Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux was recently celebrated as the guest of honor at a prestigious dinner hosted by Variety in Paris. Held at the landmark 18th-century restaurant Lapérouse, the intimate gathering took place just hours after Frémaux's return from the Golden Globes in Los Angeles, an event where two films with strong Cannes ties – “Sentimental Value” and “The Secret Agent” – garnered significant awards.

The dinner, co-organized by Variety, Lapérouse owners Benjamin and Emilie Patou, and Cabinet 111 (led by Elsa Huisman), assembled a distinguished group of Cannes royalty and French A-listers. Among the notable attendees were acclaimed actor Vincent Lindon, known for his role in “Titane,” and Isabelle Huppert, who starred in “The Richest Woman in the World” and is set to appear in Asghar Farhadi’s upcoming “Parallel Tales.” Also present were Lea Seydoux, soon to be seen in “Dune: Part 2” and Arthur Harari’s next film “The Unknown,” and Gilles Lellouche, who will portray French resistant Jean Moulin in Laszlo Nemes’ forthcoming movie, “Beating Hearts.”

The star-studded evening gained further excitement with the arrival of filmmaker Josh Safdie. He joined the French cinema celebration directly from an AMPAS screening for “Marty Suprême,” the awards-season sensation that had just secured a Golden Globe win for its star, Timothée Chalamet. Safdie, accompanied by “Marty Supreme” costume designer Miyako Bellizzi (who also contributed to “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time”), French distributor Victor Hadida, publicist Katherine Rowe, and A24 Films’ Millen Lemma, immediately engaged in spirited conversations. He was seen in deep discussions with Frémaux and Huppert, and later elaborated on the making of “Marty Supreme” and Chalamet’s profound dedication to portraying table tennis champion Marty Reisman, in conversations with Anna Marsh, CEO of Studiocanal, and Élisabeth d’Arvieu, whose Mediawan Pictures had recently celebrated four Golden Globe wins for Plan B’s “Adolescence.”

This third Variety dinner at Lapérouse served as a tribute to the pivotal role of the Cannes Film Festival in bringing international cinematic gems to global attention and influencing the awards narrative worldwide. Many Cannes prizewinning films, including “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sirat,” “It Was Just an Accident,” and “Arco,” are currently generating considerable buzz for the Oscar race. Safdie’s presence at the event underscored the growing connection and synergy between European cinema and U.S. prestige filmmaking.

The gathering also shone a light on rising French talent and key industry figures. These included Anamaria Vartolomei, set to star in Pathé’s “De Gaulle” saga; Rebecca Marder, whose latest film “The Stranger” earned the Lumiere Award for best film; filmmaker and actor Hafsia Herzi, whose directorial debut “The Little Sister” secured a best actress award at Cannes for Nadia Melliti; and filmmaker Cedric Kahn of “Le procès Goldman.” Thierry Klifa, director of “The Richest Woman in the World,” which marked Isabelle Huppert’s biggest hit in decades with nearly a million admissions, was also in attendance. Prominent producers like Hugo Selignac, Dimitri Rassam, Laila Tahar, and Olivier Delbosc, alongside Haut et Court’s co-founders Caroline Benjo and Carole Scotta, further enriched the guest list. The event also saw the presence of leading talent agents, film executives, investment bankers, authors, and awards strategists, reinforcing its significance within the film industry.

Guests were treated to a sophisticated culinary experience at Lapérouse, enjoying a menu that featured marinated sea bass carpaccio with basil oil, tagliatelle pasta with artichokes and truffle shavings, and a vacherin with pear and yuzu for dessert, complemented by a selection of cocktails, wines, and champagne.

Lapérouse itself, established in 1766 and now owned by Patou and Antoine Arnault, boasts a rich history as a preferred rendezvous for Parisian intellectuals—philosophers, novelists, artists, and later, filmmakers. Its numerous salons, sumptuously adorned with red velvet, paintings, ornate moldings, and crystal chandeliers, were tastefully revamped by Dior Maison head Cordelia de Castellane. The iconic restaurant has been immortalized in literature by Marcel Proust in “In Search of Lost Time” and featured as a backdrop in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” underscoring its enduring cultural legacy.