The French Consulate of Los Angeles today announced that President Sarkozy has named DGA National Executive Director Jay D. Roth Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur.
Press release from the Republic of France:
Mr. Jay D. Roth and Mr. Mike Medavoy named Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur
By decree of the President of France, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr. Jay D. Roth, National Executive Director of the Directors Guild of America and Mr. Mike Medavoy, Chairman and CEO of Phoenix Pictures have been named “Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur”
The Légion d'honneur or Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (French: "National Order of the Legion of Honour") is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, as First Consul, on May 19, 1802.The Order is the highest decoration in France. It is awarded by the President of the French Republic to honor distinguished civil or military achievements.
Mr. Jay D. Roth: Former nationally respected attorney in the fields of entertainment and law, Mr. Roth has been the National Executive Director of the DGA since 1995.
A leading force on a wide range of important film industry issues, Mr. Roth has helped to create and to promote the Franco American Cultural Fund (FACF), which is now 13 years old.
The Fund's objective is to foster a professional and cultural exchange between French and American filmmakers. Among others, the Fund is responsible for the annual City of
Mr. Mike Medavoy: Casting Director, Talent Agent, Studio Chief and Producer, Co-Founder of Orion Pictures, Chairman of TriStar Pictures. Currently Chairman and CEO of Phoenix Pictures.
Mike Medavoy has a longstanding connection with France dating back to association with French film icon Jeanne Moreau, and other celebrated French talent such as Jean-Louis Trintignant, Dido Renoir (The Christian Licorice Store), Juliette Binoche (In My Country) and most recently Elsa Zylberstein who dubbed him her " American angel." While at United Artists, he developed very close relationships with François Truffaut and Claude Lelouch.
Mr. Medavoy received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cannes Film Festival in 1998.
