Sarkozy honours The Artist's Weinstein
France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy presented Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein with the Legion of Honour on Wednesday, for his work on the Oscar-winning film, The Artist.
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Weinstein was given France’s highest honour in the president’s office at the Elysée Palace, and was accompanied by his wife.
The Elysée said the award was planned before The Artist took home the Best Picture prize at the 84th Academy Awards at the end of February.
This is the second Oscar win in a row for Weinstein, the co-founder of Miramax Films, whose movie The King’s Speech picked up Best Picture last year.
Weinstein grabbed US distribution rights to The Artist after the film’s success at last May’s Cannes film festival, turning the little-known movie into a mainstream hit.
President Sarkozy reportedly planned to meet others involved in the film’s success.
Director Michel Hazanavicius said on Tuesday that he was uncomfortable about possible plans for lunch with Sarkozy, with the cast and crew.
He told BFMTV that following a lunch with the President, the film’s team would plan to meet socialist presidential candidate François Hollande.
France will choose a new president in May.
The Artist won five Oscars this year, including Best Actor for Jean Dujardin, the first time for a Frenchman.
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