Following a meeting of the directors' board yesterday, French producer Margaret Menegoz has been elected president of French export body Unifrance.

The nomination comes after months of speculation and an interim presidency-by-committee that was set up following the sudden death of Unifrance's former president Daniel Toscan du Plantier at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

Menegoz, who has produced over 30 films since 1976 including recent Cannes entry Le Temps Du Loup, will serve a one year term until June 2004 which may be renewed.

In a press release, Unifrance noted that Menegoz has expressed her desire to remain faithful to the action spearheaded by Toscan du Plantier with regard to promoting French film throughout the world.

In other news, producer Humbert Balsan, whose credits include Jefferson In Paris, Total Kheops and the soon to be completed Process, will step up his role at Unifrance concentrating on European and African countries.