Netflix-acquired animated drama “In Waves,” directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen, opens the 30th American French Film Festival (TAFFF) in Los Angeles on Nov. 3, according to multiple outlets. The film is set within California’s surfing world and is adapted from AJ Dungo’s graphic novel.
Both sources say the animated feature premiered earlier in 2024 as the opening film for Cannes Critics’ Week. Variety notes that it is the first animated feature to open Critics’ Week, and Deadline similarly describes it as the opening film there. The festival is also marking its 30th anniversary and includes additional programming beyond the opening-night selection. Variety further reports that TAFFF will run a television competition alongside the film slate, expanding the event’s focus.
Overall, coverage aligns on the film’s director, source material, and its role as TAFFF’s opener following its Cannes Critics’ Week premiere, while differing mainly in what they emphasize about Netflix acquisition and the festival’s additional TV competition programming.
