Silex Films Brings Acclaimed Graphic Novel In Waves to the Big Screen as an Animated Feature

Director Phuong Mai Nguyen’s debut feature, produced by Priscilla Bertin, arrived in French cinemas on July 1, 2026

Paris-based production company Silex Films has completed work on In Waves, an animated feature adaptation of AJ Dungo’s critically praised graphic novel. Directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen in her feature-length debut, the film was released in France on July 1, 2026, with international sales handled by Charades and French distribution by Diaphana.

The project traces its origins to 2019, when producer Priscilla Bertin—co-founder of Silex Films and an avid surfer—discovered Dungo’s graphic novel shortly after its release. Deeply moved by what she describes as “the poetry and grace emanating from this tragic story,” Bertin immediately envisioned an animated adaptation that would preserve the hand-drawn essence at the heart of the work. After securing adaptation rights directly from the author in early 2020, she brought on director Phuong Mai Nguyen—a prior collaborator on the award-winning animated series Culottées (adapted from Pénélope Bagieu’s graphic novels)—to lead the project.

From Page to Screen: A Chronological Reimagining

While remaining faithful to the emotional core of Dungo’s narrative, the film introduces several notable departures from the source material. Most significantly, the story adopts a linear chronological structure, concentrating entirely on the love story between AJ and Kristen rather than incorporating the historical surf-documentary subplot present in the graphic novel. Screenwriters Fanny Burdino and Samuel Doux—a couple in real life—worked closely with Dungo to refine character details, while the director made multiple research trips to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Hawaii—supported in part by the Villa Albertine residency program—to capture the authentic locations depicted in the story, from beaches and high schools to the hospital central to the narrative. Dungo provided extensive personal photographs and videos, particularly of Kristen, to ensure the most faithful visual representation possible. Notably, both Nguyen and Dungo are of Filipino descent, and the director was deeply committed to authentically portraying that community on screen.

Another significant departure is the film’s vibrant colour palette. Whereas the graphic novel employs a restrained two-colour scheme, the animated feature embraces the vivid hues of California, with visual inspiration drawn from artists such as David Hockney and Raymond Pettibon. Nguyen’s early test visuals exceeded Bertin’s expectations and set the distinctive visual tone for the entire production.

Technical Challenges and Artistic Innovation

The animation posed considerable technical challenges, particularly in rendering realistic water, waves, and sea foam—a pursuit made all the more demanding by Bertin’s self-described “critical eye” as a surfing enthusiast. The production team collaborated with French animation studio Autour de minuit, whose Blender expert developed custom tools for textures, achieving a painterly blend of 2D and 3D animation that allows for fluid manipulation of the ocean throughout the film. The development phase—encompassing writing, storyboarding, and technological research—spanned over two and a half years, followed by approximately two years of production involving some 300 artists and technicians across Silex, Gao Shan Pictures (based in Réunion Island), and Belgian studio Panique!.

A Labor of Love: Financing and Production

Financing adult-oriented animated features in France proved challenging, with total production costs ultimately reaching approximately €9.5 million—exceeding initial estimates. The project received early support from international sales agent Charades and Anonymous Content, with distributor Diaphana coming on board during the development phase. Regional grants, CNC funding (including the Avance sur recettes and Aide aux techniques d’animation), and private investment helped finance development, while recognition at the 2021 MIFA market and a 2D teaser presentation at Cartoon Movie boosted the project’s visibility. Despite broadcasters’ lower investment caps for animation compared to live-action productions—a persistent paradox in the French industry—the team secured full financing, with all partners ultimately moved by the film’s emotional power.

Voice Cast and Musical Score

The French voice cast features Lyna Khoudri as Kristen, praised for her “magnificent grain and assurance,” with Rio Vega voicing AJ in a softer register. Paul Kircher, Birane Ba, and Gauthier Battoue round out the ensemble. Recording sessions were conducted by Piste Rouge using animated storyboards, allowing the animation team to later sync character movements to the performances. For the English-language version, Nguyen travelled to the United States to work on dialogue adaptation with cast members Stephanie Hsu and Will Sharpe, carefully matching script revisions to lip movements already created for the French version.

The film’s score comes from electronic musician Oklou and composer Rob, who joined the project early, experimenting during the first teaser phase. Their collaborative work blends electro and piano elements with Hawaiian instruments, balancing the youthful California surf culture with the story’s darker emotional undercurrents.

In Waves is produced by Silex Films in co-production with Gao Shan Pictures and Charades, with distribution by Diaphana and international sales by Charades. The film released in French theatres on July 1, 2026.