Festival Money Checklist: What to Carry When Attending Paris’ Unifrance Rendez-Vous

Festival Money Checklist: What to Carry When Attending Paris’ Unifrance Rendez‑Vous

Hook: You’re headed to Unifrance Rendez‑Vous in Paris — meetings, screenings, late‑night networking and unpredictable coffee runs — but the last thing you want is a surprise foreign‑transaction fee, a blocked card before a buyer lunch, or poor ATM choices that cost you time and euros. This tools‑and‑resources checklist gives film industry travelers the exact cards, cash strategy, ATM safety rules and daily spending templates to keep your focus on the market — not your money.

First: Why money planning matters at the 2026 Rendez‑Vous

The 28th Unifrance Rendez‑Vous (Pullman Montparnasse, Jan 14–16, 2026) drew hundreds of buyers and dozens of sales companies — and with the internationalisation of French indie film and accelerated consolidation in the industry, networking density is higher than ever. That means more short meetings, sponsored lunches, tickets to screenings and last‑minute travel across the city. In short: more transactions, more split bills and more opportunities to lose time (and money) to avoidable fees.

Top 3 money risks at Paris film markets in 2026

• Paying extra via dynamic currency conversion (DCC) or poor FX rates at tourist ATMs.
• Unexpected ATM/card fees and blocked cards during crucial meetings.
• Lack of real‑time expense tracking for reimbursements and company accounting.

Quick action plan — the inverted pyramid (do these first)

1. Order a small amount of euros from your home bank to cover arrival costs and immediate transit (taxis, metro tickets, coffees).
2. Bring one low‑FX credit card and one fee‑friendly debit/multi‑currency travel card as backup.
3. Notify your card issuers of travel dates, and enable international/merchant transaction alerts.
4. Download the essential apps (currency converter, travel‑card app, expense tracker, and a map of bank branches around Pullman Montparnasse).

Card strategy: which cards to carry and how to use them

Carry a combination of cards to avoid single‑point failure. Film market travelers need both convenience and robust fee control.

Bring these three card types

• Primary credit card (for big purchases and hotels): A card that earns rewards and has decent travel insurance. Use it for hotel bills, conference registration, and larger dinners.
• Low‑FX debit or multi‑currency card (everyday purchases & ATM withdrawals): Fintech cards from regulated providers often give near‑mid‑market exchange rates and low withdrawal fees for moderate amounts. Keep this as your daily driver.
• Backup credit or debit card: Stored separately (hotel safe or a different wallet). If one card blocks, you’ll still be able to pay.

Card best practices (99% actionable)

• Turn on real‑time alerts for international charges and withdrawals so you can spot fraud or a blocked attempt immediately.
• Disable DCC at point of sale: If a merchant asks to charge in USD/GBP/etc., always choose to pay in euros to avoid inflated DCC rates.
• Use contactless or mobile pay where accepted — faster and often more secure. Confirm your issuer’s contactless limit and 3D Secure settings before travel.
• Set up a virtual card (for subscriptions or demo payments) to isolate one‑off charges during the market.
• Keep PINs memorized — put physical backup copies in a locked luggage pouch, not your wallet.

Where to get competitive euros in 2026

Rates and fees vary widely. The priority: avoid the highest markdowns (airport desks, hotels, touristy kiosks) and use options that combine competitive rates with low fees.

Order from your home bank first

Order a small amount of cash from your bank before departure — it’s usually the most efficient and safer than buying at an airport kiosk. Keep this for immediate needs (train, taxi, coffee).

Use bank ATMs in Paris for larger amounts

For the best real exchange rate, withdraw at bank‑branded ATMs (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole). Look up partner banks that waive withdrawal fees for your card network.

Specialist forex vs airport bureaus

• Specialist bureaus in the city (compare rates online before you go) often beat airport kiosks, but check commission and flat fees.
• Avoid airport exchange counters unless you need a tiny amount — they usually have the worst rates.

2026 trends to factor in

By 2026, fintech travel cards have expanded their free‑withdrawal tiers and integrated fee transparency tools in their apps. If you have a multi‑currency fintech card, run a quick fee simulation in the card app before a large withdrawal — many providers show exact fees and FX margins in‑app.

ATM safety checklist — where and how to withdraw

ATMs are safe in Paris if you follow a few rules. Treat ATM interactions like you would in any major city — but with a festival schedule, you’ll be tempted to rush; slow down.

Before you withdraw

• Use ATMs inside bank branches or well‑lit, staffed spaces (train stations, shopping malls).
• Pay attention to overlay skimmers or loose parts and the card slot; walk away and report if anything looks wrong.
• Prefer chip & PIN withdrawals over swipe where possible.

At the machine

• Cover the keypad when typing your PIN.
• Keep withdrawals to an amount you need for 2–3 days — large foreign withdrawals increase exposure if your wallet is lost.
• Beware of unsolicited help; a stranger offering assistance can be a distraction technique.

After withdrawal

• Secure cash immediately (money band, inner pocket). If you’re in the market tight schedule, stow it in a safer place rather than counting it at the machine.
• Record the amount and ATM location in your expense tracker app so reimbursements or reconciliations are easy.

Expense tracking tools and templates for film market travel

Keeping receipts and a clean per‑diem system saves time during post‑market bookkeeping and reimbursement. Use a combination of mobile capture and a simple daily template that your producer or finance department can accept.

Apps to download

• Receipt capture & expense reports: Expensify, Rydoo, Concur or your company’s preferred software — pair them with storage workflows for long‑term archive and reconciliation.
• Real‑time FX & quick conversions: XE, OANDA, Wise converter.
• Maps & bank locations: Google Maps (star ATMs you trust), Paris transport app for tickets.

