June 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

COLCOA French Film Festival Returns to the Directors Guild

The COLCOA French Film Festival poster. It is the largest festival dedicated to French cinema and television.

The 22nd annual COLCOA French Film Festival, the largest festival of its kind dedicated to French cinema and television series, recently wrapped up after eight days of screenings at the Directors Guild of America where a smorgasbord of 86 films, television and digital series, and VR programs were offered.  Competing for awards were 33 features, 23 short films, 12 television series, four documentaries, and four digital series. (The winners are listed below.)

Over 23,000 people attended the eight-day festival, which kicked off with a fabulous

Naked Normandy, skillfully directed by Philippe Le Guay, features Intouchables star François Cluzet as the mayor of a small town that has fallen on hard economic times. Ultimately, the solution becomes the fun French version of The Full Monty meets Calendar Girls.

opening night gala where cameras snapped, wine flowed, and invited guests feasted on foods beautifully presented by an array of French chefs.  This annual cinematic journey through the works of famous and emerging directors, is a collaborative effort between the Franco-American Cultural Fund, the Directors Guild of America, Motion Picture Association of America, Writers Guild of America West, France’s Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music, Directors and Producers (L’ARP), the Film and Television Office of the French Embassy in Los Angeles, the CNC, TV France International, and Unifrance.

 

The memorable opening night film was Promise at Dawn (La promesse de l’aube), which is based on the life of French novelist and diplomat Romain Gary.  The film, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Pierre Niney, each of whom give outstanding performances as mother and son, was adapted by Éric Barbier and Marie Eynard from Gary’s book, and is brilliantly directed by Barbier.  The story takes us through the life and times of a man who grew up with his unrelenting Russian-Jewish mother in the 1920s.  She filled him with seemingly impossible expectations and reminded him almost every day of her grandiose ambitions for him and even when he’s lying wounded in a military hospital bed, she instructs him to keep writing his book.

 

With too many to list, some of the outstanding films included: A Memoir of War, Makala, Return of the Hero, The Lady in the Portrait, Radiance, Plot 35, The Night Eats the World, Stand Up Girl, Some Like it Veiled, The Prince of Nothingwood, Christmas and Co, Naked Normandy, Let the Girls Play, The Guardians, Dog, My Son, Christmas and Co., Family is Family, See You There, Jealous, Radiance, Diving, Burn Out, Naked, School of Life, and C’est La Vie.  Screenings of television shows included: Infidelity, Through the Mill, I love you 2, and Proud.   (For a full list of all the

 Jean Dujardin (Captain Neuville) and Melanie Laurent (Elisabeth) star as tricksters in the hilarious Return of the Hero, written and directed by Laurent Tirard.

films go to:) http://www.colcoa.org/)

The festival ended with the hilarious The Other Woman, which stars Daniel Auteuil, who also directed.  Sandrine Kiberlain, Adriana Ugarte, and the irresistible Gerard Depardieu complete the two couples. The entertaining story illuminates what happens when a much older man leaves his wife for a gorgeous, sexy, much younger woman.  His friend, another older, but seemingly happily married man, fantasizes multiple erotic adventures with this beguiling creature and the results are surprising.

With the potpourri of exciting cinematic and television works presented in this year’s COLCOA French Film Festival, one can eagerly look forward to next year’s edition, which will take place April 2019.

L-R: Director Daniel Auteuil (Daniel,) Sandrin Kiberlain (Isabelle), Adriana Ugarte (Emma,) and Gerard Depardieu (Patrick,) star in The Other Woman, an amusing story about two older men lusting after a younger woman and the surprising consequences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<>Related Posts

Justice Served by the Slice: L.A. Chefs Rally for Pies for Justice Fundraiser

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

Sweet, Savory, and Pizza Pies to Support Foster Youth and Civil Rights Chefs and restaurants from across Los Angeles and...

What to Expect at This Weekend’s ‘Venice Summer Fest’ in Mar Vista

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

Attendees Can Expect More Than Two Dozen Bands, a Classic Car Show, Food Trucks, Vendors and More The Venice Summer...

Santa Monica’s Tourism Report Reveals Economic Gains, Industry Optimism for 2024

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

City Welcomes 4.2M Visitors, Celebrates Local Heroes at Annual Tourism Summit Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) hosted its 16th...

Here’s The Pride Events Coming to Santa Monica This Weekend

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

They offer a mix of entertainment, sports, family activities, and community resources Santa Monica will mark Pride Month with a...

Santa Monica Police Arrest Man in Attempted Sexual Assault of 84-Year-Old Woman

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Suspect Charged With Multiple Felonies After Attack Near 6th and Wilshire Police have arrested a Long Beach man in connection...

Multiple Injuries Reported in Windward Ave Collision: REPORT

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Emergency crews closed the affected intersection to secure the area and began cleanup efforts A vehicle collision involving at least...

Florida Congressman to Visit American Legion Palisades for Relief Fundraiser

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

The event aims to support the post’s relief efforts, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the cause Congressman Brian Mast, a...

Malibu to Host Dual Webinars June 17 on Fire Recovery and Wildfire Safety

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Sessions to Inform and Support Residents Facing Fire-Related Challenges Homeowners recovering from the Palisades Fire and residents seeking to prepare...

City of Santa Monica Seeks Applicants for City Boards and Commissions

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Deadline is June 17 for Open Civic Roles on Key City Advisory Boards The deadline is approaching for residents interested...

Second Doctor to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Ketamine Case, Faces Up to 40 Years

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Doctor Admits to Illegally Supplying Ketamine to the Actor and His Assistant One of the physicians charged in connection with...

Santa Monica Releases 2024 Crime Stats, Highlights Safety Advances in New Report

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

The city claims the department launched a 2024-2028 Strategic Plan focusing on innovative policing and staff wellness The City of...

Army Corps Reaches Milestone in Completing in Palisades Debris Removal

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

As of June 15, the effort has cleared debris from an estimated 13,579 eligible parcels The U.S. Army Corps of...

Renovated Riviera Estate Hits Market for $25M

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows flood the home with natural light, with nearly every room opening to a private deck or patio...

(Video) Home Front Build Maintains Original Architectural Vision For Modern Homes

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

For More Information, Go to homefrontbuild.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/Ssb4O7uZdu pic.twitter.com/XspARQcKcb — Santa Monica Mirror (@SMMirror) June 16,...

(Video Recap) “No Kings” Protest Comes to Downtown Santa Monica

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Palisades Park was one of a dozen LA locations where protestors took to the streets on Saturday to challenge ICE...