IN WAVES

Los Angeles Premiere | France | 2026 | Animation, Drama, Romance | 91 min | In English

Directed by: Phuong Mai Nguyen
Written by: Fanny Burdino, Samuel Doux
Based on the Graphic Novel by: AJ Dungo
Produced by: Priscilla Bertin & Judith Nora (Silex Films), Nick Shumaker (Anonymous Content)
Original Score: Oklou, ROB
Film Editing: Roberto Fernandez
Cast: Will Sharpe (AJ), Stephanie Hsu (Kristen), Johnny Young (Eon, and AJ’s Dad), Alejandro Antonio Ruiz (Francisco), Griffin Puatu (Jeff).
International Sales: Charades
US Distributor: Netflix
US Release date: December 2026

Synopsis

AJ, a reserved high school student in Los Angeles, spends his days drawing and skateboarding with his friends. Kristen, an energetic surfer, finds joy and freedom in the ocean. When they meet, curiosity evolves into deep love: Kristen teaches AJ to surf and shares its historical connection to Hawaiian culture. As their relationship grows closer — and through devastating events — AJ is inspired to preserve their connection by drawing their story. A coming-of-age animated drama immersed in surf culture, In Waves explores the excitement of young love, the thrill of discovering one’s passion, and the heartbreak of saying goodbye.

Director’s bio

Director’s bio-Vietnamese-born director Phuong Mai Nguyen graduated from Gobelins and La Poudrière. She co-directed the adaptation of Pénélope Bagieu’s graphic novel Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World into a 30-episode animated series broadcast on France Télévisions in 2019. She regularly collaborates with other directors on storyboarding and visual development for animated films and series. She has directed several short films, including My Home, which was pre-selected for the César Awards and shortlisted for the Oscars in 2016. Mai Nguyen began work on In Waves, her first feature film, as a resident of Villa Albertine in Los Angeles in 2023. The film opened the Critics’ Week section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.