THE TEAM
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
François Truffart
After completing a Master degree in Economics and Politics in Paris (Dauphine University), François Truffart was Cultural Attaché in charge of the promotion of French cinema and television programs at the French Embassy in Hungary (Budapest), Japan (Tokyo) and the United States (Los Angeles) from 1991 to 2001. In 2001, he joined the Cannes Film Festival to become Director of La Cinéfondation. From 2003 to 2004, he was the U.S. representative of the Cannes Film Market. He has been in charge of programming for The American French Film Festival since 2004 and has been assigned Executive Producer of the event in 2007.
He is the author of Le Guide des Televisions en Europe, published by Bayard Press in 1991.
Francois Truffart was honored by the French government with the order of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Anouchka Van Riel
Anouchka grew up in a multicultural family in Alsace, a region which has belonged alternately to France and Germany throughout history. She is passionate about art and people of all kinds and loves to build connections and relationships between people, countries, and cultures using the universal language of art. She started her career in finance in Los Angeles at Vivendi Universal’s gaming division where she was responsible for analyzing US movie franchises (Ice Age 2, Scarface, Eragon…) and evaluating new publishing and distribution deals reporting to the French parent company Vivendi. She has worked at The American French Film Festival to promote French artists and their films in the United States since 2004. She also produces documentary films at the intersection of social justice and pop culture, including the BBC feature Kate Nash: Underestimate The Girl, and recently The Unmaking Of A College, a Zeitgeist/Kino Lorber release.
She graduated from ESCP Europe and studied at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad as well as UCLA.
She is a member of the PGA.
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Jérôme Curchod, The Bonus Room
Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, and living in Los Angeles since 1993, Jérôme Curchod worked for many years as creative director of a series of art and music publications (RayGun, Bikini, huH). He then focused his design interests toward the field of event promotion, working with a number of music and film festivals, including The American French Film Festival and HollyShorts, in Los Angeles, as well as Cinéma Tous Ecrans, in Geneva. He is currently designing a book on Switzerland, documenting its history as a set for film productions, dating back to painted backdrops of the swiss Alps in Laurel and Hardy silent features.
Director of Development
Christiane Kirsch White
Box Office
Melanie Poehner
Canelle Boughton
Theatre Management and Volunteers Coordinator
Matthew Clark
Press Relations
Patricia Frith
Claire Vorger
Film Department
Laurence Ma
Film Notes Writer
Rosemary Ricchio
Website Design and Management
Bruno Rony, Cybird.com
Social Media Manager/Talent Coordinator
Jennifer Casadessus
TAFFF TV
Loïc Pialat
Coordinator
Arthur Mc Millan
Theatre Management Melville Theatre
Ximon Wood
David Oliver
Festival Photographer
Philip Guerette
Production Design
Jessie Chen
Production Manager
Rui Xu
Art/Technical Director
René Rey Romero
Lighting Designer
Pei-Yu Lai
Interpreters
Yolanda Gilot
Nanette Gobel
IN FRANCE
Festival Paris Office/FACF
Églantine Langevin, Julie Garcia
ADVISORY PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Peter Debruge, Chief Critic Variety
Gwen Deglise, American Cinematheque
Taylor Hackford, DGA
Adeline Monzier, Unifrance US
Amy Nicholson, Critic
THE FESTIVAL PARTNERS REPRESENTATIVES
(Franco-American Cultural Fund)
Julie Garcia, SACEM
Jenny Hilscher, MPA
Eglantine Langevin, SACEM
Andrea Scott, DGA
Tiffany L. Slater, WGAW
THE FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS
Aude Hesbert, French Embassy in the United states
Lucie Girre, l’ARP
Adrien Frier, French Consul General in Los Angeles
Daniela Elstner, Adeline Monzier & Anne Takahashi, Unifrance