American French Film Festival Unveils 2025 Lineup with Star Power
The American French Film Festival (TAFFF) has launched its 2025 edition, showcasing a lineup featuring notable projects that blend Hollywood talent with innovative storytelling. Running from October 31 to November 3, 2025, this festival is recognized as the largest dedicated to French cinema and television outside France. Its significance stems from a long-standing collaboration between the French and U.S. film industries, initiated with the Franco-American Cultural Fund in 1996.
The festival kicked off with the opening-night selection, A Private Life, directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. This mystery feature marks Jodie Foster’s first role performed entirely in French. During the premiere, Foster received a lifetime achievement award, highlighting her contributions to cinema. The centerpiece of this year’s festival is Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, which reflects on the creation of Jean-Luc Godard’s classic film Breathless. This screening, held on Thursday, featured Linklater accepting the Franco-American Cultural Fund Award, a testament to the film’s significance. The narrative stars Zoey Deutch, alongside French actors Guillaume Marbeck and Aubry Dullin.
TAFFF’s deputy director, Anouchka van Riel, expressed the festival’s dedication 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.” This year’s festival includes a diverse selection of approximately 70 films and television titles, reflecting both established and emerging voices in French cinema.
Among the standout films is It Was Just an Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and has been selected as France’s entry for the international feature Oscar. Other notable screenings include The Richest Woman in the World, starring Isabelle Huppert, and a documentary titled Bardot, which focuses on the iconic actress.
This year’s programming also features a filmmaker panel sponsored by the Directors Guild of America (DGA). The discussion is moderated by former DGA president Taylor Hackford and includes Linklater, Jason Reitman (Saturday Night), and recent Oscar winner Sean Baker (Anora). Hackford emphasizes the importance of revitalizing the cinematic experience, stating, “These are people who are working directors, facing an existential crisis in our business.”
TAFFF prides itself on introducing new talent alongside established stars. The festival has launched the New Horizons program, which showcases films from emerging and seasoned French filmmakers. Among the featured works are Valérie Donzelli’s At Work, which received the best screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival, and Claire Denis’s The Fence, starring Tom Blyth and Mia McKenna-Bruce. Van Riel emphasizes the festival’s mission to highlight the diversity of French cinema, stating, “The voice of French artists is not a monolith, and that voice is diverse.”
Two notable films highlighted by van Riel are The Little Sister by Hafsia Herzi, which centers on a lesbian teen navigating life in a Muslim family, and Love Me Tender by Anna Cazenave Cambet. Both films premiered at Cannes and are recognized for their unique narratives. The former won the Queer Palm prize, while the latter features Vicky Krieps in a compelling story about custody battles.
The festival’s current lineup arrives during a flourishing period for French filmmakers, who are increasingly resonating with 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 and best actress for Sandra Hüller, ultimately winning for best screenplay.
TAFFF has shifted its schedule from spring to fall, aligning with awards season to enhance its visibility. The festival’s executive producer and artistic director, François Truffart, noted that this change is strategic. “You have to be at TAFFF to be part of the campaign. We definitely played a role in the 13 nominations for Emilia Pérez and the best song win,” he stated.
For those unable to attend the festival in person, TAFFF offers a library of over 1,000 film and series titles available to rent. Additionally, it provides free screenings for local high school students, including a presentation of Nouvelle Vague. As streaming services continue to provide access to international cinema, the festival aims to cultivate a growing audience for French films.
Truffart remarked, “We know that we’re still a niche market, like any other foreign industry, so it’s always a challenge.” However, he acknowledges a shift in audience attitudes towards foreign films, particularly as viewers become accustomed to subtitles. The festival’s efforts to promote French cinema are anticipated to yield positive results in the long term.
