Jordan Firstman’s feature directorial debut Club Kid has claimed the top honor at the 52nd Deauville American Film Festival, taking home both the Grand Prix and the City of Deauville Audience Award. The film, which A24 will release in U.S. theaters on November 6, 2026, follows a New York party promoter whose life is turned upside down when he discovers he has a 10-year-old son. The double win in Normandy marks another major milestone for a movie that first made waves at Cannes earlier this year.
What Club Kid Is About
Club Kid tells the story of Peter, a thirtysomething New York party promoter who has spent most of his adult life lost in nightlife, clubs, and casual encounters. His world shifts completely when Arlo, a 10-year-old boy played by newcomer Reggie Absolom, arrives at his door with news that Peter is his father. Arlo’s mother has died, leaving Peter to take on a responsibility he never expected.
The film runs 126 minutes and mixes comedy with a grounded look at parenthood and chosen family. Jordan Firstman writes, directs, and stars as Peter. The cast also includes Diego Calva, Cara Delevingne, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Colleen Camp, Vicki Pepperdine, Nigil Whyte, Eldar Isgandarov, Saturn Risin9, Miss Benny, and Alaska Riley. Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, known for his work on The White Lotus, composed the score.
Firstman is best known for his viral comedy videos and roles in shows including Hacks, Ms. Marvel, and English Teacher. He previously played a version of himself in Sebastián Silva’s Rotting in the Sun, which premiered at Sundance in 2023. Club Kid is his first feature as a writer-director.
The Deauville Win and What the Jury Said
The 52nd Deauville American Film Festival ran from September 4 to September 13, 2026, in the seaside town of Deauville in Normandy, France. The awards were announced on Saturday, September 12, 2026. A total of 13 films competed for the main prize.
The main jury was chaired by Roschdy Zem and included Simon Abkarian, Camille Chamoux, Cécile de France, Euzhan Palcy, Raphaël Personnaz, Lola Quivoron, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, and Laura Smet. The jury described Club Kid as a film of “power and delicacy,” according to French outlet Infodujour .
The City of Deauville Audience Award went to the same film, showing that both the jury and regular moviegoers connected with the story. 20 Minutes noted that the film “speaks about parenthood with great tenderness” .
Jordan Firstman was not present at the closing ceremony. He sent a video message that was described as full of humor, though the award presentation was shortened because of his absence .
Full Winners List at Deauville 2026
- Grand Prix: Club Kid, directed by Jordan Firstman
- City of Deauville Audience Award: Club Kid
- Jury Prize (shared): Méli-Mélo, directed by Leah Nelson
- Jury Prize (shared): If I Go Will They Miss Me, directed by Walter Thompson-Hernández
- Critics’ Prize: Méli-Mélo
- Revelation Prize: Mouse, directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson
- Canal+ Prize: Test, directed by Sam McConnell
Méli-Mélo is a 103-minute animated film set in 1990s San Francisco. It follows Sarah as she returns to her childhood home while her mother begins losing her memory. Its voice cast includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Abbi Jacobson, Bryan Cranston, Beanie Feldstein, Seth Rogen, and Samira Wiley. The film will release in France on January 20, 2027, through Nour Films.
If I Go Will They Miss Me follows 12-year-old Lil Ant in a working-class Los Angeles neighborhood near the airport. It stars Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse Nicholson and expands Walter Thompson-Hernández’s award-winning 2022 Sundance short. Its French release through Wayna Pitch is set for January 6, 2027.
Mouse follows lifelong friends Callie and Minnie during a summer before senior year that is changed by tragedy. The ensemble includes Sophie Okonedo, Katherine Mallen-Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Chloe Coleman, Iman Vellani, and David Hyde Pierce.
Festival Highlights and Star Appearances
The 2026 Deauville festival brought a long list of major names to France. Brendan Fraser attended for a screening of his latest film Control and received the Deauville Talent Award. Ethan Hawke also received the same honor, returning to Deauville 35 years after attending with White Fang.
Faye Dunaway and Susan Sarandon received Icon Awards. Sophie Thatcher and Patrick Schwarzenegger were given Rising Star honors. Catherine Deneuve made a special appearance, as did Casey Affleck with his film Company and Ira Sachs with The Man I Love. Other guests included Simon Pegg, Sofia Boutella, Pete Doherty, Brooklyn Beckham, and Nicole Peltz Beckham.
The festival also held the second year of its industry section. Across two days, delegates discussed ways to strengthen ties between the U.S. and French film industries. Panels covered how local actors can break out in the U.S. and how international productions can use France’s tax rebate system.
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Club Kid’s Journey from Cannes to Deauville
Club Kid first premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. It received a six-minute standing ovation. A24 acquired the film for a reported $17 million after a bidding war with other studios.
The film currently holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 27 reviews, with an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Metacritic shows a score of 85 out of 100 based on 12 reviews, labeled as “universal acclaim.”
Deadline reported that A24 set the U.S. release date for November 6, 2026. The film will have a wider rollout after its opening weekend. Metropolitan FilmExport will release the film in France on November 4, 2026.
Before Deauville, Club Kid also screened at the Telluride Film Festival and was set for the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. Variety noted that Colleen Camp, who plays a supporting role, could be a secret awards-season asset for the film.
The Deauville American Film Festival has a long history of spotlighting American cinema in France. The 52nd edition continued that tradition by honoring a first-time director whose film has already become one of the most talked-about American independents of 2026.
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For more updates on film festival winners, release dates, and awards season news, keep reading VvipTimes.
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