Roman Polanski to preside at France’s Cesar AwardsJanuary 18, 2017 - 18:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Controversial French-Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski is set to preside at the 42nd edition of the Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent to the Oscars, Variety said. Although the honorary role of president entails hardly more than a speech introducing the ceremony, it underscores the French Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques’ unwavering admiration for Polanski. “It’s no fewer than eight times that the Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques has honored the director. An insatiable aesthete, Roman Polanski has been reinventing his arts and films through the years,” said the Cesar Awards in a statement. “Artist, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, comedian, director – there are so many words to define Roman Polanski, but only one to express our admiration and delight: Thank you, Mr. President,” stated the Academy, which is headed by Alain Terzian, who is also a film producer. In the U.S., where he won an Oscar for “The Pianist” in 2003, Polanski is still wanted by authorities for having sex with a minor, in a case dating back to 1977. A bid by the U.S. to have him extradited was recently rejected by Poland’s Supreme Court. Polanski last won a best director Cesar for “Venus in Fur.” He’s currently working on “Based on a True Story,” a psychological thriller penned by Olivier Assayas (“Personal Shopper) and starring Emmanuelle Seigner and Eva Green. The film is produced by Wassim Beji and is being sold by Lionsgate. The Cesar Awards will soon unveil nominations. The ceremony will take place in Paris on Feb. 24. Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |