The end of August and beginning of September is a big time for international film festivals. For many, Venice takes place at the end of August and moves straight into the Toronto International Film Festival, but for some, there is a stop between the two. That stop is the Deauville American Film Festival, which takes place between September 5 and 15, and celebrates a host of largely American-produced indie films from the year far ahead of awards season in early 2026.
Deauville is a city steeped in rich history within the fashion and film community. With ties to a longstanding film festival that has seen some of Hollywood's best walk the red carpet, the seaside town of the Normandy region of France has been previously described as a "cinephile’s paradise.”
For this year's film festival, I found myself in Deauville with Hotel Barriere, which has three properties in Deauville. We stayed in Hotel Barriere Le Normandy, a timber-framed style hotel in the traditional Normand architectural style. Directly across from the beach, I spent three nights in the quaint French town attending premieres, screenings, riding horses, eating seafood, and discovering what Deauville has to offer. Ahead, see my film diary from 48 hours in Deauville.
Our first night in France was spent at the iconic Barriere Le Fouquets location in Paris before heading to Normandy. A much needed bubble bath was the perfect way to unwind after a red eye.
Arriving in Normandy at Barrière Le Normandy, just a few hundred meters from the film festival location, which has been part of the hotel's history for many years. We spent the afternoon exploring the property, which has been designed in a quintessential anglo-norman stlye and features a beautiful spa and indoor pool to enjoy before heading into H&MU before our first premiere.
Ready for the premiere of "Splitsville" wearing Christopher Esber in The Bar Du Normandy.
Aftermath of the opening ceremony dinner that same evening at the Casino Barriere Deauville dinner with Chef Pierre Gagnaire.
Waking up in Deauville—the ocean as my view! We went to the local markets following breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, La Belle Epoque.
Lunch by the sea at Bar de la Mer.
Night two getting ready station.
Ready for a screening of Yorgos Lanthimos' "Bugonia," which was extremely good. Wearing a suit by Christopher Esber whose pieces always makes me feel my best, having a smoke break in the hotel courtyard with the other festival goers.
These extremely tall but surprisingly comfortable Paris Texas mules got me through some very long nights.
A ride along the boardwalk with bikes that Barriere Le Normandy provides, which is VIP access for guests of the hotel, and features three Barriere signature restaurants on the boardwalk, including Bar De La Mer.
Hay bales at the La Mangeoire stables after riding horses along the beach, which was a personal highlight of the trip due to my horse girl roots.
Handsome! We visited the Beaumont Stud Farm as an excursion arranged by the hotel which is an option for guests to understand more about Deauville's deep connection to the equestrian world.
A moment of quiet amongst the chaos in my room, whose walls were decorated with toile de Jouy.
