Film France – CNC is proud to present the third edition of U.S. Filmmaking in France: Living the French Experience in Los Angeles, in partnership with Villa Albertine and in conjunction with the American French Film Festival (TAFFF). This exclusive event celebrates the dynamic collaboration between the U.S. and French film industries.
Today, professionals will get an inside look at the advantages and benefits of filming in France — from a diversity of locations to world-class talents and production resources. It features a presentation on France’s Tax Rebate for International Productions (TRIP), case studies on U.S. productions filmed in France with Hollywood executives, and a panel on the creative excellence of French VFX studios elevating American projects.
During the event, attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with a dozen French professionals, including Production Services Companies, film studios, and VFX experts, to discuss the advantages of working with France.
Included in the agenda for the event will be presentations and panel discussions such as:
Father Mother Sister Brother: from filming in Paris to an award in Venice
Fireside chat with Jim Jarmusch about his lastest experience in France.
Speaker:
- Jim Jarmusch, Director
Moderated by Pat Saperstein, Deputy Editor, Variety
Heads of State: Shooting the world in France
How Heads of State, Amazon’s hit action movie, shot in France to double 8 countries around the world.
Speakers:
- John Bernard, Producer, Peninsula Film
- Daleen Buter, Head of Global Production Incentives, Amazon MGM Studios
Moderated by Pat Saperstein, Deputy Editor, Variety
France, a VFX Powerhouse for Global Productions
Uncover how the creative excellence of French VFX studios is elevating Hollywood productions like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and The Rings of Power.
Speakers:
- Laurens Ehrmann, CEO & VFX Supervisor, The Yard
- Emmanuel Pichereau, Chief Creative Officer,One of Us
Moderated by Todd Longwell, Associate Editor, Variety
The Tax Rebate for International Productions (TRIP): Mastering the Cultural Test
The TRIP amounts up to 40% of the qualifying expenditures incurred in France and can total a maximum of 30€ million per project. The presentation will demystify the cultural test international productions need to pass in order to be granted the TRIP.
Speaker:
- Daphné Lora, Head of Film France-CNC & Game France Department, CNC
Featured Speakers
Gaëtan Bruel, President, CNC
Gaëtan Bruel, a former student of France’s prestigious École normale supérieure, served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Culture since January 2024.
He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Minister of National Education and Youth.
From 2019 to 2023, he led the Cultural Services department of the French Embassy in the United States, promoting French film, audiovisual, video, and digital creation in the country. In collaboration with Villa Albertine, he launched the residency program in 2021, which has supported 250 creators (as of early 2025) across more than 50 cities across the United States. With the active support of the CNC, he also established a dedicated unit in Hollywood to enhance France’s audiovisual appeal.
Earlier in his career, he served as an Advisor to France’s Minister of Defense (2012-2016), where he initiated the armed forces’ cinema mission. As Advisor to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs (207-2019), he coordinated efforts to open economic diplomacy to creative industries. In the meantime, he oversaw the Panthéon and the Arc de Triomphe within the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN). Gaëtan Bruel was appointed President of the CNC in February 2025.
Jim Jarmusch, Director
Daleen Buter, Head of Global Production Incentives, Amazon MGM Studios
For the past 13 years Daleen has worked exclusively in the field of Production Incentives for all genres of production, across 40+ states and countries. During this time, Daleen has been a part of the rapid growth of production tax incentives and their influence on feature films and series production. Incentives are instrumental in shaping most content on all platforms. Daleen enthusiastically dives into the relationship between production incentives, finance and tax legislation.
Daleen joined Amazon MGM Studios in 2022 and is the Head of Global Production Incentives. She has been integral in capturing production incentives for dozens of projects worldwide, including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1/S2, Citadel S1/S2, Fallout S1/S2, Ballard S1, Candy Cane Lane, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel S5 and The Idea of You.
Previously, Daleen spent more than a decade at Warner Bros. Discovery, where she led both the Feature and WBTV Tax Incentive Group throughout her tenure. She secured incentive on numerous projects worldwide including The Great Gatsby, American Sniper, A Star Is Born, Crazy Rich Asians, Aquaman, Birds of Prey, Joker, Ted Lasso, Riverdale, The Bachelorette, Sweet Tooth, Superman & Lois, and You.
