{"id":22320,"date":"2025-06-08T19:06:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T19:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org\/?page_id=22320"},"modified":"2026-02-07T02:06:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T02:06:28","slug":"the-happy-hour-talks-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org\/the-happy-hour-talks-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 FREE HAPPY HOUR TALKS PANELS & GALLERIES"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FREE HAPPY HOUR TALKS PANELS & GALLERIES<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][mk_padding_divider size=”45″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1759116191038{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

FREE ADMISSION, NO RESERVATION<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#d41953″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1761512491225{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Presented in Association with:\u00a0 \"\"<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/em>VARIETY<\/a><\/p>\n

With the support of:<\/em>
\nCNC<\/a>, ELMA<\/a> & SACEM<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1761443922293{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

If you are planning to see a film at the festival, come earlier and attend a Happy Hour Talk panel on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Monday. The panel series Happy Hour Talks is part of the TAFFF industry program and is scheduled at\u00a03:00 pm<\/strong>\u00a0(3:45 pm on Saturday)<\/strong>. It presents topics of interest to industry professionals and cinephiles.<\/p>\n

Each panel is followed by a complimentary Wine & Cheese reception in the Festival Lounge<\/strong>. For 21+ panel attendees only. Panel attendees also have priority access to the theaters for the next screenings. Only panel attendees have access to the reception<\/u>.\u00a0You can enter panels up to 20 minutes after they start.<\/em><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][mk_image src=”https:\/\/theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/58.jpeg” image_size=”full” frame_style=”gray_border” align=”center” margin_bottom=”10″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1760566755940{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ css=”” accent_color=”#660084″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1761149890826{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Truffaut Theater \u2013 3:00 pm<\/strong>
\n(Panel ends at 3:50 pm)
\nFollowed by a complimentary Wine & Cheese reception
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/em>MADE IN FRANCE POWERED BY VFX MAGIC
\n<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/em>Moderator: <\/strong>Todd Longwell (Editor ~ Variety)
\nPanelists:<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/em>B\u00e9atrice Bauwens, Head of Studio – MPC
\nAnnabelle\u00a0Zo\u00ebllin, Head of Production – BUF
\nThierry Onillon, Head of VFX – Mac Guff
\nPresented in association with CNC<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

In recent years, the French VFX industry has experienced an unprecedented boom, positioning itself among the best in the world. Heir to the legacy of Georges M\u00e9li\u00e8s, the French VFX sector now encompasses a wide range of expertise \u2014 from genre films such as Alpha<\/em> by Julia Ducournau and Dracula<\/em> by Luc Besson, to period pieces like Colors of Time<\/em> by C\u00e9dric Klapisch (in competition at TAFFF 2025), and the meticulous re-creation of the Nouvelle Vague<\/em> universe (also premiering at TAFFF 2025). French visual effects are playing a key role in redefining the artistic language of contemporary cinema. Three leading studios \u2014 BUF<\/strong>, MPC<\/strong>, and Mac Guff<\/strong> \u2014 will present this distinctive \u201cFrench Touch\u201d and showcase how VFX are transforming French filmmaking.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ css=”” accent_color=”#660084″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1761089714616{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\u00a0FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Truffaut Theater \u2013 3:00 pm<\/strong>
\n(Panel ends at 3:50 pm)
\nFollowed by a complimentary Wine & Cheese reception
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/em>WHEN AUDIENCE MEETS FRENCH FILMMAKERS
\n<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Moderator:<\/strong>\u00a0Patricia Saperstein (Deputy Film Editor ~ Variety)
\nPanelists:
\n<\/strong>C\u00e9dric Anger, writer\/director \u2013 The Hunt<\/em>; writer – The Richest Woman in the World
\n<\/em>Nicolas Bary, producer – Bardot<\/em>
\nEnya Baroux, writer\/director \u2013 Bon Voyage Marie
\n<\/em>Hugo Becker, actor – The Lost Station Girls, All the Blue in the Sky<\/em>; writer\/director The Lifeline
\n<\/em>Romane Bohringer \u2013 writer\/director, actor \u2013 Tell Her
\nElodie Bouchez, actor – The Party\u2019s Over<\/em>, Enzo
\n<\/em>Anna Cazenave-Cambet, writer\/director – Love me Tender
\n<\/em>Martin Jauvat, writer\/director, actor \u2013 Baise-en-ville
\n<\/em>C\u00e9dric Klapisch, writer\/director – Colors of Time
\n<\/em>Thierry Klifa, writer\/director \u2013 The Richest Woman in the World
\n<\/em>Pauline Loqu\u00e8s \u2013 writer\/director – Nino
\n<\/em>Alex Lutz, writer\/director \u2013 Connemara
\n<\/em>H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Merlin, writer\/director – Cassandre
\n<\/em>Delphine Malaussena, <\/em>composer – Cassandre, The Seduction
\n<\/em>Nadia Melliti, actor \u2013 The Little sister<\/em>
\n<\/strong>Camille Razat, actor – The Lost Station Girls
\n<\/em>Ken Scott, writer\/director \u2013 One Upon My Mother
\n<\/em>Chlo\u00e9 Th\u00e9venin, composer – Guru
\n<\/em>Roschdy Zem, Actor \u2013 13 Days 13 Nights<\/em><\/p>\n

