Java Films founder & French doc distributor Roch Bozino dies, aged 62

Roch Bozino

French documentary distributor and Java Films founder Roch Bozino has died, aged 62.

Bozino passed away on 30 March after fighting cancer for a year, his company said.

With Java Films, which he founded in 2005, Bozino specialised in French investigative documentaries, focusing on more innovative ways to distribute IP abroad and a well-known figure who shared his insights on the industry.

Prior to setting up Java Films in 2005, he had been a producer at VM group and founded its international sales department in 1998.

He was also a founding member of exporters’ organisation TV France International, which more recently merged with Unifrance.

“To us all, he was more than just a boss – he turned Java into a family, guided by real values and never compromised his principles,” wrote the staff on Java Films’ website.

Condolences also flooded social networks over the weekend after the news broke, with independent documentary producers saluting “a great international distributor” and thanking him for having helped their company to develop via the international sales he struck.

Others described Bozino as a “great pitcher in front of international commissioning editors”, who “had a vision” for the industry and for the shows he accompanies to festivals and international markets.

Bozino was also praised for taking risks and for his “friendly, pragmatic and straight to the point” nature, with others noting his “honest and faithful” approach. “We are losing a partner and a friend,” wrote another.