| Year: | 2003 |
| Broadcaster: | French: [[France Télévisions]]|i=no |
| Country: | France |
| Preselection: | Internal selection |
| Preselection Date: | 7 March 2003 |
| Entrant: | Louisa Baïleche |
| Song: | French: Monts et merveilles|i=no |
| Final Result: | 18th, 19 points |
France was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "French: Monts et merveilles|i=no", written by Hocine Hallaf, and performed by Louisa Baïleche. The French participating broadcaster French: [[France Télévisions]]|i=no internally selected its entry for the contest. "French: Monts et merveilles|i=no" was officially presented to the public on 7 March 2003 during the France 3 programme French: Le Fabuleux Destin de....
As a member of the "Big Four", France automatically qualified to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. Performing in position 19, France placed eighteenth out of the 26 participating countries with 19 points.
See main article: France in the Eurovision Song Contest. Prior to the 2003 contest, French: [[France Télévisions]]|i=no and its predecessor national broadcasters, have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing France forty-five times since RTF's debut in .[1] They first won the contest in with "French: [[Dors, mon amour]]|i=no" performed by André Claveau. In the 1960s, they won three times, with "Tom Pillibi" performed by Jacqueline Boyer in, "French: [[Un premier amour]]|i=no" performed by Isabelle Aubret in, and "French: [[Un jour, un enfant]]|i=no" performed by Frida Boccara, who won in in a four-way tie with the,, and the . Their fifth – and so far latest – victory came in with "French: [[L'oiseau et l'enfant]]|i=no" performed by Marie Myriam. France has also finished second four times, with Paule Desjardins in, Catherine Ferry in, Joëlle Ursull in, and Amina in (who lost out to 's Carola in a tie-break). In the 21st century, they make the top ten two times, with "French: [[Je n'ai que mon âme]]|i=no" performed by Natasha St-Pier finishing fourth and "French: [[Il faut du temps (song)|Il faut du temps]]|i=no" by Sandrine François finishing fifth .
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, French: France Télévisions|i=no organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country through French: [[France 3]]|i=no. The French broadcasters had used both national finals and internal selection to choose their entries in the past. Their and entries were selected via a national final that featured several competing acts. In 2001 and 2002, the broadcaster opted to internally select the entry, a procedure that was continued in order to select the 2003 entry.
French: France Télévisions|i=no announced in early 2003 that its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 would be selected internally. On 13 January 2003, the broadcaster opened a submission period in order for interested artists and songwriters to submit their proposals.[2] On 7 March 2003, the broadcaster announced during the France 3 programme French: Le Fabuleux Destin de..., hosted by Isabelle Giordano, that the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 would be "French: "Monts et merveilles|i=no" performed by Louisa Baïleche.[3] [4] The song was written by Hocine Hallaf. The selection committee of French: France Télévisions|i=no considered two entries, "French: "Monts et merveilles|i=no" performed by Louisa Baïleche and "French: Un jour, je t'emmènerai|i=no" performed by Thibault Durand, before finalising their decision internally on 28 February 2003.[5] [6]
As a member of the "Big 4", France automatically qualified to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 on 24 May 2003. During the running order draw on 29 November 2003, France was placed to perform in position 19, following the entry from and before the entry from .[7] France placed eighteenth in the final, scoring 19 points.[8] [9]
In France, the show was broadcast on France 3 with commentary by Laurent Ruquier and Isabelle Mergault, as well as via radio on France Bleu with commentary by Laurent Boyer. French: France Télévisions|i=no appointed Sandrine François (who represented France in 2002) as its spokesperson to announce the French votes during the show.
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to France and awarded by France in the contest.