Isabelle Huppert Becomes the First Woman to Head the Cinémathèque Française She succeeds French-Greek director Costa-Gavras
In a historic turning point for the ultimate temple of cinema, legendary actress Isabelle Huppert has been elected President of the Cinémathèque Française. Succeeding director Costa-Gavras, she is set to spearhead the institution's major upcoming projects, balancing heritage tributes with an exciting expansion into Marseille.
A Historic Appointment at the Helm of Cinema's Sanctuary
Since the institution was founded in 1936 by Henri Langlois, Georges Franju, Jean Mitry, and Paul Auguste Harlé, a woman had never once held the presidential chair. That era is now officially over.
Elected by the board of directors for a three-year term (running until 2029), Isabelle Huppert succeeds French-Greek filmmaker Costa-Gavras (father of director Romain Gavras), who had firmly held the reins of the Cinémathèque since 2007.
To successfully carry out her mission of preserving and promoting global film heritage, the actress will not be working alone. She has surrounded herself with a duo of top-tier filmmakers: Olivier Assayas and Claire Denis, both appointed as vice-presidents. Among their first major tasks will be overseeing the institution's upcoming large-scale retrospectives, much like the current landmark exhibition dedicated to the eternal icon Marilyn Monroe.
Heading South: Expanding to Marseille
Alongside this major appointment, the Cinémathèque Française is confirming its decentralization ambitions. The institution has officially announced the opening of a brand-new branch in Marseille early next year.
This Mediterranean counterpart of the Cinémathèque will be located in the heart of the Les Crottes district (15th arrondissement), an area undergoing rapid urban and cultural transformation. This major project will allow the institution's invaluable collections to shine far beyond the walls of its Parisian home in Bercy.
From the Screen to the Runway
By choosing Isabelle Huppert as its leader, the Cinémathèque is placing a living monument of cinema at its head. With a dizzying filmography of over 150 movies, she remains the most-nominated actress in the history of the César Awards, holding an absolute record of 17 nominations across all categories. Her immense talent has earned her two Best Actress statuettes: in 1996 for her chilling performance in Claude Chabrol's La Cérémonie and in 2017 for her masterful role in Paul Verhoeven's Elle.
Beyond movie theaters, Isabelle Huppert is a staple of international fashion, proving that heritage and the avant-garde blend seamlessly. As a prominent muse for the house of Balenciaga under the bold artistic direction of Demna, she continues to fascinate the new guard of the fashion world. She recently made quite a splash at the highly exclusive Spring-Summer runway show for Jacquemus.
Acting both as the guardian of film history and a modern style icon, Isabelle Huppert is opening a brand-new chapter in a career that never stops reinventing itself.
