A FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL STORY
THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL (formerly COLCOA FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL) was created in 1997 by the Franco- American Cultural Fund (FACF), a unique partnership between the Directors Guild of America, the Motion Picture Association, la SACEM and the Writers Guild of America West. (Click here for a detailed presentation of the FACF). For the last 27 years, the event has been committed to promoting the best new French films and series in the U.S. and to showcasing in Hollywood the vitality and the diversity of French cinema, television, and shorts. TAFFF is ranked among the top 3 Film Festivals in Los Angeles, the most comprehensive annual French cultural event in the U.S., and the largest festival dedicated to French cinema and television in the world. Following the mission of the FACF, the festival is dedicated to facilitate and encourage connections between professionals of both countries with several panels and workshops taking place during the week. In 2024, the festival was again part of the awards season with an opening on October 29 through the closing night on November 3 at the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
The selection is mainly made of premieres. Several high-profile features presented are World Premieres, International Premieres, North American or U.S. Premieres. The showcase is also known for presenting films before their French release and several months before their commercial distribution in the U.S., raising the event’s profile among U.S. distributors who use the event as a platform to launch and promote their film in Hollywood.
Since 2021, a few films and series already released during the year can be part of the selection and compete for the Awards. The audience of the festival is made up of cinephiles, industry professionals, and lovers of French culture. It covers a diverse mix of the people living in Los Angeles.
THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL has developed partnerships with organizations like IFTA, the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Institute, Film Independent, Women in Film, The American Cinematheque, SAG and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.