After a meeting held Wednesday, September 13, at the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), the French Selection Committee for the country’s representative in the Oscars Best Foreign Film category has chosen “Fauteuils d’orchestre” (also known as “Avenue Montaigne” and “Orchestra Seats”), directed by Danièle Thompson and produced by Thelma films.
The Selection Committee, composed of industry personalities appointed by the Minister of Culture and Communication, must respect certain criteria required by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in their choice of candidate:
* The film must be first released in the country submitting it no earlier than October 1, 2005 and no later than September 30, 2006.
* The submitting country must certify that creative talent of that country exercised artistic control of the film.
Committee Members for the 2006 Academy Awards Selection:
-Frédéric Brillion, President of the “Commission d'agrément” (Approval Committee)
-Pierre Chevalier, President of the “Commission du soutien au scénario” (Screenwriting Commission)
-Claude Durand, President of the “Commission d'avance sur recettes” (Advance on Receipts Subsidy Commission)
-Thierry Frémaux, Artistic Director of the Cannes Film Festival
-Margaret Menegoz, President of Unifrance Film International
-Marc Tessier, outgoing President of the “Commission d'aide sélective à la distribution” (Selective Distribution Aid Commission)
-Laurent Vallet, President of the “Commission d'aide à la promotion à l'étranger” (Foreign Promotions Aid Commission)
