NEWS:  APRIL 2014

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Some good news was reported today in regard to Vincent's long-standing project, ALONE IN BERLIN.  Alison Thompson, the former co-president of Focus International, will launch her new sales and production banner Sunray Films with the Hans Fallada book adaptation during Cannes next month. The cast is expected to be announced during the Cannes marche, with the production targeting British and German actors for the lead roles. Vincent is set to direct the script by writer Achim von Borries.

Paris Match magazine reports that Vincent and his wife were in the states on April 24th attending French rocker Johnny Hallyday's concert at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. While on his North American tour, Hallyday was to share billing with Carla Bruni at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco the following evening. Carla was also on tour accompanied by husband Nicolas Sarkozy so I assume that may have been another reason for Vincent and Karine to make the USA trip.

Earlier last week Vincent was back in Russia for the premiere of his latest film KITCHEN IN PARIS. This took me by complete surprise because despite my continued efforts to cover his career, this one totally slipped by me. Evidently Vincent took on a supporting role in a Russian comedy based on one of the most successful and most expensive TV domestic sitcoms called "Kitchen".  Directed by Dmitry Dyachenko, the film also stars Dmitry Nagiyev, Oleg Tabakov, Mark Bogatyrev and Elena Podkaminskaya. The film premiered in both St. Petersburg and Moscow and will open in wide release on May 1. During his brief visit to the beautiful Russian city on the Baltic, Vincent participated in several interviews and spent some time in the kitchen preparing various cuisines. More details and photos will be posted over the next couple days.

Each spring for the past three years China has been honored in theaters in France through the Chinese Film Festival, supported by Gaumont and Pathé. This year Anne Fontaine and Vincent will be ambassadors of the festival while Catherine Deneuve will be guest of honor.  From May 12 to June 24, a dozen new films will be screened. The Festival is supported by Gaumont and Pathé, and screenings will also take place at Cinema Gaumont Marignan on the Champs Elysees. The festival will then continue during the months of May and June in Marseille, Cannes, Lyon, Bron, Strasbourg, Biarritz and Reunion Island. This year Anne Fontaine and Vincent will be ambassadors of the festival while Catherine Deneuve will be guest of honor.

The 2014 edition of the Rencontres d'Arles will include some of Vincent's photographs. Festival director Francois Hébel has put together an exhibition called "Parade", which will run from July to September. At the traditional press conference presentation in Paris, Hébel discussed the show. In referring to the works of Vincent, he said, "For there is indeed a real photographer." Vincent will unveil a selection of portraits of actors and actresses, a collection that has been previously exhibited in Moscow and Vladivostock.

In today's Boston Herald, Liz Smith reminisces about Patrice Chereau's "Queen Margot".  She writes, "On Monday, April 28, there will be a special screening of 'Queen Margot' honoring director Chereau at the Director's Guild Complex in Los Angeles. How I wish that this were happening in New York! I'll never forget staggering out of the screening of 'Queen Margot' back in 1994. What a movie! It was lush but grimy, romantic but filthily realistic. You could almost smell the sweat and blood. Isabelle Adjani as Margot is dazzling, and she is matched by Daniel Auteuil as Henry, and Virna Lisi, vicious ambition personified as Catherine. Vincent Perez also appeared as La Mole, Margot's paramour. Their love scenes and his nudity were a sensation at the time." A reminder that French label Pathe has announced that it will release the newly restored film on Blu-ray in France on May 7th.

Vincent returned to his birthplace of Lausanne, Switzerland this past week to help promote the opening of PUPPY LOVE. The film had its world premiere in September at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. While doing publicity in his homeland where the film was shot, he made some appearances and did a few interviews, some on radio. Here are a couple photos from his visit:

Vincent and wife Karine attended a cocktail party in Paris last night for the fashion launch of the collection, "Around the Clock!" created by Sarah Lavoine and Juliette Swildens. In the first photo, Vincent poses with actor/director Christopher Thompson and Ms. Swildens. The second photo shows Thompson and actor Alexandre Brasseur.

On April 2nd L'illustré magazine published a brief article about a black and white portrait of Vincent that's been on display at Photo Tornow in the capital of Vaud for nearly thirty years. This week he comically stood in front of his portrait appearing in flesh and blood for any passerby. Vincent says he remembers his childhood as a wonderful time and loves to return whenever he's in the area. The premiere of "Puppy Love" was to take place in the old cinema Georve V, which is a legendary venue for him where he remembers portraits of Cary Grant, Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift on its walls.

The face of Vincent's 22-year-old stepdaughter, Roxane Depardieu, is popping up more these days as she steps further into the online world of various social networks. I came across this darling photo of her with her parents probably taken in 1993. I also offer this little bio she wrote about herself - "Roxane grew up in Senegal, France, New York and Los Angeles, where she currently studies animation at CalArts. Roxane is fascinated by the techniques and technologies of filmmaking. She has worked in the wardrobe department of Les Aventures Extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec and The Family [Written, directed and produced by her uncle, Luc Besson]. She played the role of Manon in Un Baiser Papillon [Written and directed by her mother].  Roxane is currently training for the 2016 Summer Olympics where she plans to compete as a boxer." Really?