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Charades

Charades is a Paris-based international sales agent specializing in director-driven, festival-circuit films, with a particularly strong track record in prestige feature animation.

Current mandate

Charades operates as a multi-genre, director-driven international sales company with a pronounced specialty in prestige feature animation. The Paris-based outfit has built its reputation on representing films with strong festival credentials, particularly those circulating through Cannes and Annecy, and has developed meaningful territory relationships across Asia (including South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand) as well as active European markets. Its slate philosophy centers on distinctive artistic voices rather than commercial formula, making it a natural home for auteur projects that require patient, territory-by-territory sales strategy rather than broad platform deals.

Charades' recent activity underscores its deepening commitment to feature animation with international co-production architecture. The company is partnering with Anton on worldwide sales of "Memoir of a Snail," the Adam Elliot film that received major production investment from Screen Australia and was developed in association with VicScreen, with financing support from multiple partners including the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund. Charades co-head Carole Baraton has noted the company's involvement from the project's earliest stages, a pattern consistent with its broader approach of embedding itself in director-driven projects before they reach market. The company is also currently in active discussions with buyers in several European territories for "We Are Aliens," signaling continued momentum in festival-driven animation. This builds on a track record that includes sales representation for Oscar-nominated features "Mirai" and "I Lost My Body," and a Distributor of the Year recognition at Cartoon Movie in 2022.

Material reaches Charades primarily through established producer relationships, co-production partnerships, and festival positioning rather than through open submission channels. The company's documented pattern of early-stage involvement, as with "Memoir of a Snail," suggests that filmmakers with projects at an advanced development or financing stage, particularly those with co-production structures or festival attachments already in place, are best positioned to engage. No unsolicited filmmaker pathway is documented in tracked deal activity; every observed representation deal has arrived through producer-direct outreach or existing industry relationships, often with a financing or festival component already secured.

Signature peaks

  • Mirai + I Lost My Body Oscar-Nominated Animation — Charades handled international sales on both Oscar-nominated animated features.
  • Distributor of the Year 2022 Cartoon Movie Recognition — Recognized at Cartoon Movie in 2022, cementing its position in the animation sales market.
  • Memoir of a Snail Early-Stage Co-Production Role — Charades joined the Adam Elliot film from its earliest stages, co-partnering on worldwide sales with Anton alongside Screen Australia investment.

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
animation
Territory focus
Asia (South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand); active discussions in European territories
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Every tracked representation deal involving Charades has arrived through producer-direct outreach or established co-production partnerships, often with a financing structure or festival attachment already in place. The company's documented early-stage involvement on titles such as Memoir of a Snail, and its active territory discussions for We Are Aliens, illustrate a model where filmmakers engage through existing industry relationships or co-production partners rather than through any named open call or submission portal.
Deal structure
Charades structures deals as international territory rights sales, typically selling on a territory-by-territory basis at film markets including Cannes and Annecy. The company also participates in production financing and co-production structures on select titles, as documented on Memoir of a Snail, where Charades was involved from the earliest stages alongside production investment from Screen Australia and Anton.

Market context

With Oscar-nominated animation titles and a Cartoon Movie Distributor of the Year award to its name, Charades is positioning itself as the go-to sales partner for auteur-driven animated features on the international circuit.

Aligns with growing international appetite for festival-circuit animation, particularly Japanese-French co-productions with distinctive artistic approaches

Common questions about Charades

What kind of films does Charades represent?

Charades represents director-driven films across multiple genres, with a particularly strong specialty in prestige feature animation. Their slate favors projects with distinctive artistic approaches and strong festival credentials, especially those circulating through Cannes and Annecy. Past titles include Oscar-nominated animated features Mirai and I Lost My Body, and current slate entries include Memoir of a Snail and We Are Aliens, both festival-circuit animation projects with international co-production structures.

Does Charades handle pre-sales for film financing?

Yes. Charades has documented involvement in film financing structures, not just sales. Their work on Memoir of a Snail, which received major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Charades and Anton, illustrates a model where the sales company participates from the earliest stages of a project's development and financing. Co-head Carole Baraton has publicly described being part of that project from its earliest stages, indicating pre-sale and co-financing capability.

What film markets does Charades work at?

Charades is active at major international film markets and festivals, with a particular focus on Cannes and Annecy, which align with their festival-driven animation and prestige drama slate. Their territory activity spans Asia, including South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand, as well as active European territory discussions. Their Cartoon Movie Distributor of the Year recognition in 2022 also points to consistent engagement at that animation-focused market.

How do I get my film in front of Charades?

No unsolicited filmmaker submission pathway is documented in tracked deal activity. Every observed representation deal has come through producer-direct outreach or established industry relationships, typically with a financing structure, co-production partner, or festival attachment already in place. Charades' documented pattern of early-stage involvement, as seen with Memoir of a Snail, suggests the strongest entry point is a project with co-production architecture or festival credentials already secured, brought through a known producer relationship.

What are Charades' strongest territories?

Charades has documented territory activity across Asia, specifically South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand, reflecting growing international appetite for festival-circuit animation in those markets. European territories are also active, with the company currently in discussions with buyers in several European markets for We Are Aliens. Their track record with Japanese-French co-productions and auteur animation suggests particular strength in territories receptive to distinctive, non-mainstream animated features.

Is Charades currently active in the market?

Yes. As of mid-2026, Charades is actively pursuing territory deals for We Are Aliens, with public confirmation of ongoing discussions in several European markets. The company is also partnering with Anton on worldwide sales of Memoir of a Snail. With 38 total records tracked over the past 12 months and 32 decision makers monitored, Charades remains an active presence on the international sales circuit, particularly in the festival-driven animation segment.

Adjacent buyers in this lane

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  • Films Boutique — Films Boutique is a Berlin-based international sales agency specializing in festival-driven arthouse
  • Banijay Rights — Banijay Rights is a major international sales and distribution arm representing scripted series, fac
  • Beta Film — Beta Film is a Munich-based international TV sales agent and co-financier specializing in premium sc

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