Celebrating Francophone Films at the Annual American-French Film Festival

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.

6 French Language Films to Watch Online in March

The Belgium film Nos Batailles (Our Struggles) opens A Week of French Language Cinema, an annual Francophone film festival held online this year by Theatre Raymond Kabbaz in Los Angeles. All films in French with English subtitles.

Of all the things I’ve missed most over the past year, going to the cinema is at the top of the list. As a screenwriter and film director myself—as well as a confirmed Old Soul—sitting in a theater and sharing the collective experience of watching art come to life is one of my greatest joys.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of our first official lockdown—not exactly a milestone worthy of cake and champagne, mais non?—there is reasonable hope that the ban on movie-going will soon become a distant memory.

In the meantime, the Raymond Kabbaz Theatre in West Los Angeles, known for its association with French culture and cinema, has brought its annual celebration of French independent film online. I always attend this week-long mini film festival in person every year, and as someone who has become overloaded with online-versions of everything this year—from business meetings and Happy Hour to Pilates classes and medical appointments—this is one online event I can guarantee I will not be skipping.

6 French Language Films to Watch Online in March

From March 20-25, each evening highlights an independent film from a different Francophone region—including Québec, Belgium, Algeria, Switzerland, and of course, France. These art-house films are all shown in French with English subtitles, and have been celebrated in various prestigious festivals, some including Cannes—and many have won or been nominated for some of the industry’s highest awards, including Cesars, Golden Globes, and Oscars.

Join me on opening night as we virtually travel to Belgium to screen Nos Batailles on Saturday, March 20. To read about the films and purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.

See you au cinema!