From Montpellier to the international stage

Watch the Replay of SATIS+ Montpellier ! The event brought a new pulse for regional innovation in audiovisual arts and The Yard was happy to participate in one of the roundtables.

This summer, the audiovisual industry took a vibrant new turn with the launch of SATIS+, a fresh regional event dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and creativity. Hosted for the first time in Montpellier, in the South of France, SATIS+ builds on the legacy of SATIS—the major French-speaking trade show for media, entertainment, and communication technology.

Set in a city where The Yard opened a new studio two years ago, SATIS+ was designed as a one-day convergence of minds. It tackled pressing topics such as the impact of new technologies on professional skillsets, the need for international visibility, and the essential role of cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable regional ecosystem.

One of the highlights of the event was the roundtable “From Montpellier to the International Stage,” moderated by Laurent Michaud, CEO of OSPEX Consulting. The session featured several key voices shaping the future of the creative industries from the Occitanie region, including Laurens Ehrmann (The Yard VFX), Florian Thiebaux (Saraband / PICS Studio), Olivier Pinol (Dwarf Animation Studio), Claudia Zimmer (CYME) and Francis Ingrand (Plug in Digital).

Together, they unpacked what it takes to scale internationally while staying grounded in local roots.

Laurens Ehrmann, Founder and Creative Director at The Yard, reflected on his early days at BUF in 1998, where he cut his teeth on international projects. This early exposure to global collaboration became a guiding thread for The Yard’s evolution — and a reason for establishing a studio in Montpellier: to support top-tier French talent without requiring them to leave the country.

SATIS+ also explored what pushes regional players to go global. For Laurens Ehrmann, it’s a mix of opportunity and necessity — from the rise of UK tax incentives, to finding the right leadership for international branches, to operating within a time zone aligned with European clients.

Participants didn’t shy away from the realities of international expansion. Whether it’s navigating certification requirements, adapting to new languages and infrastructures, or overcoming cultural differences — success requires more than just ambition.

Whether you’re in VFX, animation, gaming, software, or post-production, the message was clear: Open up. Dare more. Collaborate.

🎬 Don’t miss out on the conversations that are shaping the future. Watch the replay now on Movee.tech (in French only)

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