April 24, 2009

Jay D. Roth (’71) awarded the French Legion of Honor

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France recently named Jay D. Roth (’71) Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur, or the French Legion of Honor. The title is the highest decoration in France honoring distinguished civil or military achievements. Roth was named for his work as the national executive director of the Directors Guild of Ameica (DGA), an organization protecting the economic and creative rights of directors and members of the directorial team. In this role, Roth helped to create and promote the Franco American Cultural Fund (FACF), which aims to foster a professional and cultural exchange between French and American filmmakers.

“France and the United States share a rich and wonderful cinematic history, and to be recognized for my role in strengthening the ties between our two film communities is truly special,” said Roth, who is a founding board member of the FACF, which began in 1996.

The FACF is responsible for a variety of educational and creative activities in France and the United States, the largest of which is the weeklong City of Lights/City of Angels film festival celebrating French cinema.

“The goal of the festival is not only to increase the appreciation of French film but also to help create relationships between the French filmmakers whose work is shown and distributors who can help their films receive wider distribution in the U.S. and around the world,” said Roth. “The festival, which celebrates its 13th year this year, is now the second largest festival for French films in the world.”

The DGA’s involvement with international films and filmmakers is not new for the organization. Many of the Guild’s members are international, and last year the DGA launched a London Coordinating Committee to serve the needs of its U.K.-based members.

Roth said even before becoming the national executive director of the DGA in 1995, he “thought it was important to take an international perspective on protecting the creative and economic rights of directors.”

In 1993, Roth served as counsel to several entertainment industry guilds, including the DGA as part of the Industry Team in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations. “I was also a member of the US Government delegation to the treaty negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),” he said.

As an international popular art form, film has often united people across borders.

“Here at the DGA, we are privileged to represent those who work as directors and members of the directing team, and we recognize that the work they do has the ability to transcend language and culture,” said Roth. “Through film, we celebrate the human condition, with all its flaws and failings, talents and triumphs.”

>>View the Directors Guild of America Web site

Reported by Elizabeth Ress