Festivals - Colcoa 2021: the 25th edition will exceptionally take place from November 1 to 7, 2021

By Mulder, 28 may 2021

The French American Cultural Fund (FCFA), a unique collaboration between the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers (SACEM) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), has just announced that the 2021 edition of the COLCOA Festival will take place from November 1 to 7, in person, at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, in order to allow the French delegation and the public to benefit from the easing of travel restrictions and the increase in theaters' capacity.

COLCOA is a celebration of Paris and Los Angeles, two key cities in the world of film and television. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this prestigious festival with a week of previews, with directors, writers, actors and producers participating in several panels and debates.

"We envisioned this edition as a celebration of the public's return to theaters to experience the previews of French films and series in Hollywood once again. We have slightly modified our dates in order to offer the safest and best possible conditions to festival-goers, professionals and partners. With the constant improvements in health and public safety in California, we are confident that COLCOA will be able to offer a total festival experience in November with red carpets, screenings and a real audience and we want to maximize our chances of inviting a French artistic delegation," explains Jean-Noël Tronc, President of FACF and Director General of SACEM.

"The new dates of the Cannes Film Festival, shifted to July, also had an impact on our decision," explains François Truffart, executive producer and artistic director of the festival. "We had to adapt our calendar because several films presented in Cannes will be selected for the COLCOA Awards. The competition will reach a new dimension this year: for the first time in addition to previews, it will include films and series recently released in theaters and on platforms in the United States, offering for its 25th anniversary, the best of French cinema and series. "

"Without the community aspect, COLCOA would not exist. After a year of isolation, we will finally get together to watch films on the big screen, follow debates and exchange on our cinematographic experiences. We are aware of the importance of returning to theaters, after this disrupted period for the film industry, in order to promote French filmmakers who have seen their films distributed on platforms during the pandemic," explains Anouchka van Riel, deputy director of the festival.

COLCOA, one of the oldest and largest film festivals in California, offers a high-profile and prestigious event each year to promote French films and series at the beginning of the Hollywood awards season.

COLCOA brings together the cream of the French film industry (directors, actors, writers, composers and producers) for red carpets, debates and screenings and to foster collaborations between French and American professionals. The festival gathers each year more than 20,000 spectators, mixing professionals, journalists, general public and students.

COLCOA French Film & Series Festival was created and is produced by the French American Cultural Fund, a unique collaboration between the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the Société des Auteurs, Composers and Music Publishers (SACEM) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), with the support of Unifrance, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ARP, TVF1, Air Tahiti Nui, Bank of the West/BNP Parisbas, TV5 Monde/Sling and Variety. The COLCOA Education program is presented with the support of ELMA.

(Source : Press release)