Festivals - The American French Film Festival 2025 : A Stellar 29th Edition Celebrates Franco-American Collaboration

By Mulder, 30 september 2025

The 29th edition of The American French Film Festival (TAFFF) is shaping up to be one of its most ambitious yet, as announced during a press conference held on September 30, 2025, at the Résidence de France in Beverly Hills. With screenings set for October 28 through November 3 at the Directors Guild of America theater complex, the event underscores nearly three decades of cultural exchange between French and American cinema. The announcement was hosted by Adrien Frier, Consul General of France in Los Angeles, and featured remarks by Cécile Rap-Veber, CEO of SACEM and President of the Franco-American Cultural Fund, Howard Rodman, FACF and WGAW Board member, François Truffart, Executive Producer and Programmer of TAFFF, and Anouchka van Riel, Deputy Director of the Festival. The press conference was moderated by Peter Debruge, Chief Film Critic for Variety, who set the tone for a program that blends prestige with daring discovery.

One of the most striking announcements was the confirmation that four out of the five French films shortlisted for the International Film Oscar category will be featured in this year’s lineup, including the Opening Night film A Private Life by Rebecca Zlotowski and the Centerpiece film Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater. The Closing Night will be equally prestigious with the world-exclusive presentation of Guru, co-written and directed by Yann Gozlan and starring Pierre Niney, shown months before its French release. Reflecting on the lineup, Cécile Rap-Veber underlined the Festival’s importance as a showcase for French creativity in America, emphasizing the thrill of presenting such a diverse and prestigious roster. François Truffart highlighted how the Festival has grown to become a key platform for French productions in the U.S., recognized by major distributors and studios alike, while Anouchka van Riel stressed the unprecedented collaboration between French and American talents this year, citing Jodie Foster’s first film entirely in French and Richard Linklater’s first French-language feature about Jean-Luc Godard.

The program is nothing short of monumental, featuring 70 works in total—42 fiction features, nine series, six documentaries, and 13 shorts. Of these, 69 will compete for The American French Film Festival Awards. Notably, 30 films have already premiered at major festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, Venice, and Toronto, while 25 titles will be seen for the first time in the United States before their release in France. Seventeen works will also benefit from the support of U.S. distributors. Such a spread highlights the Festival’s role not only as a cultural bridge but also as a launchpad for French productions across North America.

The Opening Night film, A Private Life, stars Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, and Vincent Lacoste, and is presented in association with Sony Pictures Classics. Two days later, on October 30, the Centerpiece screening of Nouvelle Vague will bring Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, and Aubry Dullin to the forefront, with the film also chosen as part of the High School Screenings Program in collaboration with ELMA and Netflix. The Closing Night, reserved for Guru, will see Yann Gozlan present his work for the second time at the Festival, as his other film The Residence is also included in the lineup.

Renowned filmmakers will once again light up the screen, reaffirming TAFFF’s standing. Audiences can expect Claire Denis’s The Fence, Valérie Donzelli’s At Work, and Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi, which also stands as France’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards. Other names include François Ozon with The Stranger, Sylvain Chomet with A Magnificent Life, Robin Campillo and Laurent Cantet with Enzo, and Thierry Klifa’s The Richest Woman in the World starring Isabelle Huppert. Also part of the selection are Ken Scott’s Once Upon My Mother, Cédric Jimenez’s Dog 51, Cédric Anger’s The Hunt, Alice Winocour and Jean-Stéphane Bron’s The Deal, Martin Bourboulon’s 13 Days, 13 Nights, and the aforementioned The Residence by Yann Gozlan.

TAFFF 2025 is also innovating with two new program sections: New Wave Spotlight and New Horizons. The former celebrates first and second features from emerging filmmakers, such as Baise-en-Ville by Martin Jouvat, Love Me Tender by Anna Cazenave Cambet starring Vicky Krieps, Summer Beats by Lisa Akoka and Romane Gueret, The Wonderers by Joséphine Japy, and Hearts on Fire by Aurélien Peyre. New Horizons provides cinephiles the opportunity to discover bold visions from both established and emerging directors, including Sirât by Óliver Laxe, Spain’s official Academy Awards 2026 entry, Drifting Laurent by Anton Balekdjian, Léo Couture, and Mattéo Eustachon, Ari by Léonor Seraille, The Girl in the Snow by Louise Hémon, and The Piano Accident by Quentin Dupieux.

A strong presence of female filmmakers is also notable this year, with 31 works directed by women featured in the program. Highlights include The Little Sister by Hafsia Herzi, which won Best Actress at Cannes, The Seduction by Jessica Palud, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Sepideh Farsi, Tell Her I Love Her by Romane Bohringer, Monsieur by Méliane Marcaggi, Nino by Pauline Loquès, Bon Voyage Marie by Enya Baroux, Cassandre by Hélène Merlin, Silent Rebellion by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo, and The Lost Station Girls by Virginie Sauveur. This emphasis on women directors not only reflects current shifts in the industry but also amplifies the Festival’s commitment to diversity and new perspectives.

The American French Film Festival Awards, which carry significant prestige, will once again invite the audience to vote in the Cinema, Television, and Shorts categories. For the 16th consecutive year, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association will present the Critics’ Award and the First Feature Award, while a student jury will vote for the American Students Award. A professional jury will award the Best Series, and all categories will include audience votes. Winners will be revealed on November 4, with an official awards ceremony in Paris on November 12.

As always, the Festival is more than screenings. Attendees will also have access to industry workshops, professional panels, and informal networking moments, including wine and cheese receptions on select days. Tickets will go on sale October 2 at www.tafff.org , with options for advance purchase, week-long passes, and discounted rates for guild members and organizations such as SAG-AFTRA, Women in Film, and Film Independent. Screenings before 4 p.m. on weekdays will be free on a first-come, first-served basis, reinforcing TAFFF’s mission of accessibility.

Since its creation in 1996 by the Franco-American Cultural Fund, TAFFF has stood as a symbol of the dialogue between French and American film communities. Backed by the Directors Guild of America, SACEM, the Motion Picture Association, and the Writers Guild of America West, and supported by CNC, Villa Albertine, the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, and Unifrance, the Festival continues to grow its network of sponsors and partners. This year’s sponsors include Air Tahiti Nui, Netflix, Sony Classics, TV5 Monde, Champagne Louis Roederer, Variety, and many others. Such partnerships not only sustain the Festival but also highlight its role as a cultural institution bridging two cinematic traditions.

With its rich selection, high-profile premieres, and new initiatives spotlighting emerging voices, the 2025 edition of The American French Film Festival stands as a vibrant testament to the creativity that blossoms when two cultures intersect. By bringing together the biggest names in world cinema alongside rising talents, TAFFF once again positions itself as a key event on the international festival calendar, ensuring that French storytelling continues to resonate strongly across the Atlantic.

(Source : press release)