Air France returns as official partner of Deauville American Film Festival for 13th consecutive year

Air France announced Monday that it has participated as an official partner of the 52nd Deauville American Film Festival for the 13th consecutive year.

The Deauville American Film Festival is one of Europe's premier celebrations of American cinema, held each September in Deauville, France. It showcases the full breadth of US filmmaking, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent productions.

The newly established Air France Travelers Award was created to expand support for film and bring diverse cultural content to audiences around the world. Rather than relying on jury votes or panel reviews, winners are selected based on actual in-flight viewership data — including audience numbers, play counts and total watch time — from films screened on Air France flights in the previous festival year. The award made its debut in May at the Canneseries international festival dedicated to global TV series and drama series.

The inaugural honor went to "Mon Crime" ("The Crime Is Mine"), directed by Rebecca Zlotowski and starring Jodie Foster. After premiering as the closing film of last year's festival, the title screened across Air France's 38,000 in-flight screens for six months and drew strong viewership from passengers.

Air France has extended its passion for film and the arts into the in-flight experience, continuously strengthening entertainment content and services on long-haul routes.

Long-haul flights offer more than 1,500 hours of in-flight entertainment, spanning the latest blockbusters, classic films and wellness content such as meditation and chair yoga. The new Airbus A350 economy class features 13.3-inch 4K screens for an enhanced viewing experience.

Since last year, the airline has offered free high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi powered by Starlink. Passengers who log in with a Flying Blue account can browse the internet, send messages and emails, stream high-definition video and play games without interruption throughout their flight.

Earlier this year, Air France partnered with Apple TV to bring a selection of Apple TV+'s flagship original series on board, broadening the range of content available to passengers.

For the second consecutive year, Air France teamed up with the Barrière Group to host a special dinner at Ciro's, one of Deauville's signature restaurants. The event featured exclusive desserts by Claire Heitzler — named Pastry Chef of the Year by the Gault & Millau guide in 2013 and the creator of desserts for Air France's La Première cabin.

An Air France spokesperson said the airline plans to expand the Air France Travelers Award to other major cultural and arts festivals where it holds partnerships.

Meanwhile, Air France continues to broaden its brand touchpoints with global customers through a range of marketing initiatives, including its 46-year-running official partnership with the Cannes Film Festival.