Attending Production Service Companies, Film Studios and Soundstages, VFX Studios
Production Services Companies
Firstep
Paris, Paris Region
Firstep: Your French Production Partner.
Founded in 2000, Firstep is one of the leading production services companies in Europe. With a rich history of facilitating international productions, they specialize in helping foreign filmmakers bring their movies and series to life in the captivating landscapes of France. Firstep collaborates with all the top American and European studios and networks. Firstep’s works include the production of Emily in Paris (Netflix), Étoile (Prime Video), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon S1 & The Book of Carol S2 (AMC Networks), John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate), Murder Mystery 2 (Netflix), David Fincher’s The Killer (Netflix), Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Paramount), Stillwater (Focus Features) and many others.
Froggie Production
Paris, Paris Region & Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur
Trusted by studios and producers. Backed by French know-how.
Froggie Production, established in Paris in 2000, provides France-based production services for TV series and feature films. The company has cultivated strong, long-term relationships with producers, companies, networks and studios based in the U.S. and UK. Recent credits include The Last Mrs. Parrish, The Wrong Paris and The Diplomat for Netflix, The Last Thing He Told Me for Apple TV, Atlanta Season 2 and The Veil for FX, FBI International for NBCUniversal...
From their offices in Paris and Marseille, Froggie Production specializes in producing high production-value shoots by means of custom-tailored crews and low overhead.
LEFT
Pantin, Paris Region
Physical production, VFX supervision, and AI - engineered for excellence and built for budget.
LEFT & RIGHT are physical production and VFX production companies with offices in Paris, Los Angeles, and New York. Their mission is to maximize production value by strategically integrating physical production, VFX, and Generative Arts. In partnership with Firstep, they oversaw both physical production and VFX for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon S1 & The Book of Carol S2 and kept managing VFX in France when the series continued the shoot in Spain for Season 3 and 4 for AMC Networks (2022-2025).
Meadow Pictures
Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
New wave of French international production.
Meadow Pictures is a French production services company founded in 2024 by Valentin Francoise. After over a decade working with HBO, A24, Apple TV, and Netflix, Valentin launched Meadow to offer a fresh, modern take on production servicing in France. Joined by Oscar Thorneman in 2025, Meadow offers full-scale support across France for studio and indie projects. Built on deep industry experience, creative flexibility, and local insight, it ensures high-quality execution via trusted French crews. Meadow acts as a creative ally, connecting strong partners and emphasizing artistic awareness, human connection, and smart, cost-efficient solutions. Currently involved in several productions of varying scales, Meadow will present a new and growing filmography by summer 2026 as its first projects are released and announced.
Opal Films
Paris, Paris Region
Your Bridge to European Filmmaking.
Opal Films is a Paris-based production company developing and producing documentaries, animation, shorts, and features, while offering tailored consulting and production services to independent and studios. With deep expertise in cross-border filmmaking and co-productions between Europe, the UK, and the U.S., Opal Films guides clients through financing, tax incentives, packaging, and physical production. Opal Films can tailor comprehensive services to the specific needs of each project, regardless of location, scale, or complexity, and offers seasoned expertise, a wide network of industry partners, strong relationships with public and private institutions, and a global diplomatic outlook.
Founded by Franco-American producer Octavia Peissel (PGA), whose credits include Bouchra (MUBI), Asteroid City (Universal Pictures), The French Dispatch and Isle of Dogs (Searchlight Pictures), Opal Films is known for integrity and commitment to craft and quality.
Peninsula Film
Paris, Paris Region
Peninsula, a unique, strong and exquisite French production base attracting global filmmakers.
For 20+ years, John Bernard has produced for Universal, Warner Bros., Legendary, Paramount TV, Lionsgate, 20th Century Fox, HBO, Netflix, Walt Disney, Sky, Apple, BBC, and more. Theatrical credits include The Gallerist, The Amateur (20th Century Studios), Dunkirk and Inception (Warner Bros.) Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 (Lionsgate), The Nun II (Warner Bros.). Recent works includes Heads of State (Prime Video), The Serpent Queen Seasons 1 and 2 (Starz!), The New Look and Franklin (Apple TV), and John Woo’s The Killer (Peacock).
