Charles Rivkin Remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Deauville American Film Festival 2026
DEAUVILLE, FRANCE—Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the Deauville American Film Festival. The following are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
Monsieur le Maire,
Monsieur le Préfet,
Madame la Consule des États-Unis,
Mesdames et Messieurs les Membres du Jury,
Dirigeants et représentants de l’industrie audiovisuelle francaise et américaine,
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Quel honneur de revenir au Festival du Cinéma Américain de Deauville.
Quelle joie de retrouver autant de personnalités du cinéma et du service public.
Et tout particulièrement Anne et Jean-Guillaume d’Ornano, dont l’engagement fait vivre l’esprit de Deauville.
Et quel plaisir d’être de retour dans un lieu si proche de mon cœur.
Lorsque j’étais Ambassadeur des États-Unis en France, j’avais promis à Monsieur le Maire que je viendrais chaque année à Deauville pour ce festival pendant mon mandat.
Et je suis fier de dire que j’ai tenu cette promesse.
Lorsque j’ai pris mes fonctions à la tête de la Motion Picture Association, je me suis engagé à suivre les pas du grand Jack Valenti : à participer à cette célébration chaque fois que cela m’est possible, afin de faire vivre ce symbole d’amitié et cet hommage aux liens culturels qui nous unissent.
Car je savais alors—comme je le sais aujourd’hui—que le cinéma est bien plus qu’un divertissement. Il représente un lien essentiel entre nos nations.
Au-delà de nos valeurs partagées, ce qui unit profondément les peuples de la France et d’Amérique, est leur amour du cinéma.
Merci de continuer cette tradition et de maintenir ce pont culturel qui nous unit.
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Friends and colleagues:
What a pleasure to return to the Deauville American Film Festival.
What a privilege to open this tribute to the deep ties of culture and creativity between our peoples and nations.
On the Fourth of July, the United States celebrated 250 years of independence.
And being here just two months later, I am reminded of the role played by French forces in that time of desperation – how France became America’s first ally in pursuit of a better future.
It was those same bonds that led American soldiers to land on beaches not far from where we stand – to help free France’s people from the chains of tyranny and Nazi horror – to secure another victory for a better future.
Through it all, our friendship has grown and evolved and deepened, extending from fields of war and geopolitics into diplomacy, trade, arts, culture and, yes, cinema.
That spirit continues in Deauville each year – not just through the unbridled courage of our militaries, but through the binding force of film.
This festival is a reminder of what cinema can be:
A medium of innovation that dates back to the inventions of les frères Lumière and Thomas Edison.
A creative sector fueled by the incredible productions on display in the days ahead.
A cultural cornerstone whose future rests in the hands of the artists convening at the Deauville Industry Encounters and next generation visionaries like Marine Atlan, creator of “La Gradiva” and recipient of this year’s Prix d’Ornano-Valenti.
With these dreamers in our midst. With a collection of American and French leaders and all of you in attendance. With studios and casts and crews on both sides of the Atlantic – we open this festival excited about what will emerge next:
What adventures are yet to be shared…
What scripts are yet to be crafted…
What tales are yet to inspire us…
What films we have yet to witness – only to be reminded once more of our enduring, shared belief: that what unites us, today and always, is the everlasting power of a great story, well told.
Thank you for carrying forward that legacy.
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