France and America have a long and common history in film and have always had a very open relationship to conversation, mutual influence and inspiration. This heritage is a major focus of this year’s American-French Film Festival, which will be held from October 28 to November 28 at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles. 3. The festival lineup includes 70 films and series, including 42 fiction features, nine series, six documentaries, and 13 short films, many with world, international, North American, or U.S. premieres.
“All genres are represented, highlighting how diverse and creative French production remains,” says François Truffard, executive producer and programmer of the festival. “At a time when the importance of diversity is too often questioned, we take pride in continuing to present new and diverse perspectives to American audiences. The cultural exchange fostered by festivals like ours has never been more important than it is today.”
The Franco-American Cultural Fund was established in 1996 to strengthen dialogue between the American and French film communities. “It has always been very important to keep this bridge as strong as possible, because it allows for artistic fluidity between our two countries,” says TAFFF Deputy Director Anoushka van Riel. Rebecca Zlotowski’s directorial debut, A Private Life, starring Jodie Foster, is performed entirely in French and embodies that spirit. Foster, an Oscar winner, will also be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the fest.
Also bridging the gap between language and art is American director Richard Linklater, winner of the Franco-American Cultural Foundation Award. His film, the French version of Nouvelle Vague, is the highlight of the festival. “Director Richard Linklater is the first to direct a film in French, featuring a French crew and actors, based on the story of iconic French director Jean-Luc Godard. The crossover between French and American filmmakers is creating more creatively interesting and entertaining visual storytelling than ever before, with audiences not just paying attention, but completely engaged and engaged,” says Van Riel.
Jodie Foster speaks entirely in French in Rebecca Zlotowski’s A Private Life.
Cannes Film Festival/Courtesy of Georges Lechaputois
“For 29 years, the mission of the Franco-American Cultural Foundation has been to foster a creative dialogue between France and the United States through films that inspire, connect and transcend borders,” said Cécile Rapp-Weber, Chairman of the French Cultural Foundation and CEO of French distribution and rights company SACEM. “For years now, we have celebrated artists who bridge cultures, and honoring Jodie Foster and Richard Linklater at this year’s American-French Film Festival perfectly reflects that spirit. and Jodie Foster, who embraced our culture from a young age, and on the other, the Nouvelle Vague, reflecting the long-standing admiration that American filmmakers have felt for French cinema for generations.”
In addition to screening films, TV series and short films, the festival will also host workshops with industry experts, French filmmakers, actors and producers. Scheduled events include a DGA workshop with Sean Baker (“Anora”) and Jason Reitman (“Saturday Night”) who will talk about the importance of theater and film, and a screenwriting workshop with the Writers Guild. Another series to be featured at this year’s festival, New Horizons, offers film fans the opportunity to discover films by both emerging and established French filmmakers that offer unique cinematic visions in both form and substance.
Truffert said, “This is how French creators think about this business. We talk about filmmakers, directors and screenwriters being key to the French system, but in the US it’s a little different. It’s more shared with American producers, but it’s also an interesting difference to compare from year to year. That’s also what this event is about. It’s dedicated to the industry and all the people who work for it.”
