International Disruptors: Charades Co-Founder Carole Baraton Talks Building Company’s Eclectic Slate, Filmmaker Relationships & Why She’s Optimistic For Business In Cannes

deadline.com:

Welcome to International Disruptors, a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies outside of the U.S.

shaking up the offshore marketplace. With the 75th Cannes Film Festival less than two weeks away, we’re speaking with well-respected French sales exec Carole Baraton, co-founder of international sales and production outfit Charades.

The company has four titles in selection and Baraton tells us about the company’s ambitions and why she’s looking forward to being back on the Croisette. It’s been five years since French sales veteran Carole Baraton joined forces with former Gaumont exec Yohann Comte and former Studiocanal exec Pierre Mazars to launch Charades and in that short period of time the trio have managed to carve out a boutique sales and production label that has quickly become synonymous with quality independent fare.The Paris-based company is a regular fixture on the international film festival circuit and at this year’s upcoming Cannes Film Festival, Charades has four films in official selection: Kirill Serebrennikov’s Tchaikovsky’s Wife and Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi’s Forever Young, both In Competition; Critics Week entry Aftersun from director Charlotte Wells, starring Paul Mescal; and a special screening of 2D animation Little Nicholas, based on the popular series of 1960s French children’s books.For Baraton, this slate is a perfect representation of the types of films that Charades is interested in – a wide selection of eclectic titles that range from big-budget family animation movies to first time director’s efforts to smart, thought-provoking arthouse fare.“I think that’s what sets us apart from other entities,” Baraton tells Deadline in a rare interview. “We work across a wide range