It’s the Big Five country that’s turned around its flagging fortunes at Eurovision. Now French broadcaster France 2 has revealed details of France‘s new national final Destination Eurovision. And there’s plenty of proof that they are really making an effort.

France 2 held a press conference today where they introduced the three French jury members who will help to select the acts.

In the semi-finals, the acts will be chosen by a panel of six jurors. Three will be French, while the other three will be international. The French jury consists of France’s 2016 star Amir, French-Canadian chanteuse Isabelle Boulay and French Pop Idol winner Christophe Willem. The international half will be made up of Christer Björkman (HoD Sweden), Nicola Caligiore (HoD Italy) and Olga Salamakha (HoD Belarus).

The three French jurors were at the press conference and ready to share their enthusiasm for their new roles. Amir told the press conference, “I am very honoured.”

Christophe noted that the three jury members all have very different tastes in music. And, as Isabelle added, ultimately it comes down to the public.

One thing not revealed at the press conference was the competing artists or their songs. Even the judges don’t know. “We still haven’t heard anything,” Christophe said. “It will be a surprise.”

However, it was confirmed that there will be a total of 18 songs competing in Destination Eurovision. The competing acts will be revealed just days before each of the two semi-finals. From each semi-final, four acts will progress to the grand final.

A total of eight acts will compete at the grand final. The result will be a decided by a 50/50 French public televote and jury split. The grand final jury will be made up of 10 international jurors — the Heads of Delegation from Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Finland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Many big-name French stars are behind the songs in the contest. Artists Zazie, Maitre Gims, Vitaa and Grande Corps Malade are among those listed as songwriters for the national final. However, France 2 isn’t saying who will be singing their songs.

The French-Canadian singer Garou was also confirmed in his role as host. This was first announced earlier in the year.

The last time France used a national final was in 2014, when Twin Twin’s “Moustache” won a month-long public vote held as part of the music show Les chansons d’abord. Since then, the French broadcaster has internally selected their acts.

Along with a new Head of Delegation with fresh ideas, France has managed to deliver strong performances that have earned good results. In 2016, Amir placed sixth with “J’ai cherché”, while in Kyiv, Alma placed 12th with “Requiem”. Buoyed by these good results, France 2 has embraced their new national final format.

What do you think? Who would you like to see competing in Destination Eurovision? Share your thoughts below!

FOLLOW ALL OF OUR FRANCE EUROVISION 2018 NEWS

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Dawidof
Dawidof
6 years ago

Betta Lemme for France please ! listen to « bambola » and tell me what’re Think about that !? I’m pretty sûre she’s one of the 18 acts selected you’ll see 🙂

Dawidof
Dawidof
6 years ago
Reply to  Dawidof
NickC
6 years ago

Robyn is so fetch

brennan
brennan
6 years ago

damn look at all that talent behind this
so exciting

James
James
6 years ago

He’s one of the songwriters? Ooh, hear hear. He’s my fave non-ESC French artist too.

Josh
Josh
6 years ago

So, when will it be? Is there an official date yet?

Krosmur
Krosmur
6 years ago
Reply to  Josh

Nope. I’m french and France 2 tease this event with just “Soon”

Pascal
Pascal
6 years ago
Reply to  Josh

Nope. I’m french and France 2 tease this event with just “Soon”

Monique
Monique
6 years ago

“The grand final jury will be made up of 10 international jurors — the Heads of Delegation from Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Finland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland” So basically they’ve invited the head of delegations from 3 Ex-Soviet countries (Armenia, Belarus, Russia) + 3 from the Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland and Sweden) + 2 friends & neighbors (Switzerland and Italy) + 2 neutral countries (Bulgaria and Israel)… It’s kind of weird… No ex Yugoslavian HOD (Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia or Croatia), no Balkan country (except Bulgaria…. but where are Greece or Cyprus or Albania.. etc)… No outsiders… They… Read more »

Ted
Ted
6 years ago
Reply to  Monique

It’s kinda strategic:

Most points received by France in Eurovision:
Switzerland 181
Netherlands 162
Norway 159
Belgium 157
Germany 155

So basically they count on their votes, that’s why they didn’t invited HOD from The Netherlands, Norway, Belgium or Germany. Except Switzerland, of course….

random.sage
random.sage
6 years ago
Reply to  Ted

He improves selections. When similar people show up help out on newer and other selections in need of quality (like Måns seems to be doing) then we’ll celebrate them.

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

“Christer Björkman (HoD Sweden)…”

*Sigh* This man is like everywhere… It gets really, really booooring…..

tvfan
tvfan
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

Well, after, France is invited every year in the Melodifestivalen international jury. So, at one moment, France have to invite Sweden.

eurovision6
eurovision6
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

I agree, im swedish and been tired of him for about 5+ years now.. My apologies to all other countries that has to endure him, truly sorry..

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

The funny thing is that he has become an increasingly present person in the Eurovision sphere at the same time Eurovision is turning away from the Swedish Pop Sound.

