“There is a feminine vibe in the air,” says Aude Hesbert, artistic director of the Deauville American Film Festival

Aude Hesbert, the new artistic director of the Deauville American Film Festival (September 5-14) is giving the event a makeover via a series of initiatives designed to bolster the festival’s identity as a key meeting point for the US and French independent film industries.

‘Industry Encounters’ is bringing together executives with panels, case studies, and networking sessions focused on introducing attendees to particular ways of working in the two industries. There will be sessions on French production s spearheaded by Film France, while US practioners will talk about roles such as casting directors and intimacy coordinators.

“It will be a platform of exchange that is as practical as possible,” says Hesbert of Industry Encounters. “Everyone needs to think internationally. Deauville is a lab where the industry can get together in a more intimate, accessible, open setting than other bigger, busier festivals, discover new talent, and lay the groundwork for future US-French co-productions.

Deauville’s new initiatives come in a year ripe with Franco-American projects that have swept festivals including Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, Kristen Stewart’s The Chronology of Water, Rebecca Zlotowski’s A Private Life, Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother, and Alice Winocour’s Couture.

Over the years, the festival has helped several films secure French distributors after winning prizes or benefitting from local media coverage and audience enthusiasm. Recent examples include 2024 selection’s Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio’s In The Summers and Lola Besis and Ruben Amar’s Silver Star, both acquired by Wayna Pitch, and Shane Atkinson’s LaRoy that was snapped up by ARP after it won the festival’s grand prix, audience award and critics award in 2023.

This year, among the 13 films in competition, 10 are first features and more than half are still searching for local distributors.

“Deauville is very important for US indie films ahead of their release, particularly if they win the main prizes, that really has a noticeable commercial impact,” says Alexis Mas, CEO of Condor distribution that has Cole Wembley’s Omaha in competition and Kelly Reichardt’s Mastermind playing at the festival.

Ira Sachs‘ Little Men won the festival’s grand prix in 2016 before going on to sell some 120,000 tickets at the French box office; After premiering at Cannes in 2022, Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun screened at Deauville where it earned the festival’s grand prize and ended up selling some 200,000 tickets during its 2023 release.

“For US indie titles as a distributor, we have zero aid and lose out on all counts, so Deauville is a good place to eventise the films,” says Charles Gillibert, producer at CG Cinema and head of Les Films du Losange who produced and will distribute Stewart’s The Chronology Of Water that is playing in Deauville competition.

Mas adds: “Today, taking on a US indie film to release in France means taking a huge risk so being able to give it a boost at a festival like Deauville is essential.”

Fresh air

Following a post overseeing French cultural agency Villa Albertine in Los Angeles after running North American operations for Unifrance Hesbert took the reins after the festival’s former artistic director Bruno Barde was ousted from his position in June 2024 following accusations of sexual misconduct by seven former female employees. (Barde was also head of Public Système Cinema which oversees Deauville and four other festivals.)

The festival has subsequently created a charter with strict policies to help combat sexual harassment, made it obligatory for all of its employees to undergo training sessions, and sent a letter to all festival guests and partners with resources for managing any potential incidents at this year’s event.

“We want everyone to feel respected and safe throughout the festival and hope these policies will give it a breath of fresh air,” says Hesbert. Plus, she adds: “There is a feminine vibe in the air this year as we honour strong women from multiple generations.”

She cites the career achievement awards for Kim Novak and Pamela Anderson, the presence of jury president Golshifteh Farahani and Kristen Stewart, who has been given a “carte blanche” by the festival to present her favourite films, as well as Zoey Deutch who will receive the Hollywood Rising Star Award.

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