Nouvelle Vague. (L-R) Matthieu Penchinat as Raoul Coutard, Guillaume Marbeck as Jean Luc Godard, Aubry Dullin as Jean-paul Belmondo and Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg in Nouvelle Vague. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix
The American French Film Festival (TAFFF) has returned to Los Angeles, showcasing a diverse lineup of films and television series from French and American creators. Running from October 31 to November 3, 2025, this year’s festival celebrates the collaboration between the French and U.S. film industries, which has been ongoing since the establishment of the Franco-American Cultural Fund in 1996.
Among the 70 titles featured this year is the opening-night selection, A Private Life, directed by French filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski. This film notably marks Jodie Foster‘s first role entirely in French. Foster, a two-time Academy Award winner, received a lifetime achievement award during the screening.
The centerpiece of this year’s festival is Richard Linklater‘s latest narrative film, Nouvelle Vague, which chronicles the making of the iconic New Wave film Breathless by Jean-Luc Godard. Linklater accepted the Franco-American Cultural Fund Award at the screening, which featured an American cast and crew working within the French film context.
Anouchka van Riel, deputy director of TAFFF, highlighted the festival’s ethos, 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.” Linklater’s project exemplifies this mission, blending American and French cinematic traditions.
This year’s festival is not just about big names. It also aims to spotlight emerging filmmakers. The new New Horizons program features works from both rising and established French directors. Among the notable films is At Work by Valérie Donzelli, which won best screenplay at the Venice Film Festival, and The Fence by Claire Denis, starring Tom Blyth and Mia McKenna-Bruce.
The festival also includes significant titles such as It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and The Richest Woman in the World starring Isabelle Huppert. These films contribute to the festival’s goal of presenting a broad spectrum of French cinema.
In addition to film screenings, TAFFF hosts a DGA-sponsored filmmaker panel featuring Linklater, Jason Reitman, and Sean Baker, moderated by former DGA president Taylor Hackford. The panel will discuss the future of feature films and the importance of revitalizing the cinema-going experience. Hackford remarked on the significance of this dialogue, stating, “These are people who are working directors, facing an existential crisis in our business.”
While TAFFF is proud to feature high-profile filmmakers, it also emphasizes the importance of showcasing unique voices. Van Riel pointed out that the festival aims to highlight the diversity of French cinema and challenge perceptions shaped by mainstream representations, such as the show Emily in Paris.
Two films that illustrate this diversity are The Little Sister by Hafsia Herzi, which focuses on a lesbian teen in a Muslim family, and Love Me Tender by Anna Cazenave Cambet, which explores a woman’s custody battle while navigating a new relationship. Both films debuted at Cannes and are being showcased at TAFFF to promote broader discussions around unique narratives.
The festival’s timing aligns with a notable surge in the popularity of French films in the U.S. market. Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, which won the Palme d’Or in 2023, received nominations for five Oscars, including best picture. Similarly, Jacques Audiard‘s Emilia Pérez led the Academy Awards with 13 nominations, winning for best song and best supporting actress, Zoe Saldaña.
Francois Truffart, executive producer and artistic director of TAFFF, stated that the festival has been instrumental in promoting these films. “We are really the place where you have the most important group of AMPAS members,” he noted, emphasizing the festival’s role in the awards campaign process.
As TAFFF continues to evolve, it also seeks to expand its audience beyond the festival. The organization offers over 1,000 film and series titles for rental and provides free screenings for local high school students. This initiative aims to foster a new generation of cinema enthusiasts who appreciate international film.
Truffart expressed optimism about the growing accessibility of foreign films, particularly as streaming services become more integrated into viewing habits. “We know that we’re still a niche market, like any other foreign industry, so it’s always a challenge,” he said. However, he acknowledged that recent trends show increasing comfort with subtitles and foreign films, indicating a promising future for international cinema in the U.S. market.
