The French American Film Festival, formerly known as COLCOA, has set its 2023 edition dates for October 18-22.
Organized by the Franco-American Cultural Fund, the festival will host its 27th edition at the Directors Guild of America Theater on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
said Cecile Rabe Weber, CEO of Sacem (a guild of authors, composers, and publishers of music) who heads the Franco-American Cultural Fund.
“The French-American Film Festival is a wonderful symbol of the embodiment of Franco-American friendship, a defining moment and a spotlight for the promotion of French cinema and all its talented creators,” said Rabfaber.
Launched in 1996 as Hollywood’s launching pad for French films, the festival has hosted film premieres by critically acclaimed filmmakers such as Jean-Jacques Annaud, Emmanuelle Moret, Moumouna Doucouré, Céline Defoe, Olivier Assayas and Catel Quelvere.
A number of films have also been selected for US distribution after premiering at the Los Angeles-based festival, notably Michael Hazanavicius’ “Final Cut” (Kino Lorber), “A Family for 1640 Days” (Distrib Films US), and “The Super 8” (Kino Lorber). Each year, the American-French Film Festival brings together down-to-earth French stars and filmmakers to present their films and participate in panel discussions, among other activities. Previous guests include Marion Cotillard, Omar C.
“Holding in the heart of Hollywood, the French American Film Festival has become a major international event for French filmmakers and talents to gain prominence among the film community here,” said François Truvart, Executive Producer and Programmer. “Now more than ever, there are many opportunities for French-language films and series to find a home and audience in the United States,” continued Truffart. He also said that the festival provided a unique platform for international sales companies and American distributions to promote their films and series at the start of the award season.
The French American Film Festival, said Anushka Van Riel, deputy director of the festival, “continues to anchor all that is French cinema and television to the American film industry and moviegoers in a range of programs that instill an appetite for French filmmaking.”
Van Riel noted that the festival’s role in “identifying emerging talent and bringing them and their work to Los Angeles” has been key to nurturing audiences and opening up new horizons for films with producers, distributors, and more. 3,000 high school students.
This year’s edition will expand its industry program and include more opportunities for American and French filmmakers, actors and composers to exchange ideas and best practices.
