Rebecca Zlotowski’s "A Private Life" to Open The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles
Starring Jodie Foster, the psychological thriller will make its U.S. debut on October 28 following its Cannes premiere.
Rebecca Zlotowski’s A Private Life to Open The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles
The Franco-American cultural bridge gets a powerful cinematic start this fall with A Private Life, Rebecca Zlotowski’s latest film, which has been selected to open the 29th edition of The American French Film Festival (Tafff). The event will take place in Los Angeles from October 28 to November 3, with all screenings held at the Director’s Guild of America (DGA).
Fresh off its Cannes out-of-competition debut, A Private Life will be shown to U.S. audiences for the first time on opening night. The psychological thriller stars Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Vincent Lacoste, and Mathieu Amalric.
The film is produced by Frédéric Jouve (Les Films Velvet), Rebecca Zlotowski (Buenos Hair), and France 3 Cinéma, and it will be distributed in the U.S. by Sony Pictures Classics. French distribution is set for November 26 via Ad Vitam.
A Major Awards Contender?
Beyond opening night, A Private Life will also screen on October 29 as part of the festival’s official competition lineup. It will vie for the 2025 Tafff Awards, which will be presented later this year in Paris.
The choice of A Private Life to launch the festival underscores both Zlotowski’s rising international acclaim and the film’s awards potential—especially with a magnetic performance from Jodie Foster, who acts entirely in French.
“Jodie Foster delivers a captivating performance, masterfully spoken as though French were her native language,” said Taylor Hackford, board member of the Franco-American Cultural Fund and former DGA president.
“This film exemplifies what makes our festival so rich: a true collaboration between France and the United States. A Private Life will no doubt be a serious contender in this year’s awards season.”
Zlotowski’s Momentum Continues
Earlier this year, Zlotowski received the French Cinema Award from Unifrance, a recognition of her contribution to promoting French cinema abroad. A Private Life builds on her growing profile following films like An Easy Girl and Other People's Children, the latter also starring Virginie Efira.
Extended Festival and Full Lineup to Come
The 29th edition of The American French Film Festival will run for seven days, a day longer than initially planned. The full festival lineup will be revealed on September 30.
With A Private Life, the Tafff once again positions itself as a key stop in the awards race and a spotlight for the creative synergy between French auteurs and global talent.