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As the Deauville American Film Festival turns 50, it rolls out the red carpet for Hollywood legends and up-and-coming indie filmmakers. With a stellar lineup of 100 films and a host of prestigious guests, this year’s edition promises to be an unforgettable celebration of the best in American cinema from September 6 to 15.
After a somewhat subdued 49th edition due to the strike in the film industry across the Atlantic, Deauville is determined to make a big impact for its 50th milestone. And the least that can be said is that the program promises to be exceptional, with the arrival of many prominent figures from the American film industry.
Leading the lineup is actor Michael Douglas, a true living legend, who will kick off the festivities. He will receive a lifetime achievement award and have the honor of inaugurating these ten days of celebration. But the list of prestigious guests doesn’t stop there — far from it.
The monumental director Francis Ford Coppola will also walk the red carpet in Normandy to present his highly anticipated new film, Megalopolis, in a world premiere. This is a major event for the man who directed masterpieces like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.
On the actresses’ side, Natalie Portman and Michelle Williams, both Oscar winners for Black Swan and My Week with Marilyn, respectively, will receive honorary awards for their contributions to cinema. Similar recognition will be given to director James Gray (Ad Astra) and documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, both regulars at the Deauville festival.
For more than just a glamorous showcase, Deauville has sought to be a “safe haven for American independent cinema” for 50 years, according to its historical programmer Jérôme Lasserre. Here, the goal is to discover and showcase new talents long before they become global stars. Jessica Chastain, Ryan Gosling, Xavier Dolan… All of them graced the Norman boardwalk at the start of their careers.
This year will be no exception, with no fewer than 8 debut films in competition out of the 14 presented. “The most important thing is to honor the filmmakers, without whom there would be no cinema,” emphasizes Jérôme Lasserre. The central theme that emerges? “Filiation, what we will leave to our children.”
Film lovers will also have the privilege of discovering, in a premiere, the Palme d’Or winner from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Anora by Sean Baker, as well as the latest highly anticipated works by Paolo Sorrentino (Parthenope), Michel Hazanavicius (The Most Precious of Goods), and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice).
In total, there will be no less than 100 films, 170 screenings, and 70 film crews enlivening this whirlwind week of cinema between the Casino Barrière, the CID, and the Morny cinema. Expect a star-studded lineup and grand spectacle, with some 60,000 festivalgoers expected.
On the already legendary boardwalk, James Gray and then Natalie Portman will each inaugurate a new beach cabin bearing their names, a ritual to which the greats, from Burt Lancaster to Tippi Hedren to John Travolta, have already submitted.
This 50th edition, under the new direction of Aude Hesbert, following Bruno Barde’s withdrawal after harassment allegations, will have French actor Benoît Magimel as the jury president. There’s no doubt that all eyes will be on the rising stars of American cinema, which Deauville tirelessly seeks out. The American dream, in its independent and original version, is set to ignite the Normandy coast once again.
With AFP