Simple daily spending template (copy this into any note app)

Below are three templates tailored to festival use cases. Replace placeholders with live conversion rates in the app:

Template A — Lean indie buyer (per day)

• Morning coffee/snack: €6–8
• Metro/Taxi (meetings & transfers): €8–20
• Lunch / Networking sandwich: €12–20
• Cinema screening + small beer: €15–20
• Evening casual dinner: €20–40
• Misc (printing, SIM top‑up, small gifts): €10–15
• Daily total estimate: €71–123

Template B — Standard industry pro (per day)

• Breakfast & coffee meetings: €12–20
• Transport including occasional taxi: €15–35
• Business lunch (with buyers): €30–65
• Screenings & drinks: €20–35
• Evening dinner (client entertainment): €50–120
• Incidentals (taxis late night, printing, deliveries): €20–50
• Daily total estimate: €147–325

Template C — Heavy networking/market seller (per day)

• Multiple client coffees & breakfast meetings: €25–40
• Multiple taxis across the city: €30–80
• Business dinners & client entertainment: €100–250
• Screenings, hospitality events, gifts/press kits: €50–150 (plan for printing and on‑site logistics — consider a portable micro‑printing partner)
• Assorted logistics (crew meals, ad hoc printing): €50–100
• Daily total estimate: €255–620

Tip: Use expense categories that match your company’s chart of accounts (meals, travel, entertainment, marketing). Capture a photo of each receipt and tag it to the calendar date and meeting name.

Advanced strategies and 2026 outlook

Expect continued fintech improvements in 2026: clearer in‑app fee breakdowns, better ATM reimbursement policies for premium users, and more seamless invoicing tools for cross‑border indie sales. Because Unifrance Rendez‑Vous is attracting more buyers and content consolidation continues, expect sellers to need faster settlement options and easier expense reconciliation like real‑time settlement & oracles.

Advanced tactics to save fees

• Batch large withdrawals when you know you need cash for several days — but balance that with safety and exposure risk.
• Use expense cards for team spend (one shared fintech card) with strict per‑transaction limits to avoid reimbursement nightmares.
• Negotiate digital payments with partners and buyers — ask for bank transfer in euros to reduce conversion steps if you invoice in euros.
• Preload an app card for hospitality budgets so you can issue virtual cards per meeting and retire them after use (see modern hybrid creator retail tech playbooks).

Practical scenario: A day at Pullman Montparnasse — step‑by‑step money moves

1. Morning: Pay for metro with contactless or transit pass (use your low‑FX debit card or local Paris pass).
2. Mid‑morning: Coffee meeting — ask if card or contactless is preferred; avoid DCC if asked to bill in another currency.
3. Lunch: Company reimburses — pay with corporate card or log expense immediately and capture receipt; if splitting, use mobile payment apps to settle quickly.
4. Afternoon: Screening — small concessions paid in cash sometimes; keep €20–30 in small notes for convenience.
5. Evening: Client dinner — use primary credit card for itemization and stronger travel protections; distribute tips in cash if preferred by staff.

What to avoid — common mistakes at film markets

• Relying on a single card or ATM network — always have two independent payment methods.
• Using the hotel or airport exchange for large amounts.
• Accepting the merchant’s offer to charge in your home currency — that’s DCC and usually worse for you.
• Not tracking expenses daily — end of week reconciliation becomes a nightmare during post‑market invoicing.

“At a busy market like Rendez‑Vous, the smallest money slipups — a blocked card or a €15 ATM fee — can cascade into missed meetings. Plan for resilience, not convenience.”

Emergency & backup checklist

• Photocopy or photograph passport, cards (front/back) and store in a secure cloud folder accessible to you and a trusted colleague.
• Know your bank’s international emergency number and the location of your embassy or consulate in Paris.
• Keep a small emergency stash of euros and a backup prepaid card in a separate place from your main wallet.
• If a card is blocked, use the backup card and freeze the affected card via the issuer app; request emergency cash via your bank’s emergency service if necessary.

Actionable takeaways — put this on a single page

• Order €100–€200 from your bank before travel for arrival costs.
• Carry: primary credit card, low‑FX travel card, backup card, and €30–€50 in small notes.
• Withdraw at bank ATMs inside branches; avoid airport kiosks unless necessary.
• Turn off DCC and enable alerts; use mobile capture for receipts after every transaction.
• Use the daily templates above to set a per‑diem and reconcile nightly.

Final note — adapt for your role

Sellers, buyers, and festival staff each need slightly different money kits. Sellers should prioritize client entertainment budgets and quick reimbursement workflows. Buyers may lean on corporate cards and per‑meeting expense limits. Media and press can often rely on smaller daily cash budgets. Customize the templates above to match your role.

Call to action

Heading to Unifrance Rendez‑Vous? Download our free one‑page Paris Festival Money Checklist and the three CSV daily templates (Lean, Standard, Heavy Networking) to import into your expense app. Keep your focus on film — not fees. Click below to get the checklist and a curated list of bank ATMs around Pullman Montparnasse.

Related Reading

• Travel Tech Stack: Cost, Performance and the Cloud Playbook for Small Hotel Groups
• Real‑Time Settlement & Oracles: Advanced Risk Controls for 2026
• Deploying Offline‑First Field Apps on Free Edge Nodes — 2026 Strategies for Reliability and Cost Control
• Field Review: Portable Micro‑Printing & On‑Site Storage for Events (2026)
• Using Music Intentionally: When to Allow Background Audio During Recorded Exams
• Holiday Gift Bundles for Gamers: Pair These Sales with Game Keys for Maximum Value
• Top 10 Most Valuable Amiibo for Gamers and Resellers in 2026
• Is That $231 e‑Bike Too Good to Be True? A Buyer’s Safety & Value Checklist
• Digg’s Return: Is There a Reddit Alternative for Bangladeshi Communities?