Compagnie des Phares et Balises (CPB Films), an independent production and distribution company, was founded in 1992 by Jean Labib and T. Celal. The company first made its reputation producing historical documentaries and portraits of major 20th century artists, while diversifying with themes such as society, science and environment, geopolitics and discovery. The catalogue today includes more than 500 hours of documentary programmes.

In 2008 the company opened a Fiction and Cinema Department, directed today by Marco Cherqui (A Prophet, Kabul Kitchen…). The department develops and produces mini-series, series and dramas for the main French broadcasters (Canal+, France Televisions, Arte and M6) as well as cinema feature films.

CPB Films productions are regularly applauded for their creativity and exigency, and have distinguished themselves in major French and international festivals. The company received the PROCIREP award for Best French Television Producer of 2017, in the Documentary Category.

Wishing to accompany their films through the entire exploitation cycle, in 2004 CPB Films created an international sales department, CPB International, and CPB Editions, to ensure the DVD and VOD service. CPB International handles the distribution of fiction and documentary catalogues, as well as the acquisition of external productions.

Since 2017 CPB films have joined with Camera Lucida Productions to form the CLPB Media Group, co-directed by François Bertrand, Jean Labib and Irad Sachs. This umbrella group brings together three production companies: CPB Films, Camera Lucida Productions and Lucid Realities Studio, producer of VR/AR/360°.

So far only curiosity and desire guide production choices.

Among our successes, we count:
- The prestigious TV fiction series Nicolas Le Floch produced for France 2 (Prime-Time since 2008) - sold over 30 territories including MHZ Networks (USA), NHK (Japan), Globosat (Brazil), CBC (Canada), Europa Europa (Latin America), CCTV (China), TVP Historia (Poland), Kultura (Russia).
The two-part documentary film event The Tour: The legend of the race produced for 100th Edition of the Tour de France (prime time France 2) and sold over 30 territories including SBS (Australia), NBC (USA), Super Sports (Africa), JSports (Japan), RTBF (Belgium), RTVE (Spain), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), RDS (Canada), and a worldwide dvd & vod deal with Universal Pictures.
- Orson Welles – Shadows & Light, the documentary film event to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Orson Welles (Arte). Distributed over 15 territories including ORF (Austria), Cyfro NC + (Poland), RTS (Switzerland), Foxtel (Australia), VRT (Belgium), Canal Encuentro (Argentina), Radio Canada (Canada), Channel One (Russia), TV Bandereites (Brazil), RTVHK (Hong Kong), NBC Universal (Italy).
The documentary series Jews and Muslims – Intimate strangers (4x52’-including animated sequences - Arte). 21 territories including SVT (Sweden), Canal Once (Mexico), NRK (Norway), The History Channel (Japan), ZDF (Germany), Planet Polska (Poland), RTS (Switzerland), MTV (Hungary), Globosat (Brazil), Dai Ai TV (Taiwan), United Media (Korea).

To enhance our position on the international market, we attend the largest global distribution events around the world, including MipDoc-MipTV-Mipcom (Cannes, France), Asian Side of the Doc, Sunny Side (La Rochelle, France) Sheffield Doc Fest (UK), Real Screen (London, UK), ATF (Asia), Natpe (USA), World Congress, Rio Content Market (Brazil).

In the past years, we established international coproductions with broadcasters, distributors and producers all over the World:
La Comédie Française or Love’s labors acted – PBS (USA)
Journey to the far the right & Albert Camus – BBC (UK)
Fashion – Passion, Sex and Rebellion – Little Bird (UK & Ireland), Tat Film (Germany), Non Fiction Films (USA), Channel 4 (UK), WDR (Germany), RTE (Ireland)
Kings of the ring – HBO (USA)

FICTIONS
Since 2008 and its creation, CPB Films produced many successful movies including the Prime-time TV series Nicolas Le Floch (6 seasons - 24x52’ – aired on France 2) or Intrusion (by Xavier Palud, 3x52’ – aired on Arte) which received the Best TV Series Prize at the Luchon Festival. Run by Marco Cherqui since 2017, the department is developing many programs. First, Savages (6x52’, Canal+), an adaptation from the book of Sabri Louatah and directed by Rebecca Zlotowski - in coproduction with Scarlett Production. The second program in production is After the crash (4x52’), adapted from Michel Bussi’s bestseller (Director: Marc Rudnicki), in coproduction with Rififilms. Similarly, CPB Films is also producing Laëtitia (4x52’ – France 3 - Coproduced with L’Île Clavel), adapted from the book by Ivan Jablonka, and directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. In terms of one-off, and after working on two episodes of the TV series’ collection Murder in … , CPB Films is working on three projects, including The Legacy (90’, France 3) produced by Iris Strauss.