Festival goers are invited to meet French writers, directors, producers, composers and actors in person, as they talk about their film or series presented at the festival and the impact of American cinema on their work.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1761778709707{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1<\/span>\u2013 Truffaut Theatre \u2013 3:40 pm
\n(Panel ends at 4:40 pm)
\nFollowed by a complimentary Wine & Cheese reception
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

ENGAGING YOUNG AUDIENCES BEYOND THE ALGORITHM<\/em><\/span>
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Moderator:<\/strong> Caleb Hammond – Film Writer and Editor
\nPanelists:<\/strong>
\nZiyu Gao –\u00a0USC Cinematic Arts
\nMalin Kan – Director of\u00a0ELMA\u00a0(European Languages\u00a0and Movies\u00a0in America)
\nPauline Loqu\u00e8s – Writer\/Director (Nino)
\nH\u00e9l\u00e8ne Merlin – Writer\/Director (Cassandre)\u00a0Hanna Stettler –\u00a0USC Cinematic Arts
\nBonnie Voland, Consultant and Founder B. Voland International
\nPresented in association with ELMA<\/strong><\/p>\n

In an era of streaming platforms, social media, and overwhelming choice, how can festivals, filmmakers, and educators inspire young audiences to choose international and subtitled cinema? This panel brings together filmmakers, critics, students, and industry professionals to explore strategies for building cultural curiosity, exposing young people to foreign cinema, cultivating the next generation of filmgoers, and broadening engagement with diverse cultures and perspectives.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ css=”” accent_color=”#660084″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1761089724817{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3<\/span><\/strong>\u2013 Truffaut Theatre \u2013 3:00 pm<\/strong>
\n(Panel ends at 3:40 pm)
\nFollowed by a complimentary Wine & Cheese reception
\n<\/strong><\/em>
\nFOCUS ON FRENCH FILM COMPOSER: GUILLAUME ROUSSEL
\n<\/em><\/span>
\n<\/strong>Moderator:<\/strong>\u00a0Frederic Cassidy, Filmmaker, Musician
\nPanelist:<\/strong>\u00a0Guillaume Roussel
\nPresented in association with SACEM<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a dual French American musical background, Guillaume Roussel is a composer whose work bridges European sophistication and the energy of American cinema. Trained in classical music, jazz, and orchestral conducting, he has established himself internationally across film, television, and animation. His scores include\u00a0Expendables 4<\/em>,\u00a0Black Beauty<\/em>\u00a0(Disney+),\u00a0BAC Nord<\/em>, and\u00a0The Three Musketeers<\/em>, both of which earned him C\u00e9sar nominations for Best Original Music. After conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road in 2006, Roussel settled in Los Angeles and joined Hans Zimmer\u2019s Remote-Control Studios, contributing to\u00a0Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0The Smurfs<\/em>. He has developed lasting collaborations with writers\/directors C\u00e9dric Jimenez (BAC Nord<\/em>,\u00a0Chien 51<\/em>), Martin Bourboulon (The Three Musketeers<\/em>,\u00a0Car\u00eame<\/em>), and J\u00e9r\u00f4me Salle (Kompromat<\/em>). In 2025, his work includes\u00a013 Days 13 Nights<\/em>\u00a0(Cannes Official Selection, North American Premiere at TAFFF 2025),\u00a0Car\u00eame<\/em>\u00a0(Apple TV), and\u00a0Chien 51<\/em>\u00a0(U.S. Premiere at TAFFF 2025).<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”2″ css=”” accent_color=”#660084″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1770330670727{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]MADE IN FRANCE POWERED BY VFX MAGIC<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n