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Netflix’s Animated Drama ‘In Waves’ Opens the American French Film Festival, TV Competition Set
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.
In short
- “In Waves” will open the American French Film Festival’s 30th edition.
- Netflix is distributing the French-produced animated feature in the US.
- Twelve television series will compete for festival awards.
Explained simply
AJ Dungo’s autobiographical graphic novel tells the story of a teenage boy who falls in love with a fellow surfer and faces her illness and death from cancer. French director Phuong Mai Nguyen has adapted it as an English-language animated film, with Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu among the voice cast.
The project brings together an American story and French animation, and first reached audiences at Cannes, where it opened the Critics’ Week selection. The American French Film Festival presents French cinema and television in Los Angeles; this year, 12 French series are also in the running for audience and jury awards.