Deauville American Film Festival

Let’s pause for a moment and take a look at that striking building on your left, the International Center of Deauville. It almost seems to sink into the sand, doesn’t it? That effect is intentional. When it was built in the late 1980s, the idea was to preserve the view of the seafront. The result: over 150,000 cubic meters of sand were shifted in a massive project that culminated in 1992 with an inauguration by none other than Clint Eastwood, who came to present Unforgiven.

A fitting start, since this venue quickly became Deauville’s “palace of cinema.” It’s here that the heart of the American Film Festival beats, an event launched in 1975 by two journalists, Lionel Chouchan and André Halimi, who had a bold idea: to give French audiences a direct window onto Hollywood. Not just the blockbusters, but also independent films, discoveries, and hidden gems. And unlike Cannes or Venice, this festival is open to everyone.

Anyone can buy a ticket and sit in the theater alongside critics, producers, and sometimes even the stars themselves. Since 1995, the festival has hosted a true competition, now awarding six major prizes, including the much-loved Audience Award created by the City of Deauville.

For ten days each September, a long red carpet runs down the very street you’re walking along now. Screenings follow one another day and night, at the International Center, the Casino cinemas, and theaters across town. Each year, Deauville transforms into a little slice of California on the Normandy coast, and everyone is invited. So if you ever find yourself here in early September, step inside the festival.

Grab a pass, even just for a single day: it’s a unique experience, and who knows, you might spot the next big name in American cinema before the rest of the world does.