Film France – CNC is proud to bring back its “U.S. Filmmaking in France: Living the French Experience” event in Los Angeles for its second edition. In partnership with Villa Albertine, and now for the first time in conjunction with the American French Film Festival (TAFFF), the event celebrates the collaboration between the U.S. and French film industries.
On this occasion, a delegation of a dozen of French professionals representing Productions Services Companies, Film Studios, and VFX Studios will connect with American professionals to discuss the advantages of working with France. France offers a unique blend of creativity, infrastructure, and fiscal incentives that make it a preferred choice for many internationals.
Included in the agenda for “U.S. Filmmaking in France” will be presentations and panel discussions such as:
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - A Journey Across France’s Iconic Locations
Featuring a discussion with Rob Fox, EVP, Production, AMC Studios and Augustin de Belloy, Producer, LEFT Productions about their experience filming throughout France, including at such iconic locations as Mont-Saint-Michel, the Royaumont Abbeys, and the Louvre Museum.
The Substance - An American Story Done the French Way
Alexandra Loewy, Producer, and Nicolas Royer, Producer, Voulez-Vous Production Services discuss their cooperation on the film that has been the talk of numerous film festivals. The body horror movie starring Demi Moore benefited from the use of French make-up artists and VFX and SFX service professionals.
France: Your Next Destination for Cutting-Edge VFX
This panel focus on the extensive VFX and Virtual production used on various US series and movies. Featuring Visual Effects Producer Viet Luu (The Gray Man, All the Light We Cannot See); Mimi Steele, SVP, VFX Universal Picture Group (The Killer); and Willa Swallow, Associate Producer (The Serpent Queen) will discuss their experiences working with VFX professionals in France.
French TRIP 101 - An Introduction to France’s Tax Rebate for International Productions
The TRIP amounts up to 40% of the qualifying expenditures incurred in France and can total a maximum of 30€ million per project. This crash course in how it all works will be presented by Film France - CNC’s Daphné Lora and producer Raphaël Benoliel, whose Firstep production company has been a one-stop-shop for international shoots in France, including Emily in Paris, John Wick: Chapter 4 and the upcoming Prime Video series Etoile.
Featuring
Rob Fox
As Executive Vice-President of Physical Production, Original Series, Rob Fox oversees production for AMC Studios. Since his tenure at AMC, Fox has taken shows to the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Ireland, England, as well as several locations across the US. For three decades, Fox has worked with several studios, managing production for hundreds of shows, nationally and internationally. Before joining AMC Networks, Fox was Director, Physical Production, Original Series for Netflix, where he oversaw development and implementation of Netflix’s growing in-house studio for all owned/self-managed productions. Previously, Fox was Vice-President, Physical Production, for A+E Studios where he oversaw in-house production for all scripted programming, including the infrastructure for A&E Networks merger with Lifetime, where he had served as Vice-President of Physical Production. Prior, Fox produced CBS Studios’ HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER as well as LISTEN UP and BECKER. Fox received a Peabody Award in 2015 for his work on the A+E Studios series UNREAL. He received his B.A. in Communications from The Pennsylvania State University and studied Mass Media at The University of Manchester. Fox resides in South Pasadena with his wife, and they have three children.
Alexandra Loewy
Alexandra Loewy most recently served as the President of Working Title Films LA. In this role, Loewy oversaw a slate of distinctive, original feature film projects. In her 6 years at WT, Loewy served as Executive Producer of Coralie Fargeat’s critically acclaimed award-winning film The Substance with Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. The film debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Best Screenplay prize. Other films include Sam Boyd’s Genie starring Melissa McCarthy and Paapa Essediu, based on a script by Richard Curtis; and Nisha Ganatra’s The High Note starring Dakota Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross. Loewy also serves as Executive Producer of the upcoming Focus Features film CC Emily.
Viet Luu
Viet Luu is a dynamic film producer specializing in Visual Effects. With over 20 years of production experience, his talents range from photography, commercial producing and then finding his current niche in VFX. His early work with Barry Sonnenfeld (MIB 3) and Darren Aronofsky (Noah) shaped his experience to guide the Visual Effects. Viet has worked on game-changing films of the genre like BFG, Ready Player One (Both Spielberg) and Free Guy (Shawn Levy). His most recent endeavors include The Gray Man (The Russo Brothers), All the Light We Cannot See (Levy). Viet has been nominated for both a VES (Visual Effects Society) award and an Emmy for Outstanding VFX in a single episode.
