Seven illustrious Frenchdirectors are embarking upon a new US initiative entitled On Set With FrenchCinema in which they will give aspiring US film-makers a series of lectures ontheir professional experience.

The series kicks off inLos Angeles on Oct 6 with Regis Wargnier, while the New York events will startwith Claude Miller on Oct 20.

Other film-makers takingpart are Patric Leconte, Agnes Varda, Patrice Chereau, Cedric Klapisch andCatherine Breillat.

The series is gearedtowards students working on their MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree. Eachfilm-maker will present and discuss three or four feature films and share theirexperience at local universities: The American Film Institute, the CalArts'School Of Film/Video, the UCLA School Of Theater, Film & Television, theSchool Of Cinema-Television at USC, New York University, Columbia University'sSchool Of The Arts Film Division, the School Of Visual Arts and the CityUniversity of New York.

Each university in theprogramme has incorporated it into their curriculum for 2003.

As part of the programme,The American Cinematheque in LA and MoMA in New York will each sponsor a publicscreening in conjunction with each film-maker's visit chosen from his or heroverall body of work followed by a Q&A with the film-maker.

On Set With French Cinemahas been organized by Unifrance and the Cultural Services Of the French Embassyin the US with the participation of FACSEA (French American Cultural ServicesOf Educational Association).

Wargnier is in LA from Oct6-10 and the American Cinematheque will screen his film I'm The King Of TheCastle (1989); Leconte is in LA fromOct 13-17 and his M Hire and TheHairdresser's Husband will screen;Varda is in LA from Nov 17-21 and her Jacquot De Nantes will screen.

Miller will be in New Yorkfrom Oct 20-24 and MoMA will screen his latest film La Petite Lili, Chereau fropm Oct 27-31 with Those Who Love MeCan Take The Train screening,Klapisch from Nov 3-7 with his latest film Not For Or Against, Quite TheContrary screening and Breillat fromNov 10-13.