Denis
Denis
6 years ago

The way France is heading I think they definitively will be a winner candidate. This sounds really good! They will win sooner or later..

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Omg! This will be a strong selection! 18 songs, lots of music and great panel. The judges as well as the names of some of the songwriters all sound good. It looks promising and I am so excited! It’s time for them to win! Allez la France!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Edoardo and Nicola are like best buddies, so I’m not surprised for him.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Countries are really bring their A-games for next year. Even the underdogs, like Czech Republic. So it’s going to be a bloodbath and, possibly, one of the best editions ever in terms of musical quality.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

*bringing

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago

WOW! That looks very exciting. They did a good job. I’m very happy that we will have a real national final. For the dates nothing was said so maybe it’ll be later but I can wait. I hope we will have good artists/songs. Wish us luck! 😀

Celeste
Celeste
6 years ago

10 international jurors for the final will be the head of delegation of:
Bulgaria
Armenia
Switzerland
Russia
Israel
Finland
Iceland
Sweden (Bjorkman )
Belarus
and Italy

For the semi: only the hod of Sweden, Belarus and Italy.

FanESC
FanESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Celeste

For Russia, they talked about a Sergey (not Lazarev, lol) but I don’t remember the entire name.

Celeste
Celeste
6 years ago
Reply to  Celeste

I don’t know because they said HoD but when they cited names, they said Iveta Mukuchyan for Armenia, and i don’t think she is Hod of Armenia…

FanESC
FanESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Celeste

Pareil, j’ai pas compris, c’est pour ça que je me suis dit “ah bon ? Iveta Mukuchyan est tête de délégation de son pays, je ne le savais même pas”, lol.

Same, didn’t understand, that’s why I wondered “oh ? Iveta Mukuchyan is HoD of it country, I didn’t even know”, lol.

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

Vous étiez des petites souris, merci pour ces informations supplémentaires. 🙂

FanESC
FanESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Étoile

De rien, j’ai juste vu la vidéo depuis le facebook live, pourtant; Si j’avais été présent lors de la conférence, j’crois que l’on m’aurait foutu dehors tellement j’aurais posé des questions dérengeantes, mdr.
“Bon et sinon les noms des candidats vous nous les donnez ou pas ?”, “Bon, dites-moi au moins qu’il y aura Eugénie parmi les 18 finalistes svp”, lol.

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

J’avoue que j’aurais bien aimer savoir aussi mais pour l’instant j’arrive à gérer mon impatience. Oui ce serait super qu’elle soit présente. 🙂

12AM
12AM
6 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

Please stop speaking in French. Nobody knows, nobody cares. Is French, of course it will have many letters, few sounds, and nobody can write so many letters for just a few sounds. Get over yourselves, and write in a language we all can understand.

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  12AM

Let them be. There’s no rule in wiwibloggs that prevents people to post messages in other languages.

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  12AM

*from posting…

Datme
Datme
6 years ago
Reply to  12AM

I’m re-learning French atm, so even if its not my mother language, it’s always interesting to read.
Please stop being so entitled.

Celeste
Celeste
6 years ago
Reply to  Celeste

Rewatch the video, for Russia it seem the name is Sergey Pavlov( but not sure

FanESC
FanESC
6 years ago

You forgot to say several things : – The international jury in the two semi-finals will be composed of differents Heads of Delegation : Christopher Bjorkman (Sweden), Nicola Caligliore (Italia) and Olga Salamakha (Belarus) – The international jury during the final will be composed of ten heads of delegation : Bulgaria, Armenia, Switzerland, Finland, Russia, Israel, Iceland + Sweden, Italia and Belarus. They talked about Iveta Mukuchyan for Armenia, I didn’t know she was the Head of the delegation of it country. – They received around 1500 songs (against around 280 songs in 2016 and 300 in 2017). Sorry for… Read more »

FanESC
FanESC
6 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

Thanks ! Also, 3 snippets of 3 confirmed acts among the 18 have been broadcasted (?) but the journalists were seked to turn off their cameras, etc.
The first was a ballad sang by a man.
The second was a Boostee-style song (rap artist that make feel-goo songs). The voice looked the same apparently, maybe it was really him, I would love, I love his songs. He had a hit in France with this title during summer 2016 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0AhjL9sQM4
The third was a pop-electro song sang by a woman wih a canadian accent

FanESC
FanESC
6 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

They were asked*.

Celeste
Celeste
6 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

Très prometteur tout ça !!!

NickC
NickC
6 years ago

Allez la belle France! Last two years you gave us 2 gems, so you deserve a victory soon.

BTW, has anyone noticed, we have 6 artists announced :
AUSTRALIA – JESSICA MAUBOY
AUSTRIA – CESÁR SAMPSON
AZERBAIJAN – AISEL
BELGIUM – LAURA GROSEKEN
FINLAND – SAARA AALTO
THE NETHERLANDS – WAYLON

Not a single duo or group yet. I hope, just for the sake of the diversity, someone will take the risk and not send a soloist. I think this is important for the longevity of the costest.