The film directed by Christian Carion has been chosen to represent France in the Foreign Language category at next year's Oscars.
At a meeting held September 19, 2005, at the CNC (Centre National de la Cinématographie), the Selection Committee for the French submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award chose "Merry Christmas" by Christian Carion.
Slated to hit French theaters September 21, 2005, the film produced by Nord-Ouest Production was presented at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
The selection committee is composed of qualified personalities designated by the Minister of Culture and Communication. Its duty is to select a film according to two criteria imposed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: the film must be first released France between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005; and the recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed film must be predominantly in French.
French Selection Committee members for the 2006 Academy Awards :
Claude Durand, President of the "Avance sur Recettes" Commission
Thierry Frémaux, Artistic Director of the Cannes Film Festival
Margaret Menegoz, President of Unifrance Film International
Frédéric Brillion, President of the "Commission d'Agrément"
Raphaël Hadas-Lebel, outgoing President of the "Commission d'aide sélective à la distribution"
Laurent Vallet, President of the "Commission d'aide à la promotion à l'étranger "
Pierre Chevalier, President of the "Commission d'aide à l'écriture"
For further information, contact: Caroline Cesbron – Director of Press Relations, CNC Head Office - Tel: 01 44 34 34 71 - caroline.cesbron@cnc.fr
