassan
This session explored structural challenges, market potential, access to funding, and the rise of hybrid storytelling in African animation. As moderator, Franciane led a powerful and enlightening discussion, highlighting emerging talent while addressing the real hurdles facing the sector.
Networking with Purpose
For Franciane, Pavillon Afriques is “a rare space for forging unique relationships.” She emphasizes its appeal to a wide audience—from North Africa to the Caribbean diaspora—a networking environment that stands apart from the more segmented settings of events like MIPCOM or Annecy.
As an active member of MédiaClub’Elles, Franciane also champions a feminist approach to media leadership, advocating for inclusive storytelling and balanced representation across the film and media industry.
A Professional Making a Lasting Impact
Consultant, mentor, producer, sales agent, and above all, a passionate advocate for stories and storytellers—Franciane Abassan continues to make a meaningful impact on the growth of African cinema. In September 2024, she will be honored as an Ambassador of African Solutions at the Semaine l’Afrique des Solutions (SAS) in Paris and Rabat, in recognition of her hard work and dedication to industry development.
Franciane Abassan continues to build lasting bridges between continents, generations, and narrative formats. At Cannes and beyond, she is helping to shape a vibrant and sustainable future for African and diaspora cinema—one story at a time.
