THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

A few years ago, I lost a loved one, a young man taken by cancer. Devastated by sadness and anger, I turned to writing to reclaim hope. I needed to reinvent the story, to save a character. Nino came to me suddenly, like love at first sight on a street corner. I grew fond of this hesitant, loosely defined boy and I followed him as he wandered.

I quickly understood that it wouldn’t be the story of someone struck down in the prime of life, but that of a floating young man, who would be propelled in life through the announcement of a serious illness. I chose a short timeframe—three days—between the diagnosis of cancer and the start of the treatment… I was very curious to explore what could happen in that “dead time” between these two major events. There are still days and nights to be lived, so how does one get through them? How does one live through the ordinary in an extraordinary moment of one’s life? — Pauline Loquès

Locked out of his apartment after receiving a devastating medical diagnosis, the title character of NINO (Théodore Pellerin) would rather just stay in bed but is forced to walk the streets of Paris, encountering friends and strangers alike—a prescribed reconnection with the world before he starts the treatment that may save his life.

The feature debut of writer-director Pauline Loquès, NINO makes its American premiere this weekend at The American French Film Festival. Join the filmmaker for a Q & A after the screening. See info and link below for details.

NINO

Directed by Pauline Loquès

The American French Film Festival

Saturday, November 1, at 11 am

Directors Guild of America

7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles

theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org/nino

Loquès quotation: Damien Leblanc, “Interview withPauline Loquès, Nino Director,” Semaine de la Critique, Cannes, 2025.

semainedelacritique.com/interview-with-pauline-loques

Pauline Loquès, Nino (2025), from top: Théodore Pellerin; William Lebghil and Pellerin; Nino North American poster; Salomé Dewaels.