FOCUS ON FRENCH CINEMA, the annual premier French film festival, presented twelve French and Francophone films to over 3000 spectators the weekend of March 18-20 at the Performing Arts Center of SUNY Purchase. This year’s festival was initiated by Marc Fitoussi’s 2010 Copacabana, starring Isabelle Huppert and her daughter Lolita Chammah. Ms. Chammah attended the gala that followed the opening movie, as did directors Mia Hansen-Love (Le Père de Mes Enfants – Father of My Children) and Marc Esposito (Mon Pote – My Buddy). 300 people joined the red carpet guests, who were introduced by director and SUNY Purchase alumnus Hal Hartley (who also directed Isabelle Huppert in 1996’s Amateur. The gala was sponsored by Moët & Chandon and featured gourmet delicacies by the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and The Academie Culinaire de France.
