Patrice Leconte Goes “On Set With French Cinema”

New York film students now have the opportunity to learn from—and even collaborate with—three of France’s most revered moviemakers, as On Set with French Cinema, sponsored by Unifrance and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continues this January with several events, including screenings and master classes, featuring accomplished French director Patrice Leconte (My Best Friend, The Man on the Train). Renowned moviemakers Benoît Jacquot (The Untouchable) and Persepolis)”>Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) are also taking part in this year’s edition of On Set with French Cinema.

The French Institute Alliance Francais (FIAF) concludes its monthlong tribute to the versatile Leconte with the U.S. premiere of his 2004 documentary Dogora, Open Your Eyes on Tuesday, January 29. Also screening the same day is Leconte’s 1999 feature The Girl on the Bridge, starring French veterans Vanessa Paradis and Daniel Auteuil. All screenings will be held at FIAF’s Florence Gould Hall, with a Q&A with Leconte to take place at 7 pm. For ticket information, visit http://www.fiaf.org/french%20film/winter2008/2008-01-Leconte.shtml.

Leconte will also conduct master classes for students at Columbia University and the School of Visual Arts on Monday, January 28.

Director Benoît Jacquot visited New York through On Set with French Cinema this past November, where SVA students took part in a hands-on script-to-screen workshop with the moviemaker. Students actively collaborated with Jacquot on the script of his upcoming film Villa Amalia, to star Isabelle Huppert and Gèrard Depardieu. One lucky finalist will travel to Paris when the movie begins shooting there in March.

Director Marjane Satrapi, currently enjoying acclaim for her Oscar-nominated Persepolis, is also slated to participate in this year’s edition of On Set with French Cinema. Details on her involvement are forthcoming.

For more information, visit http://www.onsetwithfrenchcinema.com/.