Netflix, which has come to dominate Hollywood’s vital streaming sector but has yet to win the coveted Oscar for best picture, intends to use its considerable clout to promote Audiard’s tenth feature film.

Following appearances at North American festivals in Telluride in August and Toronto in September, “Emilia Pérez” opens the French American Film Festival (TAFFF) in Los Angeles this week.

The campaign promises to be much more intense than in 2010, when Audiard’s film “A Prophet” was nominated for an Oscar in the best international film category, although it is still very prestigious.

“It’s like going from a provincial competition to the Olympic Games,” said Audiard, a Parisian dandy who wore a leopard-print shirt and a scarf around his neck under his blue suit.

– ‘A revelation’ –

Audiard’s genre-hopping film, which won the Jury Prize at Cannes, is the story of the repentance of Manitas, a powerful Mexican drug trafficker.

Trapped in a violent and sexist world, Manitas hires a lawyer (Zoe Saldana) to organize a deep lifelong aspiration: to become a woman, named Emilia.

Finally free to be herself, Emilia begins a crusade to help victims of drug gangs. He also reunites with his ex-wife (Selena Gómez) and children, who believe she is dead, posing as a distant relative.

Karla Sofia Gascon, who plays Manitas and Emilia, has a good chance of becoming the first openly transgender actress nominated for an Oscar.

In fact, Gascón greatly influenced the role. Audiard had originally envisioned a younger heroine, but upon meeting the Spanish star who transitioned at age 46, he quickly reworked the script.