Société nouvelle de distribution

Société nouvelle de distribution (SND) is a French film production and distribution company founded on 29 December 1997 and based in Neuilly-sur-Seine. It has been part of Groupe M6 since 2001, which in turn is a subsidiary of the German media group RTL Group. SND operates as a generalist distributor while also specializing partially in genre and musical films. Its first distributed film was Battle Royale (2000). SND has been involved in the French theatrical distribution of major international blockbusters. Until 2012, the company held nearly 10% of the capital of the American studio 20th Century Fox, as well as interests in Summit Entertainment and Paramount Pictures, which secured French distribution rights for films such as Twilight, Red, The Hurt Locker, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Remember Me. On 18 June 2012, SND announced that all its theatrically distributed films would henceforth include adapted subtitles, allowing cinemas to organize special screenings for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. The company is led by Philippe Bony as président-directeur général and Thierry Desmichelle as directeur général. Both are also managers of the film production company Les Films de la Suane, which produced the 2011 film Les femmes du 6e étage directed by Philippe Le Guay. SND continues to distribute a wide range of films in France, with upcoming projects including Kaamelott: Deuxième volet partie 2 by Alexandre Astier.

Société nouvelle de distribution (SND) was created on 29 December 1997 and is based in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. It began its distribution activities with the release of Battle Royale by Kinji Fukasaku in 2000. In 2001, the company was acquired by Groupe M6, a French media group that is itself a subsidiary of the German RTL Group. This acquisition integrated SND into a larger broadcasting and production ecosystem. During the 2000s, SND expanded its international reach by acquiring minority stakes in major American studios. Until 2012, it held nearly 10% of the capital of 20th Century Fox, as well as interests in Summit Entertainment and Paramount Pictures. These investments secured French distribution rights for a number of high-profile films, including Twilight, Red, The Hurt Locker, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Remember Me. This strategy positioned SND as a key player in the French theatrical market for blockbusters. On 18 June 2012, SND announced a significant accessibility initiative: all its films distributed in theaters would now be accompanied by adapted subtitles, enabling cinemas to organize special screenings for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. This move was part of a broader commitment to inclusive cinema. The company is currently led by Philippe Bony as président-directeur général and Thierry Desmichelle as directeur général. Both executives are also managers of the film production company Les Films de la Suane, which produced the 2011 film Les femmes du 6e étage directed by Philippe Le Guay. SND continues to produce and distribute films, with a slate that includes upcoming releases such as Kaamelott: Deuxième volet partie 2 by Alexandre Astier.

• Société nouvelle de distribution is founded.

• First film distributed: Battle Royale by Kinji Fukasaku.

• Acquired by Groupe M6.

• Announces adapted subtitles for all theatrical releases to support deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.

Generalist film distributor with a partial specialization in genre and musical films, leveraging Hollywood studio partnerships for French theatrical releases.

• 2000

  Battle Royale

• 2002

  Wishcraft

• Twilight

• Red

• The Hurt Locker

• Mr. & Mrs. Smith

• Remember Me

• Kaamelott: Deuxième volet partie 2

• 2026-10-20

  JustWatch TV names content partners[3]JustWatch TV公布内容合作伙伴variety.com

  Reported: 2026-10-20

  JustWatch Group named content partners for JustWatch TV, including Cineverse in the U.S., Leonine Studios in Germany, SND in France, and Altitude in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

1. 1Wikidata: Société nouvelle de distributionwikidata.org
2. 2Wikipédia: Société nouvelle de distributionfr.wikipedia.org
3. 3JustWatch TV公布内容合作伙伴variety.com