Les Films du Cygne

What Les Films du Cygne does

Les Films du Cygne is a privately held French production company founded in 2002 and operating two complementary divisions from offices in Paris (5, rue du Commandant Lamy) and Annecy (Les Papèteries Image Factory). The first division, branded SwanFrance, provides B2B production services — executive production, line production, crew coordination, and location scouting — for international clients filming in France, including TV networks, advertising agencies, and film production companies. Recurring clients include Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo (telenovela line production since 2002), Boiron Group (pharmaceutical commercials across multiple brands), L'Occitane International (fashion and brand content), and Germany-based 99Grad (location scouting in Brittany). The second division, operating under the Les Films du Cygne name, produces original fiction and documentaries, with recent titles including the series 'Extra.' (OCS, 2025), the standalone feature 'Meurtres à Chartres' (France Télévisions, 2025), and 'Phoenix' (France.tv, 2026).

The company is founder/owner-operated: Alexandre Charlet serves as CEO and Producer, Jonathan Hazan as Producer (co-creator of 'Extra.'), and Chris Burnel as Line Producer, supported by 21 employees in total. The business model is professional-services revenue — project-based fees for production management, location scouting, and crew coordination, supplemented by emerging co-production economics on original content funded in part by broadcaster partners (OCS Signature Fund, France Télévisions). Sales motion is direct and relationship-based, with visibility driven by industry events (Berlinale, RIO2C, Séries Mania, Festival de Luchon, Clermont-Ferrand, La Rochelle TV Fiction Festival) and digital presence via swanfrance.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo. Recognition includes a César for Best Short Film (2018 for 'Les Bigorneaux'), the SACD-OCS Signature Fund (2021), and multiple 2024–2026 festival wins and nominations.

Les Films du Cygne generates revenue exclusively through B2B engagements — no direct-to-consumer or retail channels exist — and serves a focused set of enterprise clients (broadcasters, agencies, brands) across France, Switzerland, the UAE, and Brazil. Operating geographies span Western Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, with expertise in the French Tax Rebate program positioned as a key value driver for inbound international productions. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Les Films du Cygne

Legal name

Les Films du Cygne

Website

https://swanfrance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Films du Cygne is a French production company operating two divisions: SwanFrance delivers production services (executive production, location scouting, line production) for international commercials, TV series, and films shooting in France, while Les Films du Cygne produces original fiction and documentaries for French broadcasters and global clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film and Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries (MPADADAJ)

Keywords

• Film production services
• Television commercials
• Location scouting
• Executive production
• Line production

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Production Services: Provides executive production and production services for commercials, TV series, documentaries, and feature films. Revenue generated through service fees for production management, location scouting, crew coordination, and production support for domestic and international clients filming in France and Europe.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Les Films du Cygne is a French production company that provides B2B production services for television commercials, fiction content, and documentaries. The company operates through two divisions: SwanFrance handles executive production, line production, and location scouting services for international clients filming in France, while Les Films du Cygne produces original feature films, TV series, and documentaries for French broadcasters and international distribution.

Product overview

Les Films du Cygne operates two distinct divisions: Les Films du Cygne (Fiction & Documentaries) produces feature films, TV series, and documentaries including award-winning series like 'Extra.' and 'Phoenix', and standalone features like 'Murders in Chartres'; while SwanFrance (TV & Commercials) provides production services for television commercials and international productions, including location scouting, line production, and executive production for clients filming in France. The company also maintains a director roster for advertising work and has produced numerous award-winning short films. The company collaborates with broadcasters like OCS, France Télévisions, Canal+, and international partners including Brazilian TV Globo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SwanFrance (TV & Commercials) Television commercials and production services division providing executive production, location scouting, and line production services for advertising campaigns and TV productions, particularly for international clients filming in France.
• Les Films du Cygne (Fiction & Documentaries) Feature films, TV series, and documentaries production division producing original fiction content including crime dramas, comedies, and documentary projects for French television and international distribution.
• Production Services Executive production, line production, and location scouting services for film and TV projects shooting in France, with access to location galleries including mountains, beaches, countryside, castles, cities, churches, and villas.
• International Co-productions Collaborative production services for international productions, particularly with Brazilian TV Globo, including telenovela filming in France and other international locations.
• Extra. Original TV series about Catherine Blondin, a choir director who becomes a sexual assistant for people with disabilities. First original series produced by Les Films du Cygne, co-created with OCS.
• Phoenix Fiction series that won Best Fiction Series at Festival de Luchon and Best 52' Series - Suspense Category at Festival de la Fiction. The only French co-production selected for Berlinale Series Market.
• Murders in Chartres Standalone crime drama feature produced for France Télévisions. First standalone feature by Les Films du Cygne, broadcast on France 3.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TV GlobocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2002 with Brazilian TV giant TV Globo. Provides line production services for telenovelas filming in France, Switzerland, and UAE. Multiple successful collaborations including Cordel Encantado, Imperio, and Babilonia.
• OCScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production and broadcast partnership for series. Collaborated on Extra. series with OCS Signature funding. Series broadcast on Ciné+ OCS channel.
• France TélévisionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership for TV films and series including Meurtres à Chartres and Phoenix. Broadcast on France 3 and france.tv platforms.
• Morena FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian production company for De Pernas Pro Ar 3 feature film. Swan provided Paris production services.
• 99GradminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGerman creative agency for which Swan provided location scouting in Brittany for DIAMANT bicycle brand campaign.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wanda Productions: French commercial production services company providing executive production and coordination for advertising and TV clients. Comparable to the SwanFrance division's services model for international advertisers and broadcasters.
• Quad Productions: Independent French production company producing feature films, TV series, and documentaries. Directly comparable to Les Films du Cygne's fiction/documentary division in terms of size, genre mix, and French broadcaster relationships.
• Make Believe (formerly Make Believe Films): French independent production company developing and producing fiction series and feature films for broadcasters and platforms. Comparable in scope, scale, and French broadcaster co-production model.
• Mandarin TV (formerly Mandarin Cinema): French independent producer of TV fiction and feature films with French broadcaster partnerships. Comparable scope and scale as an independent French scripted-content producer.
• Panache Productions: French production company operating in fiction and commercial production spaces. Comparable as a mid-sized French production services and content company serving similar enterprise and broadcaster clients.
• CAPA Entreprises: French production house producing documentaries, factual, and fiction content for French broadcasters. Comparable in fiction/documentary production mix and French broadcaster co-production partnerships.
• Scarlett Production: French independent production company producing fiction, documentaries, and TV content for French broadcasters. Comparable size and French broadcaster co-production structure.

Broad incumbents

• Federation Entertainment: Larger French production and distribution company with an international footprint across scripted series and feature films. Comparable as a French fiction producer with global distribution ambitions overlapping Phoenix's trajectory.
• Gaumont: Historic French film/TV studio with global distribution and production operations. Comparable as a French content owner/distributor whose broadcaster relationships and festival circuit overlap with Les Films du Cygne's pipeline.
• StudioCanal: Major French film/TV studio with production, distribution, and library businesses. Relevant incumbent peer for fiction production and international sales reach similar to where Phoenix's Berlinale trajectory could lead.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/swanlfdc
• YouTubevimeo.com/user18595414
• Facebookfacebook.com/159253744085243
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-films-du-cygne

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Les Films du Cygne