As always, I loved celebrating opening night of The American-French Film Festival (TAFF)—a Francophone film fête and festival that I look forward to every year—which is is especially near and dear to mon coeur, as a filmmaker myself.

Formerly known as COLCOA, the annual event kicked off at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, with a bustling buffet—featuring light bites from local French eateries, teeny tiny coupes of Champagne, and goodies from sponsor L’Oreal Paris, followed by a screening of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s fêted film ‘Notre Dame Brûle’ (Notre Dame on Fire’) about the tragic blaze that nearly destroyed the iconic and beloved Parisian église and global landmark in April of 2019.

The festival always includes a packed lineup of cinematic achievements from filmmakers, who not only hail from France, but across all Francophone geographic regions (including Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire, among others) to shine a spotlight on complex cultural issues, while also celebrating the diverse history and unique tapestry of of French speaking cultures around the world.