CIAM Elections 2026 - Patrick Sigwalt
SACEM
As I had the opportunity to say last June, when welcoming CIAM to Paris during CISAC’s centenary, we are collectively facing a fundamental question today: What place do we still wish to give to human creativity? That is the very essence of the authors rights.
Authors rights are not merely a legal framework; it reflects a vision of society: the idea that creativity is part of our humanity and expresses who we are—our freedom, our sensitivity and our diversity.
This vision carries a simple promise: that every creator should be recognized, be able to make a living from their work and remain independent. Authors rights makes no distinction based on origin, gender or beliefs. They grants every creator the same rights, the same protections and the same freedom to create and to be respected.
That is why defending authors rights does not mean protecting a privilege. It means defending a fairer, more open, more diverse and more inclusive society. The strength of a democracy is measured by the place it gives to artists and to the freedom to create.
The promises of artificial intelligence cannot justify the use of human works without transparency, consent or fair compensation.
That is why, at the initiative of Africa and France, CIAM is today putting forward an important ambition: to have the authors rights recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
As President of SACEM for several years, I have devoted myself to this project. We have obtained the support of the French government, of a large number of eminent UNESCO members and, finally, the adoption of an additional protocol to the texts on AI in order to effectively safeguard authors rights. This process, initiated by Africa and France, requires substantial work, which I wish to pursue with my colleagues on the CIAM Executive Committee if you grant me your confidence.
The authors rights helps preserve the diversity of cultural expressions, a principle at the heart of UNESCO’s mission, and CIAM is the organization with the greatest legitimacy to advance such an ambition. Recognizing authors rights as intangible cultural heritage is to affirm that creators deserve the same protection as the languages, traditions and knowledge that make up our common heritage.
And it is to send a simple message to the world: Human creativity is an essential part of who we are and the condition of our freedom.
Patrick SIGWALT
BIOGRAPHY
After studying at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers and working in London and then at Saban Records in Los Angeles, Patrick Sigwalt joined Delphine Production in Paris, where he produced the entire catalogue of albums, including “Ocarina,” which earned several gold and diamond records.
He subsequently contributed to more than 250 albums in France and internationally. His close collaboration with Bernardo Sandoval led to the creation of the soundtrack for Manuel Poirier’s film Western, for which Sandoval received the César Award for Best Film Music. Patrick then founded Score Factory, enabling him to create numerous compositions for cinema and television.
He taught at the CNSMDP (the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris) for 30 years, where he established the first film music class.
Serving on numerous national and international boards, he is honorary president of the Union of Film Music Composers and serves on the boards of the three French organizations represented at ECSA.
He is a member of the General Assembly of the Cannes Film Festival and of the César Academy.
At SACEM, he was successively appointed commissioner, then elected as a board member, Secretary General, and finally President on three occasions, the last time unanimously. He initiated the creation of SACEM’s CSI (the Innovation Council), which was sponsored by Jean-Michel Jarre.
A fervent defender of authors’ rights and collective management, after two years of negotiations with music publishers, he signed the Code of Practices for Music Publishing in the presence of the Minister of Culture. This code redefined publishers’ obligations in order to better combat coercive publishing practices.
A strong advocate of cultural values, he actively participated in 2019 in the vote on the European Copyright Directive, opposing the GAFAM companies within the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Alongside his various responsibilities, he continues to compose numerous film and television scores, particularly in North America. This work earned him the 2020 ASCAP Screen Music Award for the original music of the United States number one television series.
He also co-wrote, with Jean-Christophe Prudhomme, the music for the most widely exported French television series in the world, which received the Unifrance Export Award in 2021.
One of the most widely broadcast French composers worldwide, he received the 2022 SACEM Grand Prix for International Repertoire.
In 2025, he was decorated by the French Government and appointed Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Minister of Culture.