Festivals - Deauville 2026: Roschdy Zem to Chair the Jury for the 52nd Edition, Dedicated to Freedom and Franco-American Friendship

By Mulder, 11 june 2026

The Deauville American Film Festival has officially unveiled the first major announcements for its 52nd edition, which will take place from September 4 to 13, 2026, revealing both its official poster and the name of the person who will chair the competition jury: Roschdy Zem. This announcement fits perfectly into the history of the Normandy event, which over the decades has become one of the most important showcases for American cinema in Europe. Since its creation in 1975 by Lionel Chouchan and André Halimi, with the support of the Lucien Barrière Group and the City of Deauville—then led by Michel d’Ornano—the festival has always sought to foster an ongoing dialogue between French and American cultures. This special bond is now stronger than ever, as the event prepares to celebrate a new edition in a particularly symbolic context marked by the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and the 140th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.

The choice of Roschdy Zem as jury president seems obvious, as his career reflects the values of artistic freedom, high standards, and openness championed by the festival. For over forty years, the actor, director, and screenwriter has established himself as one of the leading figures in contemporary French cinema. Having emerged in the early 1990s, he has built a remarkable career by rejecting conventional paths and favoring complex characters, often torn by deep contradictions. His work with such prominent filmmakers as Xavier Beauvois, André Téchiné, Pierre Jolivet, Arnaud Desplechin, Laetitia Masson, Louis Garrel, Rachid Bouchareb, and Rebecca Zlotowski has shaped a rich and distinctive filmography. Winner of the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in Arnaud Desplechin’s Roubaix, a Light, he has also developed a personal body of work behind the camera with Mauvaise Foi, Omar m’a tuer, Bodybuilder, Chocolat, Persona non grata, and Les Miens films that reflect a deeply humanistic perspective on French society, questions of identity, and the often-overlooked lives of the characters he chooses to highlight.

For regulars at Deauville, this appointment is part of a prestigious tradition. Since the creation of the official competition in 1995, the jury has been chaired by leading figures in French and international cinema, including Charlotte Rampling, Sophie Marceau, Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Neil Jordan, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Roman Polanski, Claude Lelouch, Nicole Garcia, Sandrine Bonnaire, Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Arnaud Desplechin, Guillaume Canet, Benoît Magimel, and Golshifteh Farahani last year. Roschdy Zem’s arrival continues this lineage of presidents known for their discerning eye on cinema and their ability to champion ambitious works. Beyond his personal prestige, his presence should also reinforce the focus on human stories and independent films, a territory that the festival has gradually placed at the heart of its identity since the 1990s.

The other notable element of this first announcement concerns the official poster for the 2026 edition. The festival has chosen a spectacular close-up of the Statue of Liberty, an iconic monument gifted by France to the United States at the end of the 19th century. More than just a tourist symbol, this figure—conceived by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and created with the participation of Gustave Eiffel’s workshops—represents one of the most powerful emblems of Franco-American relations. The choice of a close-up, inspired by cinematic language, is by no means insignificant. It evokes cinema’s ability to capture an emotion, to engage the viewer, and to give a face to abstract ideas. Through this image, Deauville reaffirms its commitment to the notions of freedom, hospitality, generosity, and hope values that resonate particularly strongly in an international climate often marked by tensions and uncertainties.

This poster also takes on a special historical significance, as 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. By linking this anniversary to that of the Statue of Liberty, the festival highlights the unique cultural role it has played for over half a century. Deauville has never been merely a film festival. It has long served as a bridge between two worlds between Hollywood and independent cinema, between major American productions and more intimate works that find exceptional visibility among European audiences on the Normandy coast. This mission has grown stronger over time, particularly since 1995, when the official competition began highlighting emerging talents in American independent cinema, while continuing to welcome the industry’s biggest names.

The festival’s history also bears witness to this dual identity. Its famous boardwalk has seen the likes of Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, George Clooney, Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise, Sharon Stone, Al Pacino, Michael Douglas, Julia Roberts, John Travolta, and Nicole Kidman. Deauville’s prestigious Tributes have also honored iconic figures such as Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis, Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Williams, Jessica Chastain, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, James Gray, and Frederick Wiseman. For many French film lovers, Deauville has often been the first opportunity to see up close these artists who have shaped the history of American cinema.

The 2026 edition will also be one of the first to fully reflect the new direction set by director Aude Hesbert, who took the helm of the festival following Bruno Barde’s departure. Since her appointment, she has affirmed her commitment to continuing the festival’s openness while strengthening the event’s ethical and social commitments. This new chapter in Deauville’s history is thus built around a balance between tradition and modernity, between respect for the festival’s heritage and adaptation to the contemporary expectations of the cultural world.

With the appointment of Roschdy Zem, a particularly inspired lineup, and strong symbolism centered on freedom and Franco-American friendship, the Deauville American Film Festival already seems to have set the tone for this 52nd edition. For film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and loyal festival-goers who return each year to the beaches of Normandy, all the ingredients seem to be in place to make September 2026 a new milestone in one of the most beautiful love stories between France and American cinema.

(Source: press release)