Willa Swallow
Willa Swallow is an Associate Producer for Film and Television Series, who is excited by the creative and logistical undertakings of each new project. She is inspired by the Filmmakers and their stories, as much as the on-set operations of Production and its crew. Willa has over 10 years of experience working in the Film Industry. Starting as an intern on set in Atlanta, she has experienced multiple facets of the filmmaking process having worked in various positions including stints in the Art Department and Visual Effects before becoming a Producer. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son, where she is involved with local non-profits, and enjoys writing and artistic pursuits in her freetime.
Mimi Steele
As SVP of Visual Effects for Universal Picture Group, Mimi Steele oversees a number of live-action Universal films from development and physical production to post production. Mimi has a reputation for developing trust and collaborating with filmmakers to create immersive worlds in film through innovative, story-driven visual effects. She has recently completed John Woo’s The Killer, working closely with several French vendors.
Taylor Hackford
Taylor Hackford is a feature and documentary director and producer whose work has garnered two Academy Award nominations, for Best Picture and Best Director for Ray, and two DGA nominations, for directing Ray and An Officer and A Gentleman. He won the Oscar for Dramatic Short for Teenage Father. Hackford produced the groundbreaking film La Bamba and directed the cult classic Blood In Blood Out. Additional credits include The Devil’s Advocate, White Knights, Against All Odds, The Idolmaker, Proof of Life and the documentaries Bukowski, Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Oscar-winning When We Were Kings. Taylor has been an active member of the Director's Guild of America for over 40 years, including twice as elected President of the DGA, beginning in 2009.
Attending Production Service Companies, Film Studios and Soundstages, VFX Studios:
Productions Service Companies
Firstep
Paris, Paris Region
Firstep: Your French Production Partner. Founded in 2000 by Dimitri Veret and Raphaël Bénoliel, 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 latest works include the production of Emily in Paris (Netflix), Etoile (Prime Video), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon S1 & The Book of Carol S2 (AMC), John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate), Murder Mystery 2 (Netflix), David Fincher’s The Killer (Netflix), Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Paramount), Stillwater (NBCUniversal) and many others.
LEFT
Pantin, Paris Region
Left is the Right Company. LEFT is a full-service production company based on dualities: French & American, Creative & Grounded, Passionate and Conscious. With LEFT, productions get the best of both worlds, helping them transcend borders. LEFT is a cross-continental company based in Paris and Los Angeles. There are two things on which they will never compromise: the quality of their work and the way they care about people. LEFT produced The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon S1 and The Book of Carol S2 in France for AMC in 2022-2024. Season 1 won a genie award for best VFX in a Series.
Voulez-vous Productions Services
Paris, Paris Region
A company built on 25 years of experience filming feature films and series in France. Voulez-vous Production Services is the brainchild of two French film industry stalwarts, including Nicolas Royer who spearheaded the production of The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat, produced by Working Title, Blacksmith, starring Demi Moore. Voulez-vous’ aim is to treat each Feature film or TV series project as its own bespoke experience.
Wheelhouse Productions
Paris, Paris Region
Specializing in high-end shoots and VFX, combining financial rigor with 25 years of bilingual film-making, Wheelhouse Productions understands the demands of international production. The company is run by highly experienced producer.
Matthew Gledhill. Trained as a 1st AD, working across Europe and North America, Matthew went on to become an independent producer, recently servicing Mothers’ Instinct, for Neon/Amazon. He also occupied the post of SVP, International Production, at StudioCanal. The company has teamed up with Emmanuelle Balestrieri, France’s most accomplished financial controller and key accountant working in international production. She has run accounts and tax credit applications for feature films including Dunkirk, Ford vs Ferrari, The Last Duel and Hunger Games as well as the limited TV series Franklin. Wheelhouse provides production services to measure, including the French tax rebate, answering to U.S. quality standards using the best of French expertise.
Film Studios
Provence Studios
Martigues, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Crafting Tomorrow : The One-Stop Shop in the South of France. Provence Studios, one of southern Europe’s largest production sites, spans 22 hectares with over 15 modular, soundproofed studios across 26,000 square meters. Renowned for hosting major productions like The Serpent Queen (season 1 & 2) for Starz! and Warner Bros’ The Nun II, Provence Studios provides optimal conditions for a wide range of production needs. It offers cutting-edge facilities, including a large virtual production (VP) studio with advanced XR technology, green screen setups, and outdoor backlots. A pioneer in sustainable filmmaking, Provence Studios earned the 2024 Global Production Award for its eco-friendly initiatives, including solar panels, water recovery systems, and an eco-park. Socially conscious, it partners with Provence Campus to promote inclusion and diversity. With world-class infrastructure, Provence Studios delivers seamless production experiences while fostering innovation and sustainability. Integrated into a dynamic regional ecosystem, it is a key player in the industry’s technological and creative evolution.
