19 may 2025 mk2 Films to Represent Jean Rouch Titles Worldwide

Cannes, 18 May 2025 – Paris-based international sales company mk2 Films has signed a worldwide representation deal (excluding North America and Spain) with Les Films du Jeudi, bringing the works of French director Jean Rouch to the global audience.

This first agreement between the two companies covers a treasure trove of films from Jean Rouch, a groundbreaking French filmmaker who merged anthropology with cinema, pioneering cinéma vérité. Working with renowned producer Pierre Braunberger, he bridged French and West African cultures, redefining documentary as a deeply human, artistic form. His approach—using lightweight cameras, spontaneous filming, and collaborative storytelling—broke with traditional ethnographic distance, creating a radically new and immersive way of capturing reality on screen.

The deal between mk2 Films and Les Films du Jeudi notably includes restored versions of Jean Rouch’s features I, a Black (1957), The Human Pyramide (1959), as well as short films, such as controversial The Mad Masters (1955).

Founded in 1964, Les Films du Jeudi manages the oeuvre of visionary producer Pierre Braunberger, whose prolific output spans nearly a century. The collection encompasses over 111 feature films, 165 documentaries and 130 shorts—featuring works by cinematic luminaries such as Jean Renoir, Jean-Luc Godard, and Chris Marker.

“This partnership is a natural convergence between two independent houses devoted to auteur cinema,” said Nathanaël Karmitz, Chairman of the Board of mk2. “It allows us to welcome the groundbreaking work of ethnographic pioneer Jean Rouch, whose innovative blending of fiction and documentary reshaped the documentary form.”

mk2 Films will unveil this collection from Les Films du Jeudi at the Cannes Film Market.

Enquiries: lea.daudon@mk2.com