_{Sophie Marceau (above) at the media conference for the Societe Generale Private Banking 2nd Rendezvous with French Cinema}

French actress Sophie Marceau was in Singapore for the Southeast Asian premiere of her new film Happiness Never Comes Alone at the Societe Generale Private Banking 2nd Rendezvous with French Cinema festival, held in conjunction with the Asia Television Forum & Market and ScreenSingapore.

Speaking during a press conference at the Raffles Hotel, Marceau said French cinema is just like the orchid, the national flower of Singapore. “All the orchid needs is a support to attach its roots. And all we (French cinema) need is a place to be seen, to show what we are, what we know and what we can do”. She added that French cinema can learn a thing or two from the Americans when it comes to promoting itself to global audiences.

Directed by James Huth, Happiness Never Comes Alone tells of a love story between two people who are made for each other despite having nothing in common.

Marceau made her film debut in the 1980 box office hit La Boum (The Party), before shooting to worldwide prominence with her roles in Hollywood films Braveheart (directed by Mel Gibson) and James Bond thriller The World is Not Enough.

In celebration of her work and legacy, TV5MONDE (Channel 152 on StarHub TV) will air With Love…from the Age of Reason (L’âge de Raison) on January 3, 2013, at 9pm. The film, directed by Yann Samuell, was originally released in 2010.

The Societe Generale Private Banking 2nd Rendezvous with French Cinema, which took place from December 5 -9, was presented in partnership with Institut Français,  Unifrance Films and Alliance Française de Singapour.