TSF
Saint-Denis, Paris Region
Your best full-service studios facility and equipment rental house. The most unique offer of filming studios in France. TSF Studios & Backlot is the first and only French full-service facility. With offices in Paris, Marseille, Montpellier, Bordeaux and Brussels, its growing infrastructure of soundstages (totaling 17 - from 9,000 to 43,000 sqft) includes one of Europe's largest backlots (5 acres, 1000 linear feet of Parisian streets, stunts airfield, airplane + 10 acres open to construction).
With the broadest range of film and digital cameras, optics, lighting, and grip equipment, TSF supported Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Emily in Paris (season 4), The Gray Man, The Crown season 6, John Wick: Chapter 4, The Last Duel, The Killer, The Veil, Slow Horses (season 3), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, and many other U.S. movies and platform productions.
VFX Studios
Excuse My French (VFX supervisor)
Paris, Paris Region
Managing visual effects throughout all production stages, from development to final delivery.During shooting, Excuse My French collaborates with directing, production design, camera, lighting, SFX, stunts, and editing departments to optimize creative, financial, and technical decisions. The company offers key services such as VFX breakdowns, visualizations (pitch-vis, previs, techvis), cost estimates, VFX studio bids, daily shooting reports, data wrangling, and technical coordination across all departments.
During post-production, Excuse My French supervises the VFX studios in France and abroad, organizes reviews with directors and editorial teams, and ensures projects remain on track. Additionally, itprovides feedback, production-specific tracking documents, oversees the QC process, and ensures all deliverables meet schedules and deadlines.
Excuse My French supervised the following projects: The Last Duel, The Serpent Queen (season 1 & 2), The New Look, Vespers Chronicle, Gunpowder Milkshake, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
MPC Paris
Paris, Paris Region
Making any vision a reality. MPC Paris provides comprehensive visual effects and post-production services for feature films and series, meeting both national and international standards. MPC Paris oversees film and series production from the development stage to the final delivery, bringing its expertise in visual effects and digital workflow on set and in Post. Part of the Oscar winning MPC Studio, MPC Paris actively promotes French cinema and talent by collaborating on diverse projects that bring varied stories to life on screen.
MPC support extends to auteurs and filmmakers, ensuring their films meet high-quality standards through tailored technical and creative post-production solutions that achieve their artistic vision effectively.
NOID
Paris, Paris Region
NOID is a French VFX studio, dedicated to Film and Episodic. Founded in 2017, NOID brings together a team of experts mastering the entire visual effects creation process, including creature design, environment design, complex simulation and compositing. Thanks to a proprietary production pipeline that is both robust and adaptable, the studio is perfectly equipped to meet the demands of major productions. NOID has recently collaborated on a number of international feature films and series, including the Cannes and Tiff award-winning The Substance (Working Title Films), The Killer (Universal Pictures) and The Serpent Queen (Lionsgate Films). With attentiveness, great agility, and a spirit of collaboration, the studio puts its passion for technology and innovation at the service of creativity.
Rodeo FX
Paris, Paris Region
Born to craft.
RODEO FX is a multi-award winning company specializing in high-end visual effects, animation, and creative services founded in 2006 in Canada.
RODEO FX has opened a new studio in Paris in May 2023. The French office has already worked on two television series The Veil and The Walking Dead as well as a film, The Killer. Three other films are already planned for late 2024 and 2025. Our artists are inspired by their client’s vision and driven by an undeniable love for what they do.
Our ambition is to offer the expertise and quality of work of RODEO FX in France for both international films seeking post-production services in France and French cinema.
The Yard
Paris, Paris Region and Montpellier, Occitanie
The Yard is a world class French VFX studio dedicated to Film and Episodic. The Yard is a company created by a team of visual effects supervisors and producers, bringing their experience dealing with various size projects and productions. Their focus is to provide their clients with competitive prices, the best artists and the most innovating technologies. The Yard provides an infrastructure that enables multiple projects with lot of shots to be simultaneously completed with the highest quality. Recent work include Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney), The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 (Prime Video), Damsel (Netflix), and Halo season 2 (Paramount+).
Film France-CNC, your one-stop shop for filming in France.
Paris, Paris Region
Film France-CNC, the French film commission, department of the CNC (The National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image), supports foreign productions and individuals preparing to film in France through a range of free services including expertise on the Tax Rebate for International Productions (TRIP), understanding of the French regulations (permits and visas), connection to local Film Commissions and professionals, assistance with location scouting, shoots, animation, VFX and postproduction work in France.
