Daniela Elstner, managing director of Unifrance, was honored with the Legion of Honor medal at a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Berlin during the Berlin Film Festival. She was awarded the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor in recognition of her extensive commitment to advancing French cinema worldwide.
The event, hosted by French Ambassador François Delattre, brought together over a hundred figures from the global film industry. Attendees included Berlinale chief Tricia Tuttle, Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera, and representatives from U.S. distributors such as Michael Barker and Dylan Leiner of Sony Pictures Classics, along with Marcus Hu from Strand Releasing and Unifrance president Gilles Pélisson.
Ambassador Delattre praised Elstner’s professional achievements and her dedication to the people who contribute to the film industry. He highlighted her significant role in promoting the international presence of French cinema, particularly in Germany, Europe, and around the world.
In her acceptance speech, Elstner reflected on her 30-year career bridging Germany and France. She described the honor as recognition of her “French heart,” emphasizing the importance of Berlin, where she started her professional journey at her first film festival and market. Elstner recounted her arrival in Germany as an Erasmus student and her discovery of a world vastly different from her small hometown.
She paid tribute to her family, including her French husband, whom she met three decades ago, and their two children, who were present at the ceremony. Elstner also acknowledged the mentors and institutions that shaped her path, such as the late Daniel Toscan du Plantier who welcomed her to Unifrance and her early work at Les Films du Losange alongside Margaret Ménégoz. Before her current role, she served as managing director of the Paris-based sales company Doc & Film International.
Throughout her career, Elstner has supported numerous filmmakers, including Eric Rohmer, Barbet Schroeder, Adina Pintilie, Gianfranco Rosi, Leyla Bouzid, and Nicolas Philibert. She also addressed broader European concerns, noting that the principles of peace and fraternity that once felt unshakeable are now challenged.
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining cultural values, Elstner stressed the need to continue advocating for freedom of creation, independence, and critical thinking. She accepted the medal as a responsibility to uphold these values through her ongoing cultural engagement on behalf of France and its Republic.
