Netflix’s animated feature “In Waves”, directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen, will open the American French Film Festival on 3 November, marking the event’s 30th anniversary. The film, which premiered at Cannes as the first animated opener of Critics’ Week, is significant for tracing an American story through French production and animation before returning to US audiences through Netflix.

Adapted from AJ Dungo’s autobiographical graphic novel, the film follows a teenage boy whose surfing mentor and love interest dies from cancer; its English-language cast includes Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu. The festival will run from 3 to 8 November in West Hollywood, with its full film line-up due on 6 October, while 12 French television series have been selected for the Audience and Jury Awards.