City of Lights, City of Angels
The COLCOA French Film Festival (formerly "City of Light, City of Angels") is an annual competitive film festival in Hollywood, created and presented by the Franco-American Cultural Fund. Its goals are to showcase the diversity of French cinema, to promote films and talent among the film industry and to contribute to cross cultural understanding. The COLCOA French Film Festival is open to professionals and the general public.
The 22nd edition was held at the Directors Guild of America theater complex in Hollywood from April 23 to April 30, 2018.
Background
COLCOA was created in 1997 by The Franco-American Cultural Fund, a unique collaborative effort of the Directors Guild Of America, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Writers Guild of America, West, and France's Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Éditeurs de Musique(SACEM). The festival is also made possible with the support of L'ARP (France's Association of Authors, Directors and Producers), the Film & TV Department of the French Embassy, TV France International and Unifrance.
Since 2004, the selection is exclusively composed of premieres in Hollywood. Several high-profile features are presented at COLCOA for the first time in North America or in the U.S. Some can be International or World premieres. COLCOA is also known for presenting films before their commercial release in the U.S., and for being used by American distributors to launch and promote their film in Hollywood.
The selection includes features, documentaries, animated films, short films and, since 2015, TV movies and TV series. In 2017, a selection of VR programs and a competition of Web Series were introduced. In 21 years, 758 films or TV series have been selected. COLCOA has constantly developed to become a showcase of 82 films in 2017, with a capacity of 26,300 and an occupancy rate of 91% (25,000 attendees). Its exclusive program has made of COLCOA an anticipated date in the industry calendar and one of the largest French film festivals in the world. Scheduled a few weeks after the Academy Awards and before the Cannes Film Festival, COLCOA has become a prestigious event in Los Angeles.
The COLCOA audience is mainly composed of film industry professionals, including directors, writers, distributors, producers, agents, exhibitors, critics and journalists. COLCOA has developed partnerships with organizations like IFTA, The Cannes Film Market, Film Independent, Women in Film, The American Cinematheque, SAG, and since 2008, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
In 2008, an educational program was launched to promote foreign films among young American audiences in association with European Languages and Movies in America (ELMA). More than 20,000 students and 150 high schools have participated in the program since 2008. In 2010, a master class program was introduced for colleges, film schools and universities.
The focus of the 2018 edition of the festival was on woman. This included an entire day dedicated to the work of first time female filmmakers.[1]
Academy Award-winning actress Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), Academy Award nominee actress Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) and Academy Award-winning writer/director Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) made their first public appearance in Hollywood at COLCOA.
Award winners
Since 2005, films selected compete for the annual COLCOA AWARDS.
2018 Awards
- COLCOA cinema[2]
