3000 HS Students to Get Private Screening of The Count of Monte Cristo at The American French Film Festival in LA

THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL TO SCREEN 

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO

FOR 3,000 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

TAFFF’s High School Program will Include a Special Live Q&A Session with Filmmakers Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, Actor Patrick Mille, and Composer Jérôme Rebotier 

The American French Film Festival (TAFFF) will continue its tradition of hosting students from across Southern California for a very special film premiere and discussion. The High School Screenings Program - now in its 17th year - will take place over a five-day period, beginning October 28 at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles. The program, which is sponsored by ELMA (European Languages & Movies in America) will have 3,000 students from 60 schools participating, including students traveling  from Park City, Utah for the occasion. 

This year’s High School Screenings Program feature selection will be The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo), a 2024 period adventure/drama based on the 1844 novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas. The film is written and directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière and stars Pierre Niney in the lead role of Edmond Dantès. The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was released theatrically in France in June by Pathé. The film will be released in the US on December 20 by Samuel Goldwyn Films, also a partner of the High School Screenings program this year. 

The five screenings of The Count of Monte Cristo will be followed by question and answer sessions with directors Delaporte and de La Patellière, actor Patrick Mille, and composer Jérôme Rebotier. The film experience also comes with a curriculum developed by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) for all the students.

“This is the most expensive and one of the highest-grossing French productions of 2024 and whether students have read the classic novel or not, they will no doubt be swept up in the adventure and drama of Edmond Dantès and his alter ego. The Count of Monte Cristo was adapted and directed for the big screen at an epic scale by Delaporte and de La Patellière. The film's exploration of justice and the transformative power of education aligns with the values at the heart of the Festival’s mission: allowing high school students from all backgrounds to come watch a French film followed by an exchange with the filmmakers afterwards: an all-too rare occurrence in the worldwide capital of cinema. Once again, the program is free to attend thanks to our educational partner ELMA,” said Anouchka van Riel, Deputy Director, The American French Film Festival.

“One of the founding principles of the High School Screenings Program was not only to expose students to foreign cinema early in their young lives, but to open up their minds to ideas, people, and cultures outside their limited experiences. Many of the participants – over 35,000 in the last 16 years - are students of French but this program is so much more than a language lesson,” said Pascal Ladreyt, Founder, ELMA. “We are so pleased to work with The American French Film Festival again this year and find it especially gratifying as even more students will be able to participate.”

The Count of Monte Cristo will also be the Closing Night film (November 3) for The American French Film Festival.

The American French Film Festival:

The American French Film Festival was created and is produced by the Franco-American Cultural Fund, a unique collaboration between the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Motion Picture Association (MPA), France’s Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW). The American French Film Festival is also supported by Unifrance, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and France’s Society of Authors, Directors and Producers (l’ARP).  

The American French Film Festival is sponsored by Air Tahiti Nui, ELMA, L’Oréal, Champagne Louis Roederer, and Variety (Official Sponsors); Netflix (Opening Night Sponsor); Barnstormer, France Télévisions, The Hollywood Reporter, LAist 89.3 (Premier Sponsors); AmaWaterways, The Envelope Los Angeles Times, Sunset Marquis, Titra Film, TV5 Monde, West Coast Event Productions, Wine Wine Situation (Major Sponsors); Alliance Française de Los Angeles, Clarins, Deadline, Ex Nihilo, Glenfiddich, Hendrick’s, Ladurée, Laura Chenel, Le Film Français, Marin French, Monsieur Marcel, Odacité, Rivedroite, Rms beauty, Studio Haslund, Vineyard Brands (Platinum Sponsors); Airstar, Avène, Cinando, Columbus Consulting, International School Los Angeles, International Services for Artists, La Vieille Ferme, Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, Marché du Film/ Festival de Cannes, Leos, Maison et Domaines Les Alexandrins, Martingale, QMixers, Mylittlefrenchpharmacy, Suja (Supporting Sponsors); Alliance Française de Pasadena, Le Bon Garçon, Boule de Pain, Brûlée, Palikao, Screamfest, Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, Whiskey & Clay (Community Sponsors). The American French Film Festival Education Program is presented in partnership with ELMA.  

For additional information visit : www.theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org