THE FRANCO AMERICAN CULTURAL FUND ANNOUNCES THE 2024 AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

 The Marching Band is Honored with the Audience Award for Cinema

Souleyman’s Story Earns the Critics Award for Cinema

The Blissful is the TV Movie Award winner

Becoming Karl Lagerfeld wins Audience Award for TV Series

At a luncheon held today at the headquarters of SACEM, members of the Franco-American Cultural Fund (FACF) and The American French Film Festival  (TAFFF) Program Committee announced the winners of THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS.  The nine awards announced included those for Cinema, TV Movie, First Film by a director, TV Series, Documentary, and Short Film.  The awards were voted on by the attending audience of TAFFF, members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, a jury of entertainment professionals, and students who participated in the TAFFF High School Screenings Program. Of the 60 films showcased during the festival, 59 were in consideration for the Awards.

Taking the top honor for the Audience Award for best film was THE MARCHING BAND (En Fanfare), written by Emmanuel Courcol and Irène Muscari, and directed by Emmanuel Courcol. Original score by Michel Petrossian. International sales: Playtime.

SOULEYMAN’S STORY (L’Histoire de Souleyman), written by Delphine Agut and Boris Lojkine, and directed by Boris Lojkine, earned the Critics Award for best film.  International sales: Pyramid International.

Louise Courvoisier’s HOLY COW (Vingt Dieux), which was co-written with Théo Abadie, won the First Film Award. Original score by Charlie Lavoisier and Linda Lavoisier. International Sales: Pyramide International. US Distributor: Zeitgeist Films.

The Documentary Film Award went to ONCE UPON A TIME MICHEL LEGRAND (Il état une fois Michel Legrand), written by David Hertzog Dessites and Willy Duraffourgm and directed by David Hertzog Dessites. Music by Michel Legrand. International Sales: Mediawan Rights. 

The American Students Award went to THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (Le Comte de Monte Cristo), written and directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre De La Patellière. Original Score by Jérôme Rebotier. International Sales: Pathé Films. US Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn.

In the Television category, THE BLISSFUL (Les Enchantés), written by Stanislas Carré de Malberg and Raphaële Moussafir, and directed by Stanislas Carré de Malberg, won the TV Movie Award.  Original score by Robin Court. International Sales: Film & Picture.

The TV series winning the Audience Award was BECOMING KARL LAGERFELD.  The series was created by Isaure Pisani-Ferry and Jennifer Have; written by Isaure Pisani-Ferry, Jennifer Have, Dominique Baumard, and Nathalie Hertzberg; and directed by Jérôme Salle and Audrey Estrougo. Original Score by Sacha Galperine, Evgeni Galperine.  International Sales: Disney+ - US distributor Disney+/Hulu. 

SAMBER (Sambre), created and written by Alice Géraud, Marc Herpoux and Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, and directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, won the Jury Series Award. Original Score by Raf Keunen. International Sales: Federation Studios. 

The Short Film Award was presented to SUZANNE, written and directed by Émilie de Monsabert. Original Score by Santiago Dolan. International Sales: Manifest. 

"The 2024 TAFFF Awards are an excellent reflection of the diversity in the selection, as well as the tastes of our audiences and juries,” said Francois Truffart, Festival director and programmer. “All films and series presented were well received and the results were very close for each category, however there can only be one winner. We are pleased that both mainstream and arthouse films and series are part of the winners’ list, as well as programs presented by independent distributors, studios, and streamers. We hope that the TAFFF AWARDS will help shine a spotlight on the films and series presented in conjunction with distributors, as well as inspire distributors to acquire those excellent films currently without US representation.”

The American French Film Festival, which celebrated its 28th year this year, returned with packed theaters for many of the screenings, including Opening and Closing Nights, after being cancelled last year do to the Actors’ and Writers’ strikes.  The attendance rate was up 25% from the prior Festival in 2022.

"The success of this new edition with its increased box office confirms how the American French Film Festival has become a must-see event for professionals, as well as general audiences, in Hollywood,” said Cecile Rap-Veber, President of the Franco American Cultural Fund and CEO of SACEM. “It is a unique platform for distributors and international sales companies in North America and the development of the TAFFF INDUSTRY sessions also contributed to a new vitality and relevance of the Festival this year. Our sessions dedicated to music composers, writers, directors and producers - representing the DNA of the Fund's members (DGA, MAP, SACEM , WGA West) - were an exciting and informative part of the Festival beyond the vibrant screening program.”

THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS are presented in association with Air Tahiti Nui, AmaWaterways, LAist 89.3, and Monsieur Marcel. 

The American French Film Festival took place October 29 to November 3 at the Director’s Guild of America theater complex in Los Angeles.  All Films are presented with English subtitles. 

The American French Film Festival

The American French Film Festival was created and is produced by the Franco-American Cultural Fund, a unique collaboration between the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Motion Picture Association (MPA), France’s Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW). The American French Film Festival is also supported by Unifrance, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and France’s Society of Authors, Directors and Producers (l’ARP).  

The American French Film Festival is sponsored by Air Tahiti Nui, ELMA, L’Oréal, Champagne Louis Roederer, and Variety (Official Sponsors); Netflix (Opening Night Sponsor); Barnstormer, France Télévisions, The Hollywood Reporter, LAist 89.3 (Premier Sponsors); AmaWaterways, The Envelope Los Angeles Times, Sunset Marquis, Titra Film, TV5 Monde, West Coast Event Productions, Wine Wine Situation (Major Sponsors); Alliance Française de Los Angeles, Clarins, Deadline, Ex Nihilo, Glenfiddich, Hendrick’s, Ladurée, Laura Chenel, Le Film Français, Marin French, Monsieur Marcel, Odacité, Rivedroite, Rms beauty, Studio Haslund, Vineyard Brands (Platinum Sponsors); Airstar, Avène, Cinando, Columbus Consulting, International School Los Angeles, International Services for Artists, La Vieille Ferme, Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, Marché du Film/ Festival de Cannes, Leos, Maison et Domaines Les Alexandrins, Martingale, QMixers, Mylittlefrenchpharmacy, Suja (Supporting Sponsors); Alliance Française de Pasadena, Le Bon Garçon, Boule de Pain, Brûlée, Palikao, Screamfest, Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, Whiskey & Clay (Community Sponsors). The American French Film Festival Education Program is presented in partnership with ELMA.  

For additional information visit : www.theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org