The American French Film Festival (TAFFF) commenced its 29th edition on November 1, 2023, featuring a lineup that reflects both established Hollywood talent and emerging filmmakers. Building on the success of last year’s acclaimed film, Emilia Pérez, the festival is set to showcase over 70 titles, celebrating the collaboration between the French and U.S. film industries.
Founded in 1996 through the Franco-American Cultural Fund, TAFFF is now recognized as the world’s largest festival dedicated to French cinema and television. The festival’s screenings and events take place at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles, highlighting the ongoing partnership between organizations like the Directors Guild of America and the Motion Picture Association.
Opening the festival is A Private Life, a mystery feature directed by Rebecca Zlotowski that marks Jodie Foster‘s first-ever role in French. Foster, a two-time Oscar winner fluent in the language, received a lifetime achievement award during the screening. The centerpiece of this year’s festival is Nouvelle Vague, directed by Richard Linklater. The film, which chronicles the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s iconic movie, Breathless, showcases Linklater’s first project filmed entirely in French. He accepted the Franco-American Cultural Fund Award during the screening, which featured performances from American actress Zoey Deutch and French actors Guillaume Marbeck and Aubry Dullin.
TAFFF Deputy Director Anouchka van Riel expressed the festival’s commitment to cultural exchange, stating, “It’s right smack in the center of what our DNA is, which is cultural and creative exchanges between France and the United States.” The festival aims to highlight diverse voices in French cinema, countering the stereotypical notion of French culture as solely represented by popular shows like Emily in Paris.
Other notable films this year include It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and is France’s selection for the international feature Oscar. The festival also features The Richest Woman in the World, led by Isabelle Huppert, and a documentary focused on Brigitte Bardot.
In addition to film screenings, the festival hosts a DGA-sponsored filmmaker panel featuring Linklater, Jason Reitman, and recent Oscar winner Sean Baker. Moderated by former DGA president Taylor Hackford, the discussion centers on the vitality of feature films and the importance of rejuvenating the cinema experience. Hackford emphasized the significance of these conversations, stating, “These are people who are working directors facing an existential crisis in our business.”
While the festival showcases high-profile names, organizers strive to introduce new filmmaking talent to American audiences. The newly established New Horizons program highlights work from both emerging and established French filmmakers with unique perspectives. Among the featured titles are Valérie Donzelli’s At Work, which garnered a best screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival, and Claire Denis’s The Fence, starring Tom Blyth and Mia McKenna-Bruce.
Van Riel noted the importance of showcasing the diversity of French artistic voices, stating, “The majority of the audience might think of France right now as Emily in Paris. Well, guess what? We are not only the Eiffel Tower.” She highlighted films like The Little Sister by Hafsia Herzi, which explores the life of a lesbian teenager in a Muslim family and won the Queer Palm prize at Cannes. Another noteworthy feature is Love Me Tender by Anna Cazenave Cambet, which tells the story of a woman fighting for custody of her son while navigating a new relationship with a woman.
The festival’s lineup coincides with a promising period for French filmmakers, as they increasingly connect with wider American audiences. Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2023, received five Oscar nominations, including best picture. Films like The Substance, which filmed in France with a predominantly French crew, also garnered recognition, winning an Oscar for makeup.
TAFFF Executive Producer and Artistic Director François Truffart expressed pride in the festival’s role in promoting French cinema. He noted the success of Emilia Pérez, which received 13 Academy Award nominations and won for best song. The film was screened at last year’s festival, where its composers performed a special concert.
As the festival embraces its future, it continues to expand its reach. For those unable to attend in person, TAFFF offers over 1,000 film and series titles available for rental through its library. Additionally, the festival hosts free screenings for local high school students, including a presentation of Nouvelle Vague.
With the rise of streaming services making international cinema more accessible, the hope is that interest in French films will continue to grow. Truffart commented, “We know that we’re still a niche market, like any other foreign industry, so it’s always a challenge. The good news is that people get used to watching films with subtitles.” The festival remains committed to championing unique voices in cinema, ensuring a vibrant future for French film in the global landscape.