FILM STUDIOS
Provence Studios
Martigues, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
A New Way of Filmmaking in the South of France.
Provence Studios is one of Southern Europe’s largest production hubs, spanning 22 hectares with over 15 soundproofed stages across 26,000 sqm. Its Mediterranean climate and natural light—often compared to Los Angeles—enable year-round filming in a lifestyle setting crews love. Guided by the vision “produire autrement” – producing differently - it merges world-class infrastructure with innovation, sustainability, and inclusion. Facilities include an XR Virtual Production stage, green screens, and vast backlots. Recent productions include The Amateur (20th Century Studios), Vanished (Prime Video), Mauvaise Pioche (Apple TV), and Roma Elastica (Condor Distribution). Winner of a Global Production Award, Provence Studios is setting new standards in sustainable filmmaking while investing in training and diversity through Provence Campus.
Studios de la Montjoie
Saint-Denis, Paris Region
A state-of-the-art complex in Saint-Denis, a few miles from Paris.
Studios de la Montjoie - just 10 minutes from Montmartre and steps from the subway -feature 7 soundstages (4,300 - 14,000 sq ft) and develops a standing Parisian apartment set. Hosting over 50% of shoots in Paris Region, la Montjoie supports 150+ projects yearly with prep offices, costume and set workshops.
Thanks to in-house LED walls, it has led virtual productions on various advertising projects and Une Belle Course (Pathé). Recent credits include Franklin (Apple TV), Lupin S3 (Gaumont), Emily in Paris, and projects for Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video. The studio also offers natural settings and office space and is the closest to Paris — just 10 minutes from Montmartre and steps from the subway.
TSF
Saint-Denis, Paris Region
Best full-service Studios Facility and Equipment Rental House.
Founded in 1979, TSF is the first full-service equipment rental house in France. TSF offices based in Paris, Marseille, Montpellier, Bordeaux, and Brussels, offer the broadest and latest range of film & digital cameras, lighting, and grip equipment. Among U.S. productions, TSF supported Mission: Impossible – Fallout (Paramount Pictures), Emily in Paris S5 (Netflix), The Diplomat S1 (Netflix), John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate), The Last Duel (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures), The Killer (Netflix), FBI: International S4 (CBS Studios International)…
Already operating 43,000 sq ft of soundstages, TSF opened a 5-acre Backlot of permanent Parisian streets, also adding 5 new soundstages (total 65,000 sq ft) to open early in 2026. The studios hosted shootings like Murder Mystery 2 (Netflix), The Serpent Queen Season 2 (Lionsgate), The Substance (MUBI), or Étoile (Prime Video) at its Epinay facilities, among multiple other international productions.
VFX STUDIOS
BUF
Paris, Paris Region
The best quality pictures with no limit other than one’s imagination.
Founded in 1984, BUF is a landmark visual effects studio known for its artistic vision and pioneering spirit, being one of the few companies to exclusively use its own proprietary software from pre-visualization to final render. Its ambition has always been to combine cutting-edge technology with strong creative direction, positioning itself not only as a technical provider but as a true creative partner for filmmakers. The studio supports its clients throughout the entire VFX process, bringing original ideas, a distinctive aesthetic approach, and innovative technical solutions that serve both the story and the visual impact. Over the years, BUF has worked on more than 1,000 films and commercials, with recent examples such as Bettlejuice Bettlejuice (Warner Bros.), 3 Body Problem Season 1 (Netflix), and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC Networks), and much more still in production.
Mac Guff
Paris, Paris Region
Innovative VFX studio for creative solutions.
Mac Guff is a Paris-based VFX & animation studio founded in 1986. Since its creation, the company merges artistry with cutting-edge technology, and is now fully embracing the new AI era. Its in-house AI-driven software “Face Creative Engine" revolutionizes VFX of high-quality de-aging, face replacement, and digital makeup, winning the 2021 Cesar Academy Technical Innovation Prize. It has been extensively used on Lupin, Class Act, Under a Dark Sun (Netflix), and Tout Va Bien (Disney+), and other shows in production, and its development is still in progress to create the future of the VFX.