Audience Award
Bloody Milk (Petit paysan) Written and directed by: Hubert Charuel Cast: Swann Arlaud, Sara Giraudeau, Bouli Lanners, Isabelle Candelier
Audience Special Prize
PROMISE AT DAWN (La Promesse de l'aube) Directed by: Eric Barbier Written by: Eric Barbier, Marie Eynard, based on Romain Gary's autobiography
LAFCA Critics Jury Award
Le Brio Directed by: Yvan Attal Written by: Yaël Langmann, Victor Saint-Macary, Yvan Attal, Noé Debré, Bryan Marciano
LAFCA Critics Special Prize
C'est la vie! (Le Sens de la fête) Written and directed by: Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano
First Feature Award
LUNA Directed by: Elsa Diringer Written by: Elsa Diringer, Claude Mouriéras
Coming Soon Award (Film presented with a U.S. distributor)
Custody (Jusqu'à la garde) Drama Written and directed by: Xavier Legrand
American Students Award
See You Up There (Au revoir là-haut) Directed by: Albert Dupontel Written by: Albert Dupontel, Pierre Lemaitre
Documentary Award
MAKALA Los Angeles Premiere Written and directed by: Emmanuel Gras
- COLCOA television[2]
TV Drama Jury Award
THE AGE OF STATELESS (Le Temps des égarés) Directed by: Virginie Sauveur Written by: Gaëlle Belland
TV Series Jury Award
PROUD (Fiertés) Directed by: Philippe Faucon Written by: José Caltagirone, Niels Rahou
TV Drama Audience Award
INFIDELITY (Un Adultère) Directed by: Philippe Harel Written by: Eric Assous, Stéphanie Vasseur
TV Series Audience Award
PROUD (Fiertés) Directed by: Philippe Faucon Written by: José Caltagirone, Niels Rahou
- COLCOA shorts[2]
Short Film Award
GRAMS (Petites filles) Written and directed by: Camille Japy
Short Film Special Prize
THE WINKLES (Les Bigorneaux) Written and directed by: Alice Vial
Short Film Audience Award
THE WINKLES (Les Bigorneaux) Written and directed by: Alice Vial
Animated Short Film Award
HYBRIDS Written and directed by: Romain Thirion, Florian Brauch, Matthieu Pujol, Kim Tailhades, Yohan Thireau, Florian Brauch
- COLCOA digital series[2]
Digital Series Award
BIARRITZ SURF GANG Written and directed by: Nathan Curren, Pierre Denoyel
2017 Awards
- COLCOA cinema
Audience Award Mr. and Mrs. Adelman (Monsieur et Madame Adelman) Directed by Nicolas Bedos Written by: Nicolas Bedos, Doria Tillier
Audience Special Prize A Bag of Marbles (Un sac de billes) Directed by: Christian Duguay Written by: Alexandra Geismar, Jonathan Allouche, Benoît Guichard, Christian Duguay, Laurent Zeitoun
LAFCA Critics Jury Award A Woman's Life (Une vie) Directed by: Stéphane Brizé Written by : Stéphane Brizé, Florence Vignon
LAFCA Critics Special Prize Elementary (Primaire) Directed by: Hélène Angel Written by: Hélène Angel, Yann Coridian, Agnès de Sacy, Olivier Gorce
First Feature Award Hedi (Hedi, un vent de liberté) Directed by: Mohamed Ben Attia Written by: Mohamed Ben Attia
Coming Soon Award A Woman's Life (Une vie) Directed by: Stéphane Brizé Written by : Stéphane Brizé, Florence Vignon
American Students Award Polina (Polina, danser sa vie) Directed by: Angelin Preljocaj, Valérie Müller-Preljocaj Written by: Valérie Müller-Preljocaj
Documentary Award Little Gems (Les Pépites) Directed by: Xavier de Lauzanne Written by: Xavier de Lauzanne
- COLCOA television
TV Drama Jury Award Marion Forever 13 (Marion 13 ans pour toujours) Directed by: Boulem Guerdjou Written by: Lorraine Lévy
TV Series Jury Award Beautiful Loser (Irresponsable) Directed by: Stephen Cafiero Created by: Frédéric Rosset
TV Drama Audience Award Plessis' Girls (Elles... Les Filles du Plessis) Directed by: Bénédicte Delmas Written by: Bénédicte Delmas, Sylvie Granotier
