The film “LaRoy” by Shane Atkinson, crowned Grand Prize at the Deauville American Film Festival

“The mass presence of the public means that we have succeeded in creating, in 25 years, in Deauville, a community of cinema lovers, cinema-loving spectators, curious about American films, independent and intelligent” underlined Bruno Barde, the director of the festival.

However, the 2023 edition was largely disrupted by the strike in Hollywood, which led to the absence of many actors and actresses keen to show their solidarity with the angry screenwriters. This was particularly the case of Jude Law and Joseph Gordon-Levitt who were nevertheless announced in France. Likewise, if the planned tributes to Natalie Portman and Peter Dinklage were maintained, neither were present in Deauville to receive their prize. Unlike the actress Emilia Clarke – revealed by the series Game Of Thrones – and the American photographer, director and screenwriter Jerry Schatzberg (The Scarecrow, Panic in Needle Park), visibly won over by his time on the stage. He would also have liked to take home the beach cabin which now bears his name… The enthusiasm of the nonagenarian was visibly infectious since the rooms were always full over the ten days.

“The Sweet East” and “LaRoy” rack up awards

Among the notable themes of this 49th edition, we note numerous feature films taking the pulse of American youth, sometimes worried, sometimes mistreated, but often involved and determined. The proof with The Sweet East by Sean Price Williams, crowned Jury Prize. A feature film retracing a road trip rich in symbols, a sort of revisited version of Alice’s journey to Wonderland. This story, carried by the formidable Talia Ryder, also won the Louis Roederer Foundation Prize awarded by the Revelation Jury chaired by actress Mélanie Thierry.

Praised for “its staging, its shift, its humor and its direction of actors”the thriller LaRoy, first film by filmmaker Shane Atkinson, did even better: it was indeed awarded the Grand Prix, the Critics’ Prize and the vote of the Deauville public. Proof that jurors, journalists and the general public can sometimes share the same artistic impulses. Those who missed it can rest assured: its theatrical release is scheduled for next spring.

The jury was also touched by Fremont by Babak Jalali, expected on our screens at the end of the year. Finally, the Ornano-Valenti prize was awarded to Nothing to lose by Delphine Deloget, expected at the end of 2023.

Alongside the 14 films in competition, the public was also able to attend no less than eleven major premieres mixing very eclectic universes, ranging from diving behind the scenes of History with The Queen’s Game by Karim Aïnouz and The Area of ​​Interest by Jonathan Glazer, including the x-ray of a couple with May December by Todd Haynes, the romantic comedy with She came to me by Rebecca Miller or the psychological drama with Dogman, signed by Luc Besson.

The Festival also got in touch with the Croisette with Pick up by Marco Bellocchio, Dead leaves by Aki Kaurismäki and the impressive Animal Kingdom by Thomas Cailley. A diversified offering which has ensured that Deauville maintains its place of choice in the hearts of lovers of the 7th Art.