Mac Guff also excels in traditional Visual Effects, working with world-class renown directors such as Luc Besson, Gaspar Noé, Alexandre Aja, Sébastien Vaniček, Alfonso Cuaron, Louis Letellier, Jia Zhangke, Julia Ducournau...
One of Us Paris
Paris, Paris Region
Global, design-led VFX studio for visionary storytelling.
Founded in London in 2004 by Rachael Penfold, Dominic Parker, and Tom Debenham, One of Us is an award-winning visual effects studio working across feature films, episodic content, commercials, and immersive art installations. With a reputation for exceptional quality and a design-led approach to its work, One of Us is a key creative partner and collaborator to visionary creatives.
Following the opening of Paris in 2021, One of Us continues to expand its global network, with the company set to open a new studio in Bangalore in September 2025, as well as establishing a presence in Los Angeles. These moves reflect One of Us’s commitment to international collaboration, talent development, and creative excellence. Recent works include Troll 2 (Netflix), The Bride! (Warner Bros.), Carême (Apple TV),Étoile (Prime Video), The Witcher Season 4 (Netflix), and The Agency Season 1 (Paramount+).
The Yard
Paris, Paris Region & Montpellier, Occitanie
The Yard is a world class independent French VFX studio dedicated to Film and Episodic.
The Yard is a world-class French VFX studio dedicated to Film and Episodic
Founded in Paris in 2014 by Laurens Ehrmann, The Yard VFX is a leading independent studio specializing in digital visual effects for film and series. Known for its internationally experienced team, it collaborates with major studios including Lucasfilm, Netflix, Amazon MGM, Disney, and Marvel.
Blending creative vision with strong production expertise, The Yard delivers acclaimed VFX for projects ranging from independent films like Nomadland to major franchises such as Indiana Jones and Halo. Its work has earned top industry honors, including a 2023 César Award for Notre Dame on Fire, a 2024 HPA Award, and two consecutive Creative Arts Emmy nominations for All The Light We Cannot See (Netflix) and The Rings of Power – Season 2 (Prime Video).
With facilities in Paris, Montpellier, and London, The Yard continues to grow, combining artistic excellence and cutting-edge technology to craft world-class visual solutions.
Film Commission
Film France-CNC
Paris, Paris Region
Your one-stop shop for filming in France
Film France-CNC, the French film commission, department of the CNC (The National Center for Cinema and Moving Image), supports international productions by offering expert guidance and personalized assistance – entirely free of charge. Our services: - Clear guidance on everything international productions need to know when filming in France; - Expert advice on Tax Rebate for International Productions (TRIP) and project eligibility; - Support with permits, production regulations and visas; - Assistance with location scouting, filming, animation, VFX and post-production in France; - Connection with local film commissions, production services companies and studios across the country. The CNC, through Film France – CNC and Game France – CNC, also offers insights and support to productions companies and studios interested in collaborating with French studios to adapt their IPs into animation, video games or VR. Learn more: Website
TAFFF INDUSTRY PROGRAM
October 29, 2025 - 3:00 - 3:50pm
Made in France, Powered by VFX Magic
Followed by a complimentary Wine & Cheese reception
Truffaut Theater
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 Méliès, the French VFX sector now encompasses a wide range of expertise — from genre films such as Alpha by Julia Ducournau and Dracula by Luc Besson, to period pieces like Colors of Time by Cédric Klapisch (in competition at TAFFF 2025), and the meticulous re-creation of the Nouvelle Vague 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 — BUF, MPC, and Mac Guff — will present this distinctive “French Touch” and showcase how VFX are transforming French filmmaking.
Speakers:
- Béatrice Bauwens, Head of Studio, MPC
- Annabelle Zoëllin, Head of Production, BUF
- Thierry Onillon, Head of VFX, Mac Guff
Moderated by Todd Longwell, Associate Editor, Variety
Presented in association with the CNC
