Full Breakdown
Variety's Fourth French Cinema Summer Dinner Highlights Post-Cannes Momentum
7/2/2026, 10:56:59 PM
Post-Cannes Celebration at Lapérouse
Variety hosted its fourth French cinema summer dinner on a summer evening in 2026, shortly after the Cannes Film Festival. The gathering took place in the historic L’Astrolabe salon of Lapérouse, a Parisian restaurant owned by Émilie and Benjamin Patou. Variety’s international editor Elsa Keslassy organized the event with assistance from entertainment lawyer Elsa Huisman and awards strategist Sébastien Cauchon.
Historical Significance of Lapérouse
Lapérouse opened in 1766 and has long been a meeting place for Parisian intellectuals. It appears in Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time” and in Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” A recent redesign by Dior Maison’s Cordelia de Castellane refreshed its historic interiors while preserving its 18th-century character.
Industry Leaders and Recent Achievements
The dinner assembled Cannes director Thierry Frémaux, Mediawan CEO Pierre-Antoine Capton (who completed the acquisition of North Road, the producer of the $331 million hit “Backrooms”), MK2 co-CEO Nathanaël Karmitz and his brother Elisha Karmitz, and Pathé Films president Ardavan Safaee. MK2 presented 11 films at Cannes 2026, winning four awards including the Grand Prix for Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur.” Mediawan contributed nine Cannes titles and celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Pathé’s two-part “De Gaulle” diptych, starring Anamaria Vartolomei, premiered its first installment at Cannes and has shown a strong rebound at the French box office. Other notable Cannes successes mentioned were Lucas Dhont’s “Coward” (acting prize), Leïla Marrakchi’s “Les Fraises,” and Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Fatherland,” produced by Dimitri Rassam’s Chapter 2.
Official Statements & Responses
Variety described the dinner as “toasting the global reach of French cinema” after a Cannes edition that showcased a wide range of local and international talent. The event also underscored Variety’s “longstanding ties with the French movie business” and its role as a U.S. publication with a strong Francophile footprint.
On-the-Ground Ambiance and Menu
The L’Astrolabe salon featured a pink-patterned tablecloth, white candelabras, low votive candles and seasonal flower bouquets. Gilded mirrors, textured wallpaper, draped windows and a crystal chandelier created an old-world Parisian glow. Guests were served smoked Norwegian salmon with blinis, duck pâté en croûte with foie gras, truffled croque-royal, chicken suprême with morel cream, cod with beurre blanc, and a vanilla cake topped with a minute-cut fruit turban.
What’s Next for French Cinema
Producers Juliette Schrameck and Kim Chapiron are preparing upcoming projects, including Ladj Ly’s “Dumas” and a thriller set in the clandestine beauty industry. Mediawan’s integration of North Road points to further cross-border collaborations, while Pathé’s “De Gaulle” diptych continues its box-office run. Variety’s dinner will likely remain a networking hub for co-productions and distribution deals ahead of the next Cannes Festival.