TV Series Audience Award Call My Agent (season 2) (Dix pour cent) Directed by: Laurent Tirard Written by: Fanny Herrero, Benjamin Dupas, Sabrina B. Karine, Anaïs Carpita
- COLCOA shorts
Short Film Award Chasse Royale Written and directed by: Romane Gueret, Lise Akoka
Short Film Special Prize What Tears Us Apart (Ce qui nous sépare) Written and directed by: Wei Hu
Short Film Audience Award Thank You Mister Imada (Merci Monsieur Imada) Directed by: Sylvain Chaumet
- COLCOA web series
Web Series Award Amnesia Directed by: Patrick De Ranter et Jérôme Fansten Written by: Jérôme Fansten
Talent at COLCOA
More than 200 French writers, directors, composers and producers have presented their films at COLCOA. Among them are:
- Patrick Alessandrin
- Eric Altmayer
- Jean-Philippe Amar
- Alexandre Amiel
- Shirel Amitay
- Jean-Pierre Améris
- Thomas Anargyros
- Yves Angelo
- Cédric Anger
- Sophie Ansel
- Olivier Assayas
- Alain Attal
- Lisa Azuelos
- Antony Bajon[1]
- Josiane Balasko
- Maurice Barthelémy
- Laurent Bécue-Renard
- Nicolas Bedos
- Frédéric Beigbeder
- Véra Belmont
- Lucas Belvaux
- Bibo Bergeron
- Alain Berliner
- Richard Berry
- Dominique Besnehard
- Rémi Bezancon
- Nahuel Perez Biscayart[1]
- Bertrand Blier
- Pascal Bonitzer
- Dany Boon
- Laurent Bouhnik
- Michel Boujenah
- Ludovic Boukherma
- Zoran Boukherma
- Nicolas Boukhrief
- Jean Bréhat
- Zabou Breitman
- Chantal Briet
- Stéphane Brizé
- Guillaume Canet
- Laurent Cantet
- Philippe Carcassonne
- Christian Carion
- Patrice Chéreau
- Hélier Cisterne
- Etienne Comar
- Fabio Conversi
- Alain Corneau
- Clovis Cornillac
- Costa-Gavras
- Antoine de Caunes
- Olivier Dahan
- Yves Darondeau
- Alix Delaporte
- Maxime Delauney
- Bénédicte Delmas
- Julie Delpy
- Mathieu Demy
- Claire Denis
- Dante Desarthes
- Alexandre Desplat
- Arnaud Desplechin
- Ziad Doueiri
- Bruno Dumont
- Albert Dupontel
- Pascal Elbe
- Cyril Dion
- Léa Fehner
- Marc Fiszman
- Anne Fontaine
- Nicole Garcia
- Marielle Gautier
- Hugo Gélin
- Michael Gentile
- Jean-Benoît Gillig
- Thomas Gilou
- Alain Goldman
- Yann Gozlan
- Robert Guédiguian
- Boulem Guerdjou
- Eric Guirado
- Samuel Hadida
- Philippe Haïm
- Michel Hazanavicius
- Jeanne Herry
- Eva Husson
- Camélia Jordana[1]
- Mathieu Kassovitz
- Cédric Klapisch
- Diane Kurys
- Christophe La Pinta
- Philippe Lacheau
- Mélanie Laurent[1][2]
- Eric Lavaine
- Philippe Le Guay
- Anne Le Ny
- Pierre-Ange Le Pogam
- Claude Lelouch
- Bruno Levy
- Lorraine Levy
- Jean-Albert Lièvre
- Philippe Lioret
- Alfred Lot
- Julien Madon
- Maïwenn
- Tony Marshall
- Philippe Martin
- Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
- Simon Michael
- Claude Miller
- Radu Mihaileanu
- Emmanuel Mouret
- Olivier Nakache
- Elodie Namer
- Eric Neveu
- Jacques Nolot
- Anna Novion
- Vanessa Paradis[1]
- Gérard Pirès
- Pitof
- Gilles Penso
- Alexandre Poncet
- Melville Poupaud[1]
- Miléna Poylo
- Katell Quillévéré
- Jean-Paul Rappeneau
- Jean-Francois Richet
- Brigitte Roüan
- Régis Roinsard
- Romain Rousseau
- Gilles Sacuto
- Yannick Saillet
- Jean-Paul Salomé
- Pierre Salvadori
- Charlotte Sanson
- Pierre Schoendoerffer
- Coline Serreau
- Morgan Simon
- Florent Siri
- Hugo P. Thomas
- Gilles Taurand
- Bertrand Tavernier
- Pascal Tessaud
- Doria Tillier
- Laurent Tirard
- Danièle Thompson
- Eric Tolédano
- Anne-Dominique Toussaint
- Sabrina Van Tassel
- Francis Veber[1]
- Jean Veber
- Grégoire Vigneron
- Christian Vincent
- Laurent Zeitoun
- Roschdy Zem
- Yann Zenou
- Erick Zonca