Juliette Binoche and 12 indie films take the Deauville Film Festival by storm Between independent cinema and hollywood blockbusters

From September 4 to 13, Deauville rolls out its red carpet for the 52nd edition of its iconic festival. A flagship event of the autumn season, the American Film Festival gathers 80 films across nine categories this year, striking a delightful balance between big-budget studio hits and indie gems. For this 2026 edition - sponsored by Chanel - the jury faces the daunting task of choosing a winner among the 13 feature films in competition. Leading this stellar jury is Roschdy Zem (Best Actor at Cannes for Days of Glory and César for Best Actor in Oh Mercy!), who will have the honor of presenting the coveted Grand Prix.

The true strength of this Normandy event lies in its accessibility. Fully open to the public, the festival transforms the seaside town into a haven for film lovers for ten days. From the Centre International de Deauville (CID) to the Casino Cinema and the Morny Club Cinema, casual viewers and die-hard cinephiles alike can wander through roughly a hundred screenings.

Here is a closer look at the 13 indie films competing this year.

A Prayer For the Dying — Dara Van Dusen

Adapted from Stewart O’Nan’s 2001 novel of the same name, this historical drama plunges us into the sweltering summer of 1870 in Friendship, a small Wisconsin town. The community relies heavily on Jacob Hansen, a Civil War hero haunted by the violence of his military past. Seeking redemption, Jacob takes on multiple roles: family man, sheriff, undertaker, and pastor. Convinced that protecting the town is his sacred duty, his devotion turns into an obsession when an uncontrollable epidemic hits the area.

Club Kid — Jordan Firstman

Making his directorial feature debut, the actor we loved in the mini-series I Love LA strikes hard. After causing a stir at Cannes - where Vogue hailed the "birth of a great filmmaker" - Jordan Firstman continues his festival run in Deauville. Club Kid follows a washed-up New York party promoter forced to put his chaotic life back on track when an unexpected visitor suddenly turns up.

Company — Casey Affleck

Casey Affleck’s third directorial effort - screening concurrently at the Venice Film Festival -Company concludes what the actor-director describes as an unintentional trilogy, following his mockumentary I’m Still Here (2010) and the intimate post-apocalyptic drama Light of My Life (2019). "My first film was about a man almost entirely consumed by himself. The second, a man almost entirely selfless. The third asks: how do we make peace with the lives we've actually been given?" the filmmaker reflects. A deeply personal and philosophical work.

Everybody Digs Bill Evans — Grant Gee

British filmmaker Grant Gee, known for his definitive music documentaries on Radiohead (Meeting People Is Easy) and Joy Division, tackles a jazz icon. New York, June 1961: legendary pianist Bill Evans and his musical soulmate, bassist Scott LaFaro, take up residency at the Village Vanguard. This historic run resulted in two of the greatest jazz albums of all time, recorded live in a single day.

Here I’m Alive — Joshua Z. Weinstein

Awarded the Special Jury Prize at Tribeca last June for its fascinating dive into rarely explored subcultures, Joshua Z. Weinstein’s new film captures the lives of a cast played entirely by non-professional actors. Spanning a single night, the narrative weaves sensitive portraits exploring alienation, loneliness, social media addiction, the "looksmaxxing" trend, and the thirst for instant fame.

I’ll Be Gone in June — Katharina Rivilis

Unveiled in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, German actress and director Katharina Rivilis’s debut feature draws directly from her college years in the United States. Through the eyes of Franny, a 16-year-old student stranded in Las Cruces, New Mexico, shortly after 9/11, the filmmaker delivers a deeply personal coming-of-age story about a pivotal moment in her own life.

If I Go Will They Miss Me — Walter Thompson-Hernández

Centered on a complex father-son dynamic, this film follows a 12-year-old boy trying to maintain a connection with his incarcerated father. The boy's world shifts as he experiences mysterious visions - ranging from Greek gods to airplanes hovering over his neighborhood - that slowly bleed into his daily reality.

Méli-Mélo — Leah Nelson

Sarah, an artist and activist in 1990s San Francisco, sees her life upended when her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis forces her back to her hometown. Caught between a blossoming romance, career goals she refuses to give up, and a quirky family overwhelmed by the illness, she takes her loved ones on an unexpected road trip to Mexico. A touching, funny journey about letting go and embracing family flaws.

Mouse — Kelly O’Sullivan

Discovered at the Berlinale earlier this year, Mouse tackles grief and loss head-on. The film follows Minnie, a young woman suddenly forced to cope with the tragic death of her best friend in a car accident, portraying her fragile path toward healing.

Party USA — Jared Sprouse

While the film opens with a father's death, Jared Sprouse subverts heavy drama in favor of a sharp workplace comedy. Taylor, an employee at a party supply store, desperately searches for a coverage shift so she can take time off after her father's passing. A single logistical mistake triggers a chaotic domino effect, unleashing hilarious disorder upon a workplace decked out in the Stars and Stripes.

Queen at Sea — Lance Hammer

Eighteen years after his acclaimed debut Ballast, director Lance Hammer returns with an ethical drama starring Juliette Binoche, who remains a powerhouse in American independent cinema. Binoche plays Amanda, a woman facing a agonizing dilemma alongside her stepfather: as her mother's dementia advances, who gets to decide her future when her clarity is gone? A spouse, a child, or an institution?

Test — Sam McConnell

Set in a small industrial town in Ohio, amateur bodybuilder Eddie fights to pursue his dream of becoming a champion. Loosely based on the life of screenwriter and lead actor Brock Yurick, the film depicts a man's internal struggle with a dysfunctional family, addiction, and his emerging sexuality through his relationship with a new trainer.

The Liberation of Rita Cooper — Guy Nattiv

For his seventh feature film, Guy Nattiv draws inspiration from his own grandmother's real-life experiences. In 1980s New Jersey, Rita, exhausted by a grueling daily routine and a traumatic past, seeks solace with Ricky, the charismatic leader of an all-female cult-like community. When her two daughters try to pull her out, Rita must choose between her newfound sense of freedom and the